Bluegrass Stars Align in Nashville: Sam Grisman Project Make Mother Church Debut with Peter Rowan, Jerry Douglas, Surprise Guest Billy Strings and More

Photo Credit: Jean Frank

Last night, Jan. 9, bluegrass greats turned out for Sam Grisman Project’s Ryman Auditorium debut in Nashville, Tenn. The concert, a co-bill with Peter Rowan, supported music from Old & In the Way and beyond–drawing on tunes from Sam’s dad, David “Dawg” Grisman’s archive, and his intertwined catalog of work with Jerry Garcia. The two-set performance also centered around Rowan’s own musical interests and canon of experience. 

Before the concert’s official arrival, Grisman outlined the lineup taking part in the prestigious occasion, including special guests: Sam Bush, Tim O’Brien, Jerry Douglas, Lindsay Lou, Ronnie and Rob McCoury, joining the band, featuring Alex Hargreaves, Chris J. English, Dominick Leslie, John Mainlanders, Logan Ledger, Max Flansburg, Nat Smith and Victor Furtado, who made up the core lineup. Also appearing on stage was unannounced guest Billy Strings, who sat in on two numbers. 

Stepping out on stage at the Mother Church, a seven-piece unit of musicians, standup bassist Grisman, percussionist English, mandolinist Leslie, fiddler Hargreaves, cellist Smith, clawhammer banjoist Furtado and guitarist Ledger produced the opening instrumentals of “Jackaroo,” giving life to the beloved traditional. Next, the group gave legs to Garcia’s “Loser” before Flansburg ignited emotion on “Waiting for a Miracle,” which played up the night’s adoption of Grateful Dead material. 

The first set frayed from covers with the arrival of English’s uniting original, “We Share As One.” Fittingly, Bush stepped out and assisted Sam and company on his co-write with David Grisman, “Heartford’s Real,” with added accompaniment from the McCourys. The grouping of artists stuck around for the ensuing follow-up, a take on John Hartford’s “I’m Still Here.” 

New arrivals took the stage, including Lou, Phoebe Hunt, and Douglas, who assisted the established players with the Lou-original/ Douglas-featured Queen of Time cut “Nothing Else Matters.” 

 Before the first notes of Bob Dylan’s “Señor” rang out, unannounced guest and bluegrass favorite Billy Strings surprised attendees by sitting in on the ballad. O’Brien assumed the song’s lyrical lead, accompanied by a stage full of premiere talent. Sans Strings, the group performed a finger-picking rendition of “Morning Dew” ahead of a rendition of Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page Again.” Before closing out set one, Strings appeared one final time, helping to end the set with added stums on “Hey Joe.”

Set two commenced the Rowan-led “Snow Country Girl,” with added assistance from Gillan Welch and David Rawlings, before adding Sam, the McCourys, and Hargreaves for “Walls of Time.” Next, songs from the 1978-released Old & in The Way LP received plays, including “Pig in a Pen” and “Panama Red, ahead of a well-placed“Rosalie McFall.” Rowan and Tony Rice released “Tin Roof Shake,” made the set list next, and received treatment from Bush, O’Brien, and Dobro master Douglas. 

“Dark Hollow” showcased Ledger’s timeless vocals interlaced with Ronnie McCoury’s over O’Brien’s tenor range. The night’s “Old & In the Way Breakdown” with Rob McCoury came ahead of Sam’s fully-fledged lyrical lead on the namesake number. Continuing with the Old & In the Way motif, they covered “Wild Horses,” with Lou, Douglas, and O’Brien stepping out for Rolling Stone’s original. 

Carter Stanley’s “White Dove” was sung by Lou before another Old & In the Way feature, “Kissimmee Kid.” Ultimately, set two brought all guests to the stage for “Midnight Moonlight” and ultimately coalesced in a close after an all-in fusion of “Goin Down the Road Feeling Bad” into the instrumentals of “We Bid You Good Night” and Dylan’s “Lay Down Your Weary Tune.”

Last night’s Ryman presentation represented the best and brightest in the bluegrass ether, a promising display of the longevity and enduring spirit of the genre.

For the latest on the Sam Grisman Project, visit the band’s official website. 

Sam Grisman Project 

The Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, Tenn. 

Jan. 10, 2025 

Set I: Jackaroo, Loser, Waiting for a Miracle, We Share As One, Hartford’s Real, I’m Still Here, Nothing Else Matters, Señor, Morning Dew, Turn the Page Again, Hey Joe

Set II: Pig in a Pen, Panama Red, Rosa Lee McFall, Tin Roof Shack, The Hobo Song, Dark Hollow, Old and in the Way, Wild Horses, White Dove, Kissimmee Kid, Midnight Moonlight

Enc.: Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad > We Bid You Good Night Interlude > Lay Down Your Weary Tune 

Setlist via Sam Grisman Project.