Leftover Salmon Celebrates 35 Years with New Album, New Single, and Nashville Show
Leftover Salmon, the trailblazing jamgrass ensemble from Boulder, Colorado, is celebrating 35 years of redefining what bluegrass can be. Since forming in 1989, the band has pioneered a sound they call “Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass,” blending traditional bluegrass with rock, folk, Cajun, and jazz influences. Their musical fusion and live improvisation helped shape the jamgrass movement, making them a household name in American roots music.
Built around founding members Drew Emmitt (mandolin, vocals) and Vince Herman (guitar, vocals), the group’s current lineup also includes Andy Thorn (banjo), Greg Garrison (bass), Alwyn Robinson (drums), and Jay Starling (dobro, keys). Over the course of their career, Leftover Salmon has influenced a generation of musicians—including Billy Strings, Greensky Bluegrass, and The Infamous Stringdusters—while continuing to evolve their own sound. As they head into 2025, fresh off their Grand Ole Opry debut and recent induction into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, the band is marking their milestone year with a new album, a headline performance at Red Rocks, and a return to Nashville’s Basement East on May 8.
New Single: “Twisted Pine” (feat. Del McCoury)
Leftover Salmon recently released their latest single, “Twisted Pine,” featuring the legendary Del McCoury on vocals. It’s a song that blends old-school bluegrass with personal reverence. “Del McCoury and the Del McCoury Band are very near and dear to our hearts, having toured and recorded together on several occasions,” says Drew Emmitt. “For me, singing with Del has been a highlight of my musical career; he is simply the best bluegrass singer on the planet. When I wrote ‘Twisted Pine,’ I had Del in mind to sing it with me, and I am so thankful that it came to fruition. What an honor indeed to have Del on our record once again!”
Vince Herman adds, “Having Del McCoury play music with us is a dream come true for us Salmon boys. He’s the band leader of the best bluegrass band on Earth, and I swear the nicest person on the face of the Earth as well. Del’s harmony on this tune really brings on the lonesome! Thanks, Del!”
The song follows the recent release of “Big Wheel,” another new track from the band that leans into the joys and unpredictability of the road ahead.
Album Preview: Let’s Party About It
The band will release their 13th studio album, Let’s Party About It, on May 26, 2025—the same day they celebrate their 35th anniversary with a headline performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. Recorded at Compass Sound Studio in Nashville—a space with deep ties to the outlaw country movement—the album captures the energy, chemistry, and creative spark that have defined Leftover Salmon’s career.
For the first time ever, the band wrote the album together in a single group session, joined by their longtime friend and accomplished songwriter Aaron Raitiere (known for his work with Lady Gaga, Lukas Nelson, Lainey Wilson, and more). The initial single, “Big Wheel,” is led by co-founder Vince Herman and driven by Andy Thorn’s crisp banjo. Drew Emmitt takes the lead on “Twisted Pine,” joined by Del McCoury. “Based on the already released tracks, it promises to be a vibrant collection of songs that honors the band’s roots while pushing their musical boundaries.
Concert Preview: May 8 at The Basement East
As part of their milestone year, Leftover Salmon returns to Nashville for a show at The Basement East on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. Fans can expect a set packed with both fresh cuts from Let’s Party About It and longtime fan favorites drawn from the band’s deep catalog.
The Basement East, known for its top-tier sound and intimate setting, offers the perfect backdrop to experience one of the most influential jamgrass bands of the last four decades up close.
Tickets are available through The Basement East event page.
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