Yonder Mountain String Band brings improvised bluegrass to Lexington

Taylor Hubbard

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Yonder Mountain String Band is returning to the Bluegrass state on Wednesday to start their winter tour.

The five-piece group is playing in Lexington at the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $25 advanced on Ticketfly or $30 at the door. The show starts at 8 p.m.

The band grows from a mix of influences that constitute a sound close to traditional bluegrass altered by improvisation.

YMSB has been together for almost 17 years, and is continuously progressing with time, a history parallel to their progressive sound.

Members include Adam Aijala on guitar, Dave Johnston on banjo, Ben Kaufmann on bass, as well as recent additions Allie Kral on violin and Jacob Joliff on mandolin.

Changes include the loss of mandolin player Jeff Austin, who now tours separate from YMSB. After Austin left, Kral and Joliff joined, prior to the release of their latest album “Black Sheep.” The album was released in June 2015.

According to the group’s website, Kaufmann said, “This record sounds more like Yonder than any record we’ve ever done.”

Trout Steak Revival, also from Colorado, is opening Wednesday’s show. Local band Restless Leg String Band is playing the after party beginning at 10:30 p.m. at Al’s Bar.