JACKSON, Wyo. — Leftover Salmon’s bohemian jam-fusion-grass has reached epic proportions with a thirty-year build-up. They’ve likely played Teton County as much as any national touring act, and the local fanbase is evidence of that. Built around the core of founding members Drew Emmitt and Vince Herman, the band is powered these days by banjo-wiz Andy Thorn, and driven by the steady rhythm section of bassist Greg Garrison, drummer Alwyn Robinson, and keyboardist Erik Deutsch. The five-piece will strip back for two evenings of “Leftover Salmon Acoustic” this Friday and Saturday at the Center Theater.
To dive deep into what makes this band tick, check out the 2019 book Leftover Salmon: Thirty Years of Festival!. Author Tim Newby presents an intimate portrait of the band, a tale of friendships and losses, musical discoveries and Wild West adventures, and the brethren they surround themselves with who fortify Salmon’s unique voice. Their story is one of tragedy and rebirth, of unimaginable highs and crushing lows, of friendships, of music, but most importantly it is the story of a special band and those that have lived through it all to create, inspire, and have everlasting fun.
The band’s latest releases include Something Higher (2018) and Brand New Good Old Days (2021). If searching for the old-school charm, 1999’s The Nashville Sessions is a great place to start, which has plenty of musical flex along with guest luminaries Del and Ronnie McCoury, Taj Mahal, Béla Fleck, Sam Bush, and Lucinda Williams among others.
An Evening with Leftover Salmon Acoustic, 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday Feb. 10-11 at the Center Theater. $38-$78. JHCenterForTheArts.org.
