On February 1 of this year, ArtistWorks’ own Noam Pikelny and Chris Eldridge announced the formation of their brand new band and bluegrass supergroup, Mighty Poplar. Included in the group alongside the two Punch Brothers co-founders are Alex Hargreaves on fiddle (most notably known for his work with Billy Strings), Andrew Marlin of Watchhouse on vocals, mandolin, and guitar, and bassist Greg Garrison of Leftover Salmon.

All five of these all-star musicians are revered as some of the most talented players of their generation and are praised for their efforts and achievements in pushing American acoustic music in progressive directions. However, a deep love of traditional bluegrass has remained steadfast in the hearts of all five of these amazing musicians, which is what led to the formation of Mighty Poplar.

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Joined by the desire to create a more traditional-style bluegrass record, the members of Mighty Poplar connected with Sean Sullivan at the Tractor Shed studio just outside of Nashville, TN to record their debut record. Unlike most modern, high-fidelity bluegrass albums, Mighty Poplar chose to capture the album’s performances using the same old-school recording techniques of the classic bluegrass albums they so deeply cherish. With each band member sitting knee-to-knee in the same room, Mighty Poplar captured 10 stellar performances that can only be described as, “lightning in a bottle.”

Released on March 31, 2023, Mighty Poplar’s self-titled debut album was presented to the world, is currently streaming on all popular platforms, and is available for purchase on vinyl, CD, or digital download here.

“At its heart, bluegrass music is about what happens when you commit to the moment,” the band expresses on their Bandcamp page. “This spirit of spontaneity is ever-present on Mighty Poplar. Across 10 songs that include bluegrass and folk classics and deep cuts from the Carter Family to Leonard Cohen, the fivesome captures the fierce and playful energy of a late-night jam between old friends.”

FREE LESSONS: Want to learn how to play from a bluegrass guitar master like Chris Eldridge? Try some free online guitar lessons here!

Mighty Poplar will be taking their act on the road for the first time beginning this month on the West Coast, and will be performing in the following cities:

5/8/2023 — Boulder, CO at The Fox Theater

5/9/2023 — Fort Collins, CO at Washington’s

5/10/2023 — Denver, CO at Globe Hall

5/12/2023 — Phoenix, AZ at MIM Music Theater

5/13/2023 — Aztec, NM at Tico Time Bluegrass Festival

5/15/2023 — Pioneer Town, CA at Pappy & Harriet’s

5/16/2023 — Solana Beach, CA at Belly Up Tavern

5/17/2023 — Santa Barbara, CA at Lobero Theater

5/18/2023 — Los Angeles, CA at Pico Union Project

5/20/2023 — Felton, CA at Felton Music Hall

5/21/2023 — Grass Valley, CA at The Center for the Arts

5/22/2023 — Berkeley, CA at Freight & Salvage

5/23/2023 — Seattle, WA at Neptune Theatre

5/25/2023 — Portland, OR at Alladin Theater

They will be continuing their tour this fall through the Midwest and East Coast to perform in the following cities:

9/13/2023 — Chicago, IL at Old School Town of Folk Music

9/14/2023 — Ann Arbor, MI at The Ark

9/15/2023 — Kent, OH at The Kent Stage

9/16/2023 — Buffalo, NY at Borderland Festival

9/17/2023 — Nelsonville, OH at Stuart’s Opera House

9/19/2023 — Asheville, NC at The Grey Eagle

9/20/2023 — Nashville, TN at Americana Fest (at the Station Inn)

9/22/2023 — New York, NY at Music Hall of Williamsburg

9/23/2023 — Woodstock, NY at Levon Helm Studios

9/24/2023 — North Adams, MA at Freshgrass Festival

9/25/2023 — Boston, MA at The Sinclair

9/27/2023 — Philadelphia, PA at Ardmore Music Hall

9/28/2023 — Washington, DC at The Hamilton

9/29/2023 — Raleigh, NC at IMBA (Red Hat Amphitheater)

To purchase tickets to any of the above shows, head to Mighty Poplar’s website here.

LEARN MORE:

Have you always wanted to learn how to play bluegrass guitar or banjo? Through our comprehensive online music lessons and Video Exchange Learning platform here at ArtistWorks, you can learn from many of the most renowned players in bluegrass, like Noam Pikelny and Chris Eldridge, and get personal feedback on your playing.

Both Noam’s and Chris’ courses start with the basics and teach everything from beginner guitar and banjo to advanced performance techniques, improvisation methods, classic bluegrass tunes, and beyond. So, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player, all levels are welcome and all students will grow and improve their skills as musicians.

Sample some free music lessons here and see what makes ArtistWorks courses some of the best online music lessons around!

READ MORE:

Bluegrass Guitar Lesson: Playing in Open D with Chris Eldridge

Banjo Lesson: An Introduction to Melodic Style with Noam Pikelny

Bluegrass Guitar Lesson: Relating Chords & Scales with Bryan Sutton