Watch Greensky Bluegrass & Jennifer Hartswick Unite On Ethereal ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ Cover At Ryman

As reported, Greensky Bluegrass welcomed several special guests over the course of this past weekend’s two-night stand at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Trey Anastasio Band trumpeter/vocalist Jennifer Hartswick was GSBG’s first collaborator on Saturday, the second of two shows at “The Mother Church of Country Music,” as she sat-in with the band on a Bill Withers’ classic and one of their originals amid the group’s first set.

Guitarist Daniel Donato and his Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country project opened the concerts on Friday and Saturday. Donato began the guest spot action by adding his guitar to “Murder Of Crows” halfway through the first set and later joined GSBG, Billy Strings and Sam Bush on a debut cover of Del McCoury‘s “My Love Will Not Change” to wrap up night one. Billy Strings also lent a hand on “Courage For The Road” to close Friday’s second set before collaborating with GSBG on nearly their entire second set on Saturday.

Jennifer Hartswick emerged on Saturday late in a first set that featured just one cover. Greensky opened with “What You Need,” which along with “Wish I Didn’t Know” a few songs later represented the band’s 2019 record, All For Money in the setlist. Next came oldie “Blood Sucking F(r)iends” followed by “Grow Together” off the latest GSBG album, 2022’s Stress Dreams. A quick romp through the Paul Hoffman-penned “Burn Them” paved the way for Hartswick’s guest appearance.

Nashville-based musician Jennifer Hartswick was introduced by GSBG dobroist Anders Beck. “We just love you to pieces, little pieces,” Beck told the crowd with JHa responding in kind. The pair explained most collaborations between them take place overseas as part of Musical Sojourns assembled by Everyone Orchestra’s Matt Butler.

Hartswick and Hoffman co-helmed lead vocals on Greensky Bluegrass’ first “Ain’t No Sunshine” cover in a whopping 304 shows. The quintet previously performed the tune on October 2, 2019 in Memphis after debuting their take on Withers’ 1971 smash 742 concerts prior on March 9, 2013 in Portland, Oregon.

JHa has a long history of performing “Ain’t No Sunshine.” She covered the song as part of her first of many collaborations with Umphrey’s McGee on September 11, 2005 at Higher Ground in South Burlington, Vermont. Ten years later — on January 10, 2015 — Hartswick joined UM for the Bill Withers classic once again aboard Jam Cruise 13. Jennifer also plays the song often with frequent collaborators Nick Cassarino (The Nth Power) and Brendan Bayliss (Umphrey’s McGee).

Hartswick concluded her time on stage with Greensky on Saturday by adding her trumpet to Stress Dreams cut “New & Improved.” Watch footage of both JHa/Greensky Bluegrass collaborations at The Ryman captured by videographer Max Berde below:

After ending the first set by performing beloved favorites “Windshield” and “Run Or Die,” Greensky went sans guests to launch Saturday’s second set with “Leap Year.” Billy Strings came out to play guitar and sing on the rest of the closing stanza. Strings and GSBG delivered a mashup of his “Meet Me At The Creek” and their “Don’t Lie” to end the set. The five-piece wrapped the night, two-night stand and winter tour by premiering a take on the Tom Petty favorite “Time To Move On.”

Setlist (via Phantasy Tour)

Set One: What You Need, Blood Sucking F(r)iends, Grow Together, Wish I Didn’t Know > Burn Them, Ain’t No Sunshine [1], New & Improved [1], Windshield, Run or Die

Set Two: Leap Year, Fixin To Ruin [2], The Radio Blues [2], Screams [2], Monument [2], Don’t Lie [2] [3] > Meet Me At The Creek [2] [4] [5] > Don’t Lie [2] [4] > Meet Me At The Creek [2] [4] > Don’t Lie [2]

Encore: Time To Move On [6]

• [1] – w/ Jennifer Hartswick (trumpet, vocals)
• [2] – w/ Billy Strings (guitar)
• [3] – w/ What Is a Booty? tease
• [4] – w/ Billy Strings (vocals)
• [5] – w/ Jarrod Walker (mando)
• [6] – first time played