Greensky Bluegrass Welcomes Sam Bush & More At Land Aid Benefit In Birmingham

Greensky Bluegrass and Sam Bush Band teamed up for the Land Aid benefit concert at Birmingham, Alabama’s Avondale Brewing Company aiding the Freshwater Land Trust. The Friday concert saw GSBG welcoming Bush as well as members of his band during their set and encore.

Greensky kicked off their set with a three-song seamless sequence beginning with a pair of songs from guitarist Dave Bruzza, “New & Improved,” off the 2022 album Stress Dreams,” and the classic “Bottle Dry,” from the band’s 2006 LP, Tuesday Letter. GSBG capped off the opening segment by dusting off the Bill Monroe instrumental “Wheel Hoss,” last time played on November 20, 2021 for a total gap of 60 shows, as per Phantasy Tour.

“200 Miles From Montana” would then split Stress Dreams’ “Screams” and “Grow Together.” Next, frequent collaborator and friend Sam Bush joined Greensky on fiddle for the remainder of their set. John Hartford’s “Steam Powered Aero Plane” with Dave on lead vocals launched the collab.

Next came a cover of Bruce Hornsby’s “King Of The Hill” followed by a “Four” segment of “The Four” and “All Four.” Staple “I’d Probably Kill You” followed. Sam then helped GSBG unshelve the Grateful Dead’s “Black Muddy River,” last time played by Greensky on September 4, 2021 for 77 show gap. The collaborators sealed the set with “Worried About The Weather.”

For the encore, Sam again joined Greensky along with members of his band — guitarist Steve “Mr. Mojo” Mougin and banjoist Wes Corbett. The encore began with the gospel traditional “I’m Working On A Building” and closed out with another bluegrass standard, “Reuben’s Train.”

Watch fan-shot video of GSBG and Sam Bush on “Steam Powered Aero Plane” below:

GSBG Setlist (via Phantasy Tour)

Set One: New & Improved > Bottle Dry> Wheel Hoss, Screams, 200 Miles from Montana, Grow Together Steam Powered Aeroplane[1], King of the Hill[1], The Four[1], All Four[1], I’d Probably Kill You[1], Black Muddy River[1], Worried About the Weather[1]

Encore: I’m Working on a Building[1][2], Reuben’s Train[1][2]

Notes:

[1] w/ Sam Bush (fiddle)

[2] w/ Wes Corbett (banjo), Steve “Mr. Mojo” Mougin (guitar)