The Lil Smokies Welcome John Dunnigan In San Francisco

This past Thursday night, Montana-based jamgrass act The Lil Smokies headlined The Independent in San Francisco. Dobro player Andy Dunnigan’s father John Dunnigan emerged in the middle of the band’s set to sit-in with the group.

Andy has followed in his father’s footsteps as a musician. John is a multi-instrumentalist who has played with Bonnie Raitt, Asleep At The Wheel and Norton Buffalo over the course of his lengthy career. On Thursday, John Dunnigan showed off his harmonica skills. First, John added to The Lil Smokies’ original “California.” Then, the elder Dunnigan added to a cover of Billy Strings’ “Dust In A Baggie.”

The band was in great spirits despite a tough few days in the Bay Area that saw their van broken into and their trailer axle damaged. 2017’s Changing Shades was well represented in the setlist by “Miss Marie,” “Winded,” “Feathers” and more. The Lil Smokies also fit in a number of covers including “Always Something There To Remind Me” by Naked Eyes and “When My Time Comes” by Dawes.

Watch footage of John Dunnigan jamming with The Lil Smokies on “California”: