Tim Carbone Guests With Greensky Bluegrass At Northwest String Summit

The 2018 Northwest String Summit began on Thursday at Horning’s Hideout in North Plains, Oregon. Greensky Bluegrass ended the action on the Main Stage at the first day of the event with a pair of sets that included the debut of a Prince cover and a sit-in from Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth.

Wisconsin’s Horseshoes & Hand Grenades were the initial act to play the Main Stage at this year’s String Summit. The band was joined by Greensky Bluegrass dobro player Anders Beck for “Keep My Skillet Good & Greasy” as part of their set. Up next on the Main Stage was North Carolina-based acoustic bluegrass quintet Steep Canyon Rangers who focused on material from the recently released Out In The Open. Railroad Earth then delivered a performance heavy on classic songs including “Farewell To Isinglass,” “Warhead Boogie,” “Butterfly & The Tree” and “Seven Story Mountain.”

Greensky Bluegrass opened their first set on Thursday with a well-jammed cover of Traffic’s “Light Up Or Leave Me Alone” featuring a “Reuben’s Train” with teases of “Tweezer Reprise” by Phish within. Mandonlist Paul Hoffman then led the group on the beloved “Windshield” before guitarist Dave Bruzza stepped into the spotlight for the recently debuted “Like Reflections.”

A pairing of “In Control” > “A Letter To Seymour” was followed by “Broke Mountain Breakdown.” Anders put down his dobro and put on a cape to sing lead vocals on a debut cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain” that emerged out of the unfinished “Broke Mountain Breakdown.” Beck dedicated “Purple Rain” to fan Patricia Patrick on the occasion of her 100th show. Greensky went on to bring the set to a close with “Run Or Die.”

The five-piece kicked off their second set on Thursday with Benny “Burle” Galloway’s “What’s Left Of The Night” and original “Miss September.” Greensky brought out Tim Carbone soon thereafter. Carbone added fiddle to a potent “Lose My Way” that featured a strong peak as well as a cover of “Working On A Building.” The improvisational highlight of the set came next with a wild “Leap Year.” Bruzza then fronted the group on “Wings For Wheels” ahead of a “Living Over” set closer.

Yonder Mountain String Band, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Lil Smokies and Shook Twins are among the acts set to perform at the Northwest String Summit on Friday. Select sets can be viewed via JamGrass.TV’s free webcast.

Watch video of “Keep My Skillet Good & Greasy” from Horseshoes & Hand Grenades featuring Anders Beck thanks to Jamgrass.TV:

Check out pro-shot footage of Steep Canyon Rangers’ “Monumental Fool” provided by Jamgrass.TV:

Setlist (via Camp Greensky)

Set One: Light Up or Leave Me Alone > Reuben’s Train > Light Up or Leave Me Alone, Windshield, Like Reflections, Into The Rafters, In Control > A Letter To Seymour, Broke Mountain Breakdown > (1) Purple Rain (2) > Run Or Die

Set Two: What’s Left Of The Night > Miss September, Wheel Hoss, Lose My Way (3), Working On A Building (3), Leap Year, Wings For Wheels, Living Over (4)

• (1) Unfinished
• (2) First time Played
• (3) With Tim Carbone
• (4) Lyric change “wish I had small hands”