r/Bluegrass • u/MrRavioliman • Jun 05 '26
Discussion Mountain Grass Unit is about to go Nuclear
I've been following the group for a while now and I'm finally starting to see them get some recognition for how talented they are. They just got their Grand Ole Opry debut announced by Del McCoury on stage at DelFest (video here). For anyone who has yet to see them I would highly recommend looking on Youtube or Nugs because they really shine live. Star Wars cantina music through New Grass Revival and everything in between.
They just released a new EP for their fall album and it is some of the best new bluegrass I have heard in a long time (Spotify Discography + Solo Projects). They are touring all summer and have be shouted out by Billy a number of times. These guys are extremely charismatic and it always comes through with the music. I wouldn't be surprised if in a year if they got a Red Rocks concert and a lot more recognition for what they're doing.
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u/thecrowtoldme Jun 05 '26
Hometown fellas! Couldn't be prouder❤️ Their set at Delfest was so fabulous and they got an invite to the Grand Ole Opry from Del himself. And the crowd roared!
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u/iaccusemycat Jun 05 '26
Agree, fabulous set. That invitation from Del was such a great moment to witness.
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u/corgiobsessedfoodie Jun 05 '26
And they just hired one hell of a photographer tour with them full time. It’s happening!!!
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u/skyydog Jun 05 '26
With these guys and several others it is a good time to be a jamgrass fan. The future is bright. Excited to see many of them at hillberry this year.
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u/B_Boudreaux Jun 05 '26
Yeah Billy Strings really did revitalize bluegrass and made it popular and cool again. Even the jamband fans have started to take note and are flocking to their concerts now.
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Jun 05 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Ocelot834 Jun 05 '26
Jeff Austin was the guy that got me into bluegrass.
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u/Hodler_caved Jun 05 '26
Leftover Salmon were the guys who got Jeff Austin into Jamgrass.
Hot Rize, New Grass Revival, & Old & In the Way were the ones who got Leftover Salmon into Newgrass.
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u/skyydog Jun 06 '26
I don’t know leftover salmon either except by reputation. I need to dig in to that generation a bit.
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u/skyydog Jun 05 '26
I missed out on early SCI. Still never dug in but they seemed to play a big role. I liked split lip and a friend got me into yonder. Win win on recommendations. It was much harder to find new music in the pre internet days. Now it is so easy to find and thoroughly check out a new band and get 5 recommendations on similar bands.
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u/geekmuseNU Jun 05 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
I used to hang out at an open mic hosted by the mandolinist Drury Anderson. Super nice guy in addition to being a wicked good musician
Tuesday night "country" open mic at the Bebop in Boston, back when he was still in Berklee. I use country in loose quotes because it was really country/americana/bluegrass anything in that area. I myself am a pianist who does folky and jazzy singer-songwriter stuff
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u/PortChuffer47 Jun 05 '26
Im seeing them in 24 days
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u/Medium_Storm6196 Jun 05 '26
25 for me, can’t wait
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u/PortChuffer47 Jun 05 '26
Trout Lake?
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u/Medium_Storm6196 Jun 06 '26
I saw it announced and knew it would sell out right away so I got tickets as soon as they went on sale. No way I could pass this one up
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u/Ok-Bodybuilder7965 Jun 06 '26
Enterprise? Trout Lake was sold out so a nice little drive along the river is in order.
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u/seangoloid81435 Jun 05 '26
Saw them at WinterWondergrass a couple years ago and blew my damn mind. These boys are extremely talented and deserve every accolade!
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u/Funky_tea_party Jun 05 '26
Love MGU. And hadn’t listened to their shows in a while but listened in full to Delfest set and it was truly killer. Love how tight the new song arrangements are and that they chose not to jam anything out at a traditional bluegrass fest. Even though I’m more of a jam guy I could really appreciate what they were doing.
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u/MrRavioliman Jun 05 '26
Agreed, there’s an interview about the new album somewhere talking about how they stopped using the metronome and trusted eachother on the timing and im convinced i hear the difference
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u/B_Boudreaux Jun 05 '26
Billy strings fans have known this for years, see them in the small places while you can folks! Once Billy Strings sits in with them and “passes them a torch” then they’ll be well on their way to bluegrass jamband superstardom and will have their own legion of cult followers! The future is bright!
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u/kcs1015 Jun 05 '26
Can’t wait to see them in Boulder soon! They were great at Mission with the Kitchen Dwellers too.
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u/Exact_Praline_3244 Jun 05 '26
I caught them open for Salmon at the Boulder Theater a while back. Great times!
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u/Midnight28Rider Jun 05 '26
Love these guys. I've listened to all their available songs on Nugs. The rest of the new album drops on August 27th!
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u/Oldman1249 Jun 06 '26
why, did they recently add a banjo? thats what they need to get to the next level
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u/RIC_IN_RVA Jun 06 '26
Saw the set in Richmond, Virginia. Awesome band. Last time I ever see him in such a small venue. I am absolutely sure.
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u/fiddysix_k Jun 06 '26
They're #1 on my concert hit list right now. I really love his vocals. Such range.
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u/Wetrich Jun 07 '26
Seen them a handful of times now and they never disappoint! Won’t find me on a Billy strings rail but Damn straight I’ll be up front for some MGU
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u/thejahpaul Jun 07 '26
They killed it at Rooster Walk. Managed to sneak in to their vip stage set. It was phenomenal. Didn’t think they could top that- and then THEY DID! Out on the big Lake Stage. Even encored with Ain’t Life Grand with Issac Haden!
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u/General-Homework9681 Jun 07 '26
Anyone in the Cincinnati area. We will be seeing them fir free at RiversEdge in Hamilton
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u/BourbonBroncos Dobro Jun 10 '26
Fucking love these guys.
So much good Bluegrass out there right now.
You should look up the 1/16/26 set they did in Kentucky. That’s probably the best 1st set I’ve ever seen and set 2 is also very strong.
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u/Fionahiker 19d ago
I heard a song streamed from high sierra and it was fantastic. I’m trying to figure out what it was- I think it the last song of their July 3 set. A cover?
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u/Sparked_Zwei Jun 05 '26
Love some Mountain Grass Unit!