An Epic Evening in Charlotte With Greensky Bluegrass

Band Takes Bluegrass to the Next Level with an Amazing Live Performance

Greensky Bluegrass is definitely not your grandfather’s bluegrass. Since the beginning days of the band, GSB has formulated its own special music combining traditional bluegrass with a fiery modern twist and the result has been phenomenal. Garnering a devout audience of fans, Greensky Bluegrass is at the top of the bluegrass game, and for one special night, they made a stop here in Charlotte for an evening of epic jams, traditional covers, and a dazzling light show. 

Kicking off a night of incredible music was Duane Betts and Palmetto Motel. Duane is of course the son of legendary guitarist and founding member of the Allman Brothers Band Dickey Betts, and his musical roots go deep. The accomplished singer-songwriter has become a staple in the Southern rock scene whether as a member of The Allman Betts Band, a solo artist, or as the leader of Duane Betts and Palmetto Motel. 

Taking the stage with his talented band,  Betts is quiet, giving the crowd a quick wave before taking up his position center stage. With his Gibson Les Paul Goldtop in hand, Betts quickly entrances the crowd with precision and skill as he runs through a set of his own music as well as a few covers including of course a little Allman Brothers Band to pay homage to his roots.  Make no mistake about it, Betts is one of the greats. He can play like the wind and his songwriting is top-notch. If you’re looking for a flashy performance, this isn’t it. Instead, you will experience an authenticity that is lacking in today’s musical world. This my friends is music that stirs the soul, the kind you can close your eyes and take a deep, deep dive into. 

Now, that the audience was sufficiently warmed up, it was time for Greensky Bluegrass to bring us home in fantastic fashion. The band members each made their way out onto the stage, taking up their respective spots and doing a quick finetune of their instruments. From left to right we have Michael Arlen Bont on banjo, Paul Hoffman on mandolin, Michael Devol on upright bass, Dave Bruzza on guitar, and Anders Beck on dobro. Up until now, I hadn’t thought about it, but like most traditional bluegrass bands, Greensky Bluegrass does not have a drummer and it never really occurred to me until I saw them setting up on stage. Spoiler Alert: They don’t need one. The rhythms come from the percussive playing of the string instruments and Greensky’s guitar, bass, and mandolin accomplish this wonderfully. 

As they dove into the first song “Don’t Lie,” I was simply amazed to watch the band play. The skillset and talent that each member possesses were quite simply breathtaking and my eyes were glued to their fingers as the sounds washed over me. We were soon foot stomping to traditional tunes like “Jesus on the Mainline” and getting a little Rolling Stones with “No Expectations” Greensky Bluegrass style. 

Of course, this is a bluegrass band and for me, that means it’s all about the pickin’ and GSB gave us some incredible pickin’ work all night long with “Broke Mountain Breakdown” being my absolute favorite. 

Accompanying all this fantastic musicianship was a magnificent display of brilliant dazzling lights in just about every color of the rainbow making the night a truly immersive experience that was magical in every way. 

The tour continues through early March with a ton of festival dates already announced for late spring and summer. If you have never experienced Greensky Bluegrass live, it is definitely something to put on your bucket list. Whether you’re a traditionalist or prefer something a little more out of the box, GSB is excellent in every way. 

See the Full Gallery of the Evening Here!

If you happened to capture any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.

https://www.duanebetts.com/

https://www.greenskybluegrass.com/

Tour Dates

FEB 4, 2024

The Paramount

Huntington, NY

with Melt

FEB 7, 2024

Town Ballroom

Buffalo, NY

with Melt

FEB 8, 2024

Stage AE

Pittsburgh, PA

with Melt

FEB 9, 2024

The Anthem

Washington, DC

with Molly Tuttle

FEB 10, 2024

The Anthem

Washington, DC

with Melt

FEB 29, 2024

Val Air Ballroom

West Des Moines, IA

with The High Hawks

MAR 1, 2024

Palace Theatre

Saint Paul, MN

with The High Hawks

MAR 2, 2024

The Salt Shed

Chicago, IL

with The High Hawks

MAR 3, 2024

The Sylvee

Madison, WI

with The High Hawks

MAR 6, 2024

KEMBA Live!

Columbus, OH

with Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country

MAR 7, 2024

Old Forester’s Paristown Hall

Louisville, KY

with Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country

MAR 8, 2024

Ryman Auditorium

Nashville, TN

with Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country

MAR 9, 2024

Ryman Auditorium

Nashville, TN

with Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country

MAY 11, 2024 – MAY 12, 2024

Mill Valley Music Festival

Mill Valley, CA

MAY 23, 2024 – MAY 26, 2024

DelFest at Allegany County Fairgrounds

Cumberland, MD

MAY 24, 2024 – MAY 26, 2024

Dark Star Jubilee

Thornville, OH

JUN 14, 2024 – JUN 15, 2024

Northlands Music & Arts Festival

Swanzey, NH

JUN 16, 2024

Bonnaroo

Manchester, TN

JUL 4, 2024 – JUL 7, 2024

High Sierra Music Festival

Quincy, CA

JUL 18, 2024 – JUL 20, 2024

4848 Festival

Snowshoe, WV

AUG 2, 2024 – AUG 4, 2024

Grassfire Festival

Garrettsville, OH

NOV 8, 2024

Avett Moon

Miramar Beach, FL