Greensky Bluegrass Announces 25th Anniversary Album, Teams Up With Billy Strings On Reimagined Version Of “Reverend”

Greensky Bluegrass is going big for their 25th anniversary this year.

Forming in Kalamazoo, Michigan back in 2000, Greensky Bluegrass has long been a stalwart within the bluegrass music scene and a leading force in the growth of jamgrass over the years. And to celebrate their success over the past quarter century, they have new music on the way.

Slated for release on Halloween of this year, the same night as their 25th anniversary hometown show in Kalamazoo, the jamgrass powerhouse announced today their aptly titled upcoming record XXV. Set to feature collaborations with the likes of Nathaniel Rateliff, Lindsay Lou, and other high profile artists form the bluegrass and americana scenes, Greensky released the album’s lead single “Can’t Stop Now” with legendary musician Sam Bush last month. The biggest feature on the album, though, hit streaming platforms today in tandem with the album announcement.

A reimagined version of their tune “Reverend,” which was originally released in 2008 on their album Five Interstates, Greensky teamed up with the scene’s most prominent torchbearer, Billy Strings, to breathe fresh life into an underrated classic within their catalog. And beyond the fact that Strings adds another element to the recording with his iconic vocals and virtuosic guitar picking, his feature on this track in particular marks a full circle moment of sorts for a couple of Michiganders.

Growing up just a relatively short drive from where Greensky was formed, Strings was heavily immersed in traditional bluegrass as a child, but he often credits bands like Greensky Bluegrass with opening up his eyes to the jamgrass side of the genre, and as one of the biggest bands in the niche space, Strings has been heavily influences by their music. To make the connection between these bands even more intense, Greensky acted as a catalyst at the beginning of Strings’ career, often bringing him along to open shows in front of their fervent fanbase.

Known to cover their music from time to time, Strings has performed “Reverend” over 20 times throughout his career, and has done so as recently as last week at his show in Brisbane City, Australia. So it makes perfect sense that these two forces would team up for a reimagined version of the track to celebrate the 25 year milestone.

Written by Greensky’s mandolinist Paul Hoffman, “Reverend” is a relatably existential song that generally deals with the fear of uncertainty. Beginning with the potent lyric “A couple beers with the reverend, am I safe for the night?,” the song’s title refers to an exchange Hoffman had with fellow Michigan musician Seth Bernard, who happens to be an ordained minister.

Check out Greensky Bluegrass’ latest track below:

With the album revisting many of Greensky Bluegrass’ fan favorite songs, and including collaborations with some of their closest friends in the industry, XXV is the perfect way to commemorate their successful careers and to reinvigorate excitement for all that is still to come. The band took to Instagram this morning to announce the record and provide some additional context.

“Our new record ‘XXV’ is coming Oct 31st! The first single “Reverend” featuring Billy Strings is out now. 

Celebrating twenty-five years of Greensky Bluegrass, the album features previously unrecorded songs and new takes on fan-favorites featuring guest appearances by Sam Bush, Lindsay Lou, Billy Strings, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman, Jason Hann, Aoife O’Donovan, & Ivan Neville.

‘We’ve called on some dear friends to breathe a touch of new life into some classic Greensky songs for your listening pleasure. We’ve reinvented the sounds of some of our (dare I say) ‘hits’ because after a quarter century of Greensky Bluegrass, with plenty of new music on the horizon, we believe it’s woth celebrating what the five of us have created together… and we want you to have a damn good time listening to it.’ – Anders Beck”

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And while we’re at it, here’s the aforementioned lead single “Can’t Stop Now” featuring Sam Bush.

XXV is going to be one heck of an album.

In addition to Hoffman on the mandolin, Greensky Bluegrass’ founding members are banjoist Michael Arlen Bont and guitar slinger Dave Bruzza. Mike Devol joined the band in 2004 on upright bass, and Anders Beck rounded out the current lineup when he joined to play dobro with the group in 2007. Together, they make one of the tightest bands in bluegrass, and the heavily improvised, cosmic nature of their live show is a spectacle that I recommend everyone experiences.

In support of the new album and to commemorate their 25th year, Greensky Bluegrass has a massive tour planned for the remainder of the year, so check out the tour dates below, and don’t miss out when they come to a city near you.

Greensky Bluegrass Tour Dates

7/31 – Pickathon – Happy Valley, OR

8/1 – Century Center – Bend, OR

8/2 – Oodalalee Concerts at Pier 62 – Seattle, WA

8/3 – Kaslo Jazz, Etc. – Kaslo, BC

8/9 – Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival – Alta, WY

8/15 – Park City Song Summit – Park City, UT

8/20 – The Mod Club – Toronto, ON

8/21 – The Fillmore – Detroit, MI

8/22 – Kresge Auditorium – Interlochen, MI

8/23 – Kresge Auditorium – Interlochen, MI

9/13 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO

9/18 – Saranac Brewery – Utica, NY

9/19 – FreshGrass Music Festival – North Adams, MA

9/20 – Annapolis Baygrass Festival – Annapolis, MD

9/21 – XPoNential Music Festival – Camden, NJ

10/2 – XL Live – Harrisburg, PA

10/3 – Red Hat Amphitheater – Raleigh, NC

10/4 – Southern Strings Festival – Aiken, SC

10/5 – The Lyric – Oxford, MS

10/7 – The Historic Bama Theatre – Tuscaloosa, AL

10/9 – Hillberry Music Festival – Eureka Springs, AR

10/10 – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO

10/11 – Palace Theatre – Saint Paul, MN

10/12 – Aurora Pavilion – Milwaukee, MI

10/29 – Hoyt Sherman Place – Des Moines, IA

10/30 – The Sylvee – Madison, WI

10/31 – Wings Event Center – Kalamazoo, MI

11/1 – Wings Event Center – Kalamazoo, MI

11/4 – Globe Iron – Cleveland, OH

11/6 – Jefferson Center Shaftman Performance Hall – Roanoke, VA

11/7 – The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC

11/8 – Charleston Music Hall – Charleston, SC

11/9 – FIVE – Jacksonville, FL

11/13 – The BayCare Sound – Clearwater, FL

11/14 – Abacoa Amphitheater – Jupiter, FL

11/15 – Miami Beach bandshell – Miami Beach, FL

12/11-12/15 – Strings & Sol – Puerto Morelos, QR

If you made it this far, feast your ears on one of Billy Strings’ recent “Reverend” covers. What a song.

The post Greensky Bluegrass Announces 25th Anniversary Album, Teams Up With Billy Strings On Reimagined Version Of “Reverend” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.