YMSB assumes role of "Black Sheep"

Monday, February 23, 2015 – Yonder Mountain String Band releases its sixth full-length studio album, "Black Sheep," on its own Frog Pad Records at the 42nd Telluride Bluegrass Festival on June 16.

The disc veers more into rock and improvisation, the band said in a press release.

Produced by YMSB, "Black Sheep" marks the first time the band utilizes throughout an entire record the conventional five-piece bluegrass instrumental line-up of guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle and bass. Violinist Allie Kral and mandolin player Jacob Jolliff, were recruited for the recording and forthcoming tour dates. The band also includes Adam Aijala (guitar, vocals), Dave Johnston (banjo, vocals) and Ben Kaufmann (bass, vocals).

"This record sounds more like Yonder than any record we've ever done. I'm hoping that when people are finished listening to it, they'll just hit play and listen to it again," Kaufmann said.

With the exception of the album's sole cover tune, "Ever Fallen In Love," originally by the late '70s British punk-rock band Buzzcocks, each of the new tracks were written by the YMSB members during the past couple of years. Three songs - "Annalee," "Landfall" and the title track - have already been road-tested on tour; others will be added to the band's live repertoire following the album's release. The majority of "Black Sheep" was recorded at Coupe Studios in Boulder, Col.

YMSB hits the road for a spring tour on March 24. The band returns to Colorado this summer for a hometown show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Aug. 21with Greensky Bluegrass and Fruition.