The String Cheese Incident frontman Bill Nershi gave Daniel Donato a local’s welcome when the Cosmic Country bandleader visited Denver over the weekend. The Nashville guitarist previously opened for the Colorado bluegrass+ band at Red Rocks Amphitheatre over the summer.
Closing out a two-night run at The Ogden Theatre, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country took the stage Saturday with additional help from Nershi for the band’s final set of the weekend. Armed with his acoustic guitar, Nershi joined Donato, Will “Mustang” McGee, Nathan “Sugarleg” Aronowitz, and Will “Bronco” Clark for an upbeat “Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms”, a crossover staple for both Cheese and Donato.
A gracious guest, Nershi held on for a rollicking ride through Daniel Donato original “Blame the Train”, before the band returned the favor with its first-ever performance of The String Cheese Incident’s “Outside and Inside”. A more relaxed tempo than the typical Cosmic Country fare, “Outside and Inside” allowed the band to stretch out and show its varied capabilities beyond the bandleader’s chicken pickin’. Just as he does with Cheese, Nershi acted as a conduit for improvisation, bringing out the best in everyone onstage.
Though Nershi took off after “Outside and Inside”, Donato still had another surprise. As the clock wound down on the sold-out “biggest weekend in Cosmic Country history,” Donato announced that the band would be back next year to headline Denver’s Mission Ballroom. He has yet to reveal an exact date, but later confirmed the show on social media.
“I am delivering to each and every individual who was with us in Denver last night the most sizable and sincere Yeehaw that has ever been spoken through out the entire cosmos,” Donato posted. “Thank you for selling out our biggest weekend in all of Cosmic Country history, and for bringing us the such truthful and beautiful energy in every square inch of the Ogden Theatre.
We’ll see you at The Mission Ballroom next year, Denver.”
Riding high from the weekend and the announcement (and an appearance on CBS‘ Saturday Sessions), Daniel Donato then closed out the weekend by bringing Bill Nershi back out for Grateful Dead staple, “Turn On Your Love Light”.
Watch The String Cheese Incident’s Bill Nershi join Daniel Donato in Denver. Following the completion of Suwannee Hulaween, Cheese’s touring calendar is completely empty, while Donato has another seven dates left for 2025. Highlights include his annual Cosmic Christmas year-end celebration in Nashville (12/5–12/6), followed by a spot at Warren Haynes‘ Christmas Jam in Asheville (12/13). Find tickets and tour dates here.
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Bill Nershi — “Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms” (Flatt & Scruggs) — 11/8/25
[Video: Todd Norris]
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Bill Nershi — “Outside And Inside” — 11/8/25
[Video: Todd Norris]
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Bill Nershi — “Turn On Your Lovelight” (Bobby “Blue” Bland) — 11/8/25
[Video: Todd Norris]
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Setlist: Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country | The Ogden Theatre | Denver, CO | 11/8/25
Set One: Sunshine In The Rain (Strange Presence), Lady Justice, Lose Your Mind > Waymore’s Blues (Waylon Jennings) > Mystery Train (Junior Parker), Along The Trail, Free Wheelin’ [1], Boogie Man (Speedy West, Jimmy Bryant), Luck Of The Draw > Sugar Leg Rag
Set Two: Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms (Flatt & Scruggs) [2], Blame The Train [3], Outside And Inside (The String Cheese Incident) [2] [4], Tennessee Tumbleweed [5], Rose In A Garden, Lay Low Lucy, Darlin’ Cory, Fortunate Sparrow, Sugar Shack [5], Dance In The Desert [7]
Encore: Turn On Your Love Light (Bobby “Blue” Bland) [3]
[1] Will McGee On Lead Vocals (Song)
[2] Bill Nershi On Acoustic Guitar And Vocals (Song)
[3] Bill Nershi On Acoustic Guitar (Song)
[4] FTP
[5] Announced Mission Ballroom Next Year (Song)
[6] Nathan Aronowitz On Lead Vocals And Guitar (Song)
[7] Nathan Aronowitz On Guitar And Keys (Song)