Members of Greensky Bluegrass, the Infamous Stringdusters, and Leftover Salmon will perform together as a new outfit to raise money for the newly launched Arnold Shultz Fund which aims to increase participation and interest in bluegrass music for people of color.

Under the name Denver Bluegrass Allstars, the collaborative performance will feature Andy Hall and Chris Pandolfi (the Infamous Stringdusters), Paul Hoffman (Greensky Bluegrass), Greg Garrison (Leftover Salmon), and flatpicking champion Tyler Grant. The all-star group will make their live debut next Friday, June 26th, with free livestream to air on Nugs.

The initiative launched by International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Foundation is named in honor of Arnold Shultz, an influential Black musician from western Kentucky who lived from 1886–1931 and left a lasting impact on famous white bluegrass musicians like Bill Monroe.

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“Shultz is long overdue for recognition because of his influence on bluegrass music,” adds Dr. Richard Brown, a bluegrass historian and co-chair the Arnold Shultz Fund advisory committee. “Arnold played with Bill Monroe’s fiddling uncle Pen Vandiver as a guitarist. Shultz was also a sought-after fiddler and later hired Bill to play guitar for him at dances. Bill Monroe told me about Arnold Shultz and their dance gigs more than 50 years ago, when I was in my twenties. The stories would always end with Bill saying, ‘Now, isn’t that something?’ Yes, it’s time to take Arnold Shultz, one of our hidden legends, out of obscurity and into the mainstream.”

Greg Garrison also added, “I’m elated to get out of the house and make some new music with my favorite Denver pickers. And it feels really good to bring something new to our collective fan base after three months of Zoom and archival footage.”

Fans will be encouraged to donate what they can to benefit the Arnold Shultz Fund, as a portion of the funds raised will ultimately go create scholarships and educational opportunities, awards, or bluegrass-focused projects.

The June 26th livestream will air at 9 p.m. ET. Click here for webcast info.