The Infamous Stringdusters returned to their stronghold in Denver, CO on Saturday for a takeover at Mission Ballroom featuring Lindsay Lou.
This past weekend marked the Nashville-bred jamgrass outfit’s first shows of 2024, following the band’s three-night New Year’s Eve run in Asheville, NC. Easing into the new year, The Infamous Stringdusters warmed up with a pair of intimate underplays at the 238-seat Sheridan Opera House in Telluride on Wednesday and Thursday. Fast forward to Saturday, and the Stringdusters packed Denver’s 3,950-capacity Mission Ballroom, with help from a few friends.
After an opening set from Clay Street Unit, the program got rolling with singer-songstress Lindsay Lou, a friend and frequent collaborator of the Dusters. Lou has plenty of friends in high places including Fruition mandolinist Mimi Naja, who played electric guitar in Lindsay’s backing band on Saturday. Lou and Naja didn’t stray too far following their set, joining The Infamous Stringdusters along with the rest of Lindsay’s backing band for a soulful take on the Otis Redding-penned Aretha Franklin classic “Respect”.
Throughout the show, The Stringdusters touched on their wide range of influences. Dropped in the first set was the band’s take on Harry Styles‘ pop megahit “As It Was”—released as a single last summer—while in the second set, the band honored bluegrass luminaries Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs with a cover of “I’d Rather Be Alone”. The song appears on the band’s Flatt & Scruggs tribute EP shared back in April. The Strindusters also peppered in plenty of originals throughout the two-set show, including the geospecific hat tip “Colorado”, which just so happens to be one of their most popular songs.
Check out photo galleries of The Infamous Stringdusters and Lindsay Lou at Mission Ballroom courtesy of photographer Kit Tincher. The Dusters’ tour of the western United States rolls on this week with shows in Wyoming, Utah, and Montana. For tickets and a full list of tour dates head here.
The Infamous Stringdusters – Mission Ballroom – Denver, CO – 1/27/24 – Full Video