Yonder Mountain String Band are back with “Brand New Heartache,” a newly released single that arrives just ahead of the band’s return to New York this February.
The longtime bluegrass band will bring their live show to the Stanley Theatre in Utica on February 5th and Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs on February 6, continuing a relationship with New York audiences that’s been built over decades of shows across the state.
If you’ve seen Yonder play New York before, you already know the deal. These aren’t one-off stops or nostalgia plays, they’re part of a regular rotation that keeps the band connected to rooms and crowds they know well. The new single fits right into that ongoing story, offering a reminder that Yonder Mountain String Band is still writing, still touring, and still most at home onstage.
Founding members Adam Aijala, Ben Kauffman and Dave Johnston continue to push the project forward alongside Nick Piccininni, who’s been with the band six years and has co-written the previous two records with the newest addition Coleman Smith on fiddle.
“Brand New Heartache” feels lived-in from the start. It’s the kind of song that doesn’t try to do too much, but leaves room for the band to stretch it out live, depending on the night. That openness has always been part of Yonder’s appeal, especially for fans who come back show after show knowing they’re unlikely to hear the same thing twice.
For New York listeners, these February dates are another chance to reconnect with a band that’s been woven into the state’s bluegrass and jam scene for years. Expect familiar faces in the crowd, songs that wander a bit, and moments that feel more shared than scripted.
If it’s been a while since you last caught Yonder Mountain String Band, or if you’ve somehow never made it to a show, this winter run is a good excuse. Give the new single a listen, circle the dates, and settle in. They’re still doing what they’ve always done, and they’re still doing it well.
Catch Yonder Mountain String Band on the road in 2026
Jan 16–17 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Pour House
Jan 22 – Steamboat Springs, CO – Strings in the Mountains (Strings Music Pavilion)
Jan 24 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Grand at The Complex
Jan 30–31 – Berkeley, CA – The Freight
Feb 5 – Utica, NY – Stanley Theatre
Feb 6 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Universal Preservation Hall
Feb 7 – Westerly, RI – United Theatre
Feb 8 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
Feb 13 – Germantown, TN – Germantown Performing Arts Center
Feb 14 – Owensboro, KY – Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum
Feb 15 – Grayslake, IL – James Lumber Center
Feb 17 – Cleveland, OH – Music Box Supper Club
Feb 18 – Harrisburg, PA – XL Live
Feb 19–20 – Vienna, VA – The Barns at Wolf Trap
Feb 21 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall
Feb 27 – Milwaukee, WI – The Cooperage
Feb 28 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
Mar 14 – Panama City, FL – Bluegrass by the Bay (McKenzie Park)
Mar 15 – Largo, FL – Central Park Performing Arts Center
Mar 18 – Columbus, OH – Woodlands Tavern
Mar 19 – Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall
Mar 20–21 – Whitestown, IN – Moontown Brewing
Mar 26 – Virginia Beach, VA – Elevation 27
Mar 27 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
Mar 28 – Savannah, GA – Savannah Music Festival
Apr 2 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Lounge
Apr 3 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
Apr 4 – Seattle, WA – Nectar Lounge
Apr 16 – Dallas, TX – The Kessler
Apr 17 – Houston, TX – Heights Theater
Apr 18 – Fredericksburg, TX – Luckenbach Bluegrass Festival
Apr 23 – Gainesville, FL – Heartwood Outdoors
Apr 24 – Jacksonville, FL – Intuition Ale Works
Apr 25 – Tallahassee, FL – Opening Nights at FSU (Adderley Amphitheater at Cascades Park)
May 1 – Anchorage, AK – Atwood Concert Hall
May 2 – Fairbanks, AK – Hering Auditorium
May 15 – Aztec, NM – Tico Time
May 30 – Ogden, UT – Ogden Music Festival
Check out our coverage of Yonder Mountain’s performance at The Egg last January, and Yonder with Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country at Perinton Amphitheatre this past September.
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