Kaufmann on acoustic, Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, 7/17/05 – photo by John Patrick Gatta

Last night in Boulder, the Yonder Mountain String Band opened its three show New Year’s Eve run. Although the group did not add a drummer as it has done on occasion, it did break from bluegrass tradition as Ben Kaufmann moved from acoustic to electric bass for a few songs (“Pockets,” “Midwest Gospel Radio” and “New Speedway Boogie”). In addition, Dr. Banjo himself, Pete Wernick, guested on a few tunes during the second set. Wernick appeared on “No Expectations,” “Walking Shoes” and then the encore run from “Ruby” into “Ruben’s Train” and back into “Ruby.”

Yonder will appear at the Fillmore in Denver over the next two nights and then has a special performance slated for Tuesday, January 5. The group will be the musical guest on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Actresses Patricia Heaton and Carey Mulligan are also set to appear on the show which airs following the Late Show with David Letterman (technically the early morning of Wednesday January 6 in most of the U.S.).