Yonder Mountain String Band have confirmed the Nov. 8 release of their 11th studio album, Nowhere Next, via Thirty Tigers. As a preview of their upcoming set, the group unveiled its initial Jerry Douglas-guested single, “Here I Go,” which finds a bluesy groove while maintaining its signature bluegrass lean. As a unique compliment to their initial deliverable, the single boasts an unexpected instrumental bridge that flexes the dobro legend’s strengths. 

Nowhere Next represents the continued legacy of Yonder Mountain String Band’s 26-year history by offering 11 new tracks, 10 of which were composed by the collaborative efforts of founding and core members Adam Aijala, Dave Johnston, Ben Kaufmann, and Nick Piccininn, as well as fiddler Coleman Smith, who joined the band in 2024. In addition to “Here I Go,” Douglas lends his talents to other songs from the impending collection, including “Wasting Time” and “Didn’t Go Wrong.” 

The set is 42 minutes long and touches on various tones and textures that reflect genre preferences, such as bluegrass, country, rock, and jazz. As a visual capture of today’s single, Yonder Mountain String Band enlisted the help of Flagship Independent to produce its “Here I Go” music video featuring professional freestyle skier Chris Benchetler. The video relies on clips of the action sports participant and the natural mountainous landscape; it functions not unlike Warren Miller’s famous transfer of the sport to video. 

In addition to today’s single, the set also features new songs such as “Leave the Midwest,” which the band refers to via press release as “an instrumental hook with banjo, guitar, and bass that pays homage to The Grateful Dead while offering an introspective look at revisiting the past and reconciling with the present.” Elsewhere, they tap into the feel of nostalgia (spread with a layer of humor) on “Wasting Time” and “River.”

Highflying centerpieces “Second Hand Smoke,” “Come See Me,” and “Outlaw” boast compositions that heavily rely on fiddle and banjo while actively saving space for harmonies and on the LP title track. Across the boast, the set aims to celebrate the ensemble’s nearly three-decade history as a continued portal into improvisational music. 

Nowhere Next arrives on CD, vinyl, and digital streaming platforms on Friday, Nov. 8. To learn more about Yonder Mountain String Band, visit www.YonderMountain.com. 

Nowhere Next Track List

1. The Truth Fits (3:08)

2. Crusin’ (3:52)

3. Here I Go (5:14)

4. Didn’t Go Wrong (3:50)

5. Nowhere Next (4:36)

6. Leave The Midwest (5:39)

7. Secondhand Smoke (3:50)

8. Come See Me (2:27) 

9. Outlaw (3:05)

10. Wasting Time (4:05)

11. River (3:00)