Photo: Rachel Ward

On Friday, December 19, Sam Grisman Project performed at the Field Center for the Arts in Port Angeles, Wash., where they welcomed a special guest, virtuoso mandolinist David “Dawg” Grisman. Before assembling at the venue adjacent to the harbor, the band teased the sit-in on social media, adding to preexisting fan speculation. The performance also doubled as the group’s first live appearance since delivering their self-titled debut studio record–a set intended to mimic their live show with an array of traditionals and classic covers that span Bob Dylan’s archive, Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter, and well beyond. 

The night began with Sam Grisman leading a homage to Dylan on “Buckets of Rain,” a feature of their latest studio LP and a trend that would resurface with “Went to see the Gypsy” leading the second set. After submitting renditions of “Wish I had a Dollar” into “Clam Tide,” the rotating lineup, which for this location included Dominick Leslie, John Mailander, Victory Furtado and Sam Leslie, paid tribute to Dawg on instrumental classic and his original “EMD,” “Whiskey in the Jar” a feature off he and Jerry Garcia’s Shady Grove, and “Old Dog.” 

The precursor set up the mandolinist’s entry on his original “Rinzler’s Rag,” a master classic that touched two generations. With Dawg present, the group performed another Garcia collaboration, the traditional “Two Soldiers,” before returning to instrumentals with set closers, self-composed “Slinky” and the city-naming, 2016 penned “Port Townsend Blues.” As mentioned, the band returned after the break with another from Dylan’s catalog ahead of Tom Waits’ “Picture in a Frame,” sung sweetly by Mailander. Sam Leslie lent “Silver Skipper,” followed by Tim O’Brien’s “49 Keep On.” Notably, O’Brien was a featured guest on the new album and will take part in a trio tour with Sam Grisman and Furtado come January. 

The band submitted a series of bird songs before acknowledging the looming holidays and the Garcia/Grisman performance history on “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” adjusted to “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemang,” and an absolute thrill of an instrumental repartee. Next, Dawg reappeared on stage, leading the group through his original, “O’Banion’s Wake,” and an ode to his wife on “Tracy’s Tune.” Dawg returned on final time after “She Belongs to Me,” and stuck around for an extended sit-in, playing on “Blue Samba,” the Not For Kids Only tune “When First Unto This Country,” and his own “Sambino.” 

Last night, the band converged once more before the New Year, playing in Seattle and celebrating the birthday of a famous instrument, Dawg’s famed mandolin, “Crusher.” Stay tuned for more coverage. 

Sam Grisman Project’s new double album is available for download on David “Dawg” Grisman’s premium AcouticDisc.com. 

Read about the band’s debut studio output here.

Sam Grisman Project 

Field Center for the Arts – Port Angeles, Wash.

Dec. 19, 2025

SET I: BUCKETS OF RAIN, WISH I HAD A DOLLAR > CLAM TIDE, BOUND BY LOVE, MANHATTAN ISLAND SERENADE > EMD@, WHISKEY IN THE JAR, OLD DOG, RINZLER’S RAG@+#, TWO SOLDIERS +% SLINKY@+%, PORT TOWNSEND BLUES@+%

SET II: WENT TO SEE THE GYPSY, PICTURE IN A FRAME, SILVER SKIPPER, 49 KEEP ON, TALKIN, BIRDSES > BIRD SONG, GOD REST YE MERRY GELTLEMANG, O’BANION’S, WAKE@+#, TRACY’S TUNE@+, SHE BELONGS TO ME, BLUE SAMBA@+%, WHEN FIRST UNTO THIS COUNTRY+, SAMBINO@+#%

NOTES:

+ With David “Dawg” Grisman 

@ Written by David “Dawg” Grisman 

# With Tracy Grisman 

% Cousin Vinny