Although the Yonder Mountain String Band was formed in Nederland, CO, its origins go back to Urbana, IL, where college student and banjo player Dave Johnston met mandolin player Jeff Austin. Austin moved west and settled in Nederland. Johnston joined him there, and the two met bass player Ben Kaufmann and guitarist Adam Aijala at a club called the Verve. In December 1998, they formed the Yonder Mountain String Band to open for a band at the Fox Theatre in Boulder. They developed a following among bluegrass fans and also among jam band fans as they played extensively and worked their way up the bar and club circuit in the West to large venues like Red Rocks and the Fillmore.
Using bluegrass as its bedrock, and with little radio support, the band has grown like few rock bands even do these days. Yonder Mountain has become one of the fastest rising touring bands in the country, its fanbase having ballooned over the past five years through steady gigging and high-profile festival sets, all of which are full of improv and none of which feature the same set list.
Tickets are $23 in advance, $28 day of show. They are available in Albuquerque (cash only plus $2 surcharge) at:
4022 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, 344-8139 Natural Sound, 3422 Central Ave. SE, 255-8295
Tickets are also available through the Lensic Box Office (505-988-1234) and TicketsSantaFe.org.
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Although the 
4022 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, 344-8139