Punch Brothers

Formed in New York City in 2006, Punch Brothers are an American band that specialise in a mix of bluegrass, folk and Americana featuring mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile who made his mark with the band Nickel Creek. Joining him were a group of musicians who had played in other bands: Chris Eldridge on guitar, Greg Garrison on bass, Noam Pikelny on banjo and Gabe Witcher on violin. Their self-titled debut album topped the Billboard Bluegrass Albums Chart in 2008 and went to number four on the Americana/Folk Albums Chart, after which time Paul Kowert succeeded Garrison on bass. Their second release, 'Antifogmatic', went to number two on both charts in 2010 and the single 'New Chance Blues' was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance.

'Who's Feeling Young Now?' (2012) topped the Bluegrass Chart and went to number five on the Americana/Folk Chart and an EP titled 'Ahoy!' the same year also topped the Bluegrass Chart. 'Phosphorescent Blues' (2015), produced by T-Bone Burnett, was number one on the Bluegrass Chart and number four on the Americana/Folk list. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Americana Album and the track 'Julep' was nominated as Best American Roots Performance.

After Chris Thile succeeded Garrison Keillor as host of the popular American radio show 'Prairie Home Companion' in 2016, it was renamed 'Live from Here' and Punch Brothers were to play with Thile on a major American tour of the show in 2018 with dates in New Orleans, Austin, St. Paul, Tampa, Minneapolis, New York, Nashville and Atlanta plus Wolf Trap in Virginia, Ravinia Festival in Illinois, Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado and Tanglewood in Massachusetts.