Leftover Salmon Warms Boulder Theater With Family, Special Guests, & Thanksgiving Tradition [Photos/Videos]

Leftover Salmon turned Boulder Theater into a full-blown family reunion on Friday and Saturday night. The band’s annual Thanksgiving run has always carried more weight than a standard gig, but this time felt especially charged—equal parts homecoming, celebration, and bluegrass revival.

The night opened with a burst of youthful energy from Silas Herman & The Tone Unit, fronted by Vince Herman’s son. Silas made a powerful hometown statement, picking clean and confidently, and bringing the energy just like his dad. Vince reminded the crowd that Silas grew up at these Thanksgiving shows—sometimes literally asleep backstage behind the amps. Now a new father himself, Silas shared that he hopes this tradition continues with his baby boy. Judging by the roar from the crowd, Boulder agrees.

Next up were Jason Carter and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, bluegrass’s reigning fiddle power couple. Their chemistry was electric—tight harmonies, twin-fiddle runs, and two players completely locked into each other’s instincts. Their originals and traditionals alike landed with heart, showcasing exactly why they’re both Grammy-recognized and IBMA-decorated.

Then, Salmon hit the stage and immediately got ’er rollin’, launching into a first set packed with classics, deep cuts, and a generous spread of covers. “Liza” had the room singing, “Gold Hill Line” lit up the Colorado faithful, and “River Takes Me” washed the whole theater in harmony. The band began welcoming friends early, pulling up Jason Carter for Conway Twitty’s “Boogie Grass Band”, then inviting Rob and Ronnie McCoury to send the bluegrass energy into overdrive. The group paid homage to late reggae legend Jimmy Cliff (who passed away days before Thanksgiving) with “Sitting in Limbo” and celebrated the communal spirit of the evening with The Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends”.

Leftover Salmon – “Liza” – 11/28/25

Set two opened just as strong with “Big Wheel”, “New Country Blues”, and a run of songs showcasing the band’s versatility—from LoS multi-instrumentalist Drew Emmitt’s anthemic “Morning Sun” to the Bill Monroe barn-burner “Big Mon”. And with it being Thanksgiving weekend, a nod to the Grateful Dead felt inevitable. Salmon offered a gorgeous trio—“Deal”, “Midnight Blues”, and “Brown Eyed Women”—that filled the room with gratitude.

For the encore, the show transformed into a true bluegrass family revival. Nearly everyone from the night—Leftover Salmon, Silas Herman Band, Jason Carter, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Rob and Ronnie McCoury, plus Billy Failing and Eli Emmitt—joined together for John Hartford’s “Up on the Hill Where They Do the Boogie”. Solos flew like sparks, Vince busted out the washboard, and the crowd stomped along, chaotic, joyful, and free—an embodiment of what these Thanksgiving shows mean to Boulder.

If night one felt like a family gathering, night two pushed the reunion energy even further. Salmon returned on Saturday with the same stacked lineup and added Eli Emmitt Band as openers. Eli—Drew Emmitt’s son—came out swinging. He played with heart, fire, and a tone just like his dad’s. He made the night even more sentimental by bringing out his sister for a few songs, giving the crowd a sweet sibling moment that fit the weekend’s family theme perfectly.

Bronwyn and Jason lit the stage up again, opening their set with Hartford’s “Vamp in the Middle” and then blessing the audience with love songs and originals that cracked hearts wide open.

Leftover Salmon kicked off their own set with a fiery “You Ain’t Going Nowhere”, then tore through staples like “Zombie Jamboree”, “Gulf of Mexico”, and “Mud Season”. The first set quickly became another guest parade, with the McCourys and Carter jumping in for bluegrass classics including “Little Maggie”, “Memories of Mother and Dad”, and a ripping “Rag Mama Rag”. Bronwyn’s fiddle soared once again, adding a sweet and melodic counterbalance to the raw picking from her fellow musicians.

Leftover Salmon – “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere”, “Breakin’ Through” – 11/29/25

The second set carried a completely different flavor and leaned heavily into the Grateful Dead songbook. After originals like “Last Days of Autumn”, “Get Me Outta This City”, and the fan-favorite “Evermore”, Salmon opened the floodgates with a Dead-heavy sequence: “West L.A. Fadeaway”, “U.S. Blues”, “Me & My Uncle”, “Reuben’s Train”, and “Loser”. Eli Emmitt’s electric guitar added a gritty edge, while the McCourys and Carter pushed the jams deeper into the zone between bluegrass tradition and Salmon’s untamed improvisational spirit.

To close out the run, the entire crew reassembled for a feel-good encore of “High Country”, a fitting musical sendoff that lifted the room into one final communal stomp.

Two nights in Boulder once again proved why Leftover Salmon’s Thanksgiving shows are more than concerts—they’re living, breathing celebrations of the music, the community, and the generations that keep both alive. For everyone in the crowd, these shows brought a family feeling into the room and offered a reminder of why we gather, why we dance, and why—35 years in—Leftover Salmon still feels like home.

Both nights of the run streamed live on nugs and can be rewatched now—conveniently right as nugs is running a 50% off holiday deal. That’s less than thirty cents a day for a year of professionally recorded live music. Not a bad way to relive a little Thanksgiving magic—or dive into thousands of other incredible performances.

[Note: This special deal for 50% off your first year of nugs All Access subscription is available for new users, trial subscribers, and existing monthly users as an upgrade. Discounted subscriptions will renew at the standard rate after first year until cancellation. Live For Live Music is a nugs affiliate. Ordering your subscription or purchasing a download via the links on this page helps support our work covering the world of live music. Thank you for reading!]

Next up, Leftover Salmon will head to Mexico for Strings & Sol before ringing in the new year in Fernandina Beach, FL. The band also recently announced the fourth annual High Country Kauai, set for April 17th–19th, 2026 in Kilauea, HI, and featuring three nights of Salmon, plus special guests Sam Bush, Holly Bowling, Jason Carter, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes. Find a full list of the band’s upcoming shows and festival appearances here.

Leftover Salmon Boulder Theater Recap

Leftover Salmon With Jason Carter and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes – “Morning Sun” – 11/28/25

[Video: Chris Kinney]

Leftover Salmon – “Gold Hill Line”, “Everything Is Round”, “River Takes Me” Ft. Jason Carter, “Boogie Grass Band” Ft. Jason Carter, Rob & Ronnie McCoury – 11/28/25

[Video: Ben Johnston Music]

 

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