Photos: Greensky Bluegrass let everyone shine at the Uptown Thursday night

June 30, 2025

Allison Scavo,

Greensky Bluegrass. // photo by Allison Scavo

Greensky Bluegrass
Uptown Theater
Thursday, June 26

Greensky Bluegrass came through Kansas City just before they hit Eau Claire’s Blue Ox Festival. We can’t even call it a summer tour, or a tour with a name, because this band is nonstop just like their jams. Their energy filled every nook of the 97-year-old theater, as historical yet modernized as bluegrass music itself.

With no opening act, the first set started with “Into The Rafters” as the band locked into tight grooves. The lighting was hyper-focused on highlighting the individual members as they played their solos while darkening the lighting on others, literally letting each other’s lights shine. Paul Hoffman’s mandolin twirled through spacious soundscapes, while Anders Beck’s dobro reverberated textured warmth, sliding between grit and soul. Dave Bruzza’s guitar grounded the rhythm while Michael Bont’s banjo pickin’ wailed, adding a twangy spark to it all. Mike Devol’s upright bass plunged each song into a deeper groove, accentuating every sound radiating from the instruments.

Long-time Campers travel night after night to hear these five, but I was lucky enough to be on the patio when I overheard someone as,y “I don’t know, but surely someone here knows where they’re from.” I blurted out almost alarmingly, “KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN,” to the point where my legitimacy was questioned, and I had to explain how I knew this. The couple I interrupted had never even heard of GSBG. They scored some tickets and flew by the seat of their pants with the radio blaring their music on the way. Whether you’re just discovering them or were born with their music in your veins, they are not to be missed.

All photos by Allison Scavo

Greensky Bluegrass setlist

Set 1:
Into the Rafters
Lose My Way
Hot Dogs (on Parade)
Handle With Care (Traveling Wilburys cover)
Steam Powered Aereo Plane (John Hartford cover)
200 Miles From Montana
Distracted
Don’t Lie

Set 2:
A Day in the Life (The Beatles cover)
Just to Lie
Train Junkie
Can’t Make Time
Get Out
Send Me Your Address From Heaven (Johnnie Bailes cover)
Reverend
Ain’t No Bread in the Breadbox > Wings > Breadbox (Norton Buffalo cover)
—
Solstice

So, after Greensky Bluegrass my son wanted burgers (shout out to Gaia’s Burgers) and as we were leaving, this band had set up shop outside of Kelly’s. People flocked and even came out of other venues and bars to watch. They even had a mosh pit going in the intersection of the actual street! They played with all their heart and soul, and honestly pulled at my heart strings because getting in where I could, when I could, at any opportunity is how I got where I am. Hell yeah, Insipidus. Hell yeah.