Rock and bluegrass converge in Morgantown when the Yonder Mountain String Band takes the stage in the Mountainlair Ballrooms on Sunday, Oct. 21. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.

With its self-titled debut album for Vanguard Records, Yonder Mountain String Band has reached a milestone since the first forming in 1998. The album marks the first time the group has added drums to its mix of banjo, bass, mandolin and guitar. Its also the first time the bluegrass ensemble has merged with folk and rock songwriting styles, alongside rock producer Tom Rothrock (Foo Fighters, Elliott Smith, Beck and James Blunt).

The transition was a natural next step for the bluegrass foursome who have always considered themselves progressive. Under Rothrocks leadership, guitarist Adam Aijala added electric guitar to the album, while mandolinist Jeff Austin milked an old �€~70s amplifier for feedback with an acoustic mandolin. Bassist Ben Kaufmann said,We ended up with an album thats got rippinbluegrass on it, but approached in a non-traditional way, which really appeals to me because were not a traditional band.

As a result, Colorado-based Yonder Mountain continues to close the gap between bluegrass and rock and reaches a broader audience while doing it. With its dueling electric guitar/banjo solo section, the albums first single,How �€~Bout You?, has the goods to turn people on to a new way of playing traditional bluegrass instruments.

With their live shows, the members of Yonder Mountain aim to please longtime fans and newcomers alike. The Buffalo News wrote of the bands performance at Buffalos Lafayette Square thatthe String Bands virtuosic bluegrass was a tough act to follow.Yonder Mountain has become one of the fastest-rising touring bands in the country, selling out 3,000-seat venues and playing at high-profile festival sets.

Dont miss this one-of-a-kind live show at the Mountainlair! General admission tickets, $15 for WVU students and $20 for the general public, are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased at the Mountainlair and Creative Arts Center box offices, online at ticketmaster.com, or through the Ticketmaster Phone Center at 292-0220. Tickets may also be purchased at Giant Eagle at the Mountaineer Mall and FYE in the Meadowbrook Mall.

This event is produced by WVU Arts&Entertainment. For more event information, call 304-293-SHOW, or visit us online atevents.wvu.edu.