Article Contributed by Dan Ward
Published on 2026-07-18
The Infamous Stringdusters - Paw Paw, MI | photos by Dan Ward
Change is good. A new way of doing something can challenge boredom, something new can brighten your day, and best of all is a change that uplifts your spirits. Warner Vineyards, the thoughtfully innovative venue that is constantly improving and upgrading, has introduced a concert and venue change that provides all three.
First up is the elephant on the site: a massive new stage. There is no way not to be blown away by how large yet well thought out the stage is and how well it blends into the venue. The stage is much larger than last year’s, yet there is more room in front. The patios have been upgraded and are beautiful, and new high-rise private viewing suites are being built across the creek. We can hardly wait.
Tonight, two acts will occupy this new stage, and the fans are revved up for an amazing show.
First up is an amazing band out of Ypsilanti, Michigan: Wilson Thicket. The group is comprised of Jason Dennie on mandolin, guitar and vocals; Aaron Markovitz on guitar, mandolin and vocals; Scott Kendall on upright bass; and Keith Billik on banjo and vocals. Wilson himself seems to be absent.
With witticisms as fast as their picking, this is a group that truly entertains. They take the stage by storm with “Jelly-O,” a blazing bluegrass song that sets the bar high.
The band has an easy way about them that plays well to concertgoers relaxing in the late-day heat. “I Was Wrong” gives each member of the band a moment to shine, and the level of technical prowess is excellent. “In My Arms,” “3 Stones in the River” and “Honey Hangover” are all from the band’s current release, Off the Edges, available on most streaming services.
The band displays amazing harmonies, the kind usually expected from siblings or groups that have played together for much longer. The musical chops go even deeper when the band plays its version of Huey Lewis’ “I Want a New Drug.” It is an interesting choice for bluegrass, but they take it one step further by using the bass line from Ray Parker Jr.’s “Ghostbusters.” It works and leaves many in the audience smiling because they are in on the joke.
Wilson Thicket, the band’s fictitious leader, has still not appeared as the group begins to wind down with another original, “December.”
The band closes the set with “Think of What You’ve Done.” Wonderfully written and played with abandon, the song simply hits the fans. In just eight songs, performed in the heat and blazing sunlight, these young musicians have created many new fans. These are the fans who stick around forever, as they are the tried-and-true Infamous Stringdusters fans.
After a quick stage reset, Chris Pandolfi enters with his banjo, followed by a shock of platinum-blond hair announcing the arrival of Andy Hall and his Dobro. The crowd comes to its feet and the cheering begins. Andy Falco on guitar and Travis Book on double bass take their places and bask in the bright sunlight as Jeremy Garrett enters with his fiddle and the music begins.
The ’Dusters send out “Carry Me Away,” “The Voyageur” and “Looking for Something Good” like an explosion of lightning-fast riffs and amazingly tight harmonies, traits the fans know set The Infamous Stringdusters apart.
They do not even wait for the applause to end before diving into “Karma,” twisting it into a jamming waterfall of solos. Every member of the band is a master of both instrument and voice.
Andy Falco lends his voice to “Working Man’s Blues.” The ’Dusters’ harmonies are like sunshine breaking through the clouds: uplifting.
Now the crowd is really pumped up, and the time is right for Jeremy to sing one of the band’s greatest hits, “A Place That I Call Home.” It is, as always, thrilling to hear.
We are on a roll now as the sun finally gives up its place in the sky and the cool winds of evening begin. The opening strains of “Just Like Heaven” cause a sensation among the crowd. The unmistakable string bending of Andy Hall and Jeremy Garrett gives the song an intensity of anticipation. As Andy Falco’s beautiful voice rings out the melody, Jeremy’s incredible fiddling sends the fans over the top.
The band cools things off a little with the lovely “Burning Me Again,” followed by the lighthearted “Hard Times Ain’t That Hard Anymore.”
We have all had time to grab one of Warner’s prize-winning wines and enjoy the beautiful sky as the sun dips into the lake. The band begins “Rise Sun,” and we are all back up dancing. This band knows how to time a song.
The band breaks into the bluegrass crown jewel “Gotta Travel On,” and they absolutely nail this legendary song. They back it up with “It’ll Be Alright.” Travis singing the melody with Jeremy over the top is wonderful.
The Infamous Stringdusters teach with their music, spreading the lesson of peaceful happiness wherever they go. Now they have a specific lesson of tolerance, delivered in the gentle way they do so well.
“Gospel 32” is performed a cappella and showcases the lovely voices of all the band members. If all of life’s lessons could be delivered so magically, what a wonderful world we would have.
The concert ends on a high note as “Nightbirds” fills our ears with fantastic playing and harmonies that make listening to The Infamous Stringdusters such a joy. The crowd is on its feet and chanting for more.
The band responds with the super jam “Blockygrass” as an encore, and the audience cheers them on.
This was a blowout night of fantastic music, all delivered at one of the finest music venues in the Midwest. After 20 years, The Infamous Stringdusters leave us all with just one question: When do we get a little more?
