Article Contributed by Big Hassle Media
Published on 2026-07-31
Photo by Nicholas Stock
Bill, Jilian, and Lauren Nershi are excited to announce Songs for the Road, the first offering from The Nershis, a new collective formed by the Colorado family. Out October 9 via SCI Fidelity Records, the album features several close friends and acclaimed collaborators, including members of The String Cheese Incident, The Infamous Stringdusters, Ghost Town Drifters, and Terrapin Family Band.
The album’s first single, “I Drive Me Crazy Too,” is out today. Written by Lauren Nershi, the song explores the universal feeling of “driving not only the person you love crazy, but driving yourself crazy, too,” says Lauren.
LISTEN TO “I DRIVE ME CRAZY TOO” HERE
What started as a gift for their daughter Lauren Nershi became a gift for Bill and Jilian Nershi as well. The family wanted to record some songs Lauren had written, then realized they had a few more offerings they all wanted to record together. Those sessions eventually became an album by The Nershis.
Heading into the studio, The Nershis called upon some great musician friends from the area to form what they call “The Colorado Contingent.”
“We wanted our album to have that Colorado sound,” Jilian says.
Bill and Jilian have been touring and recording nationally and internationally for more than 30 years alongside Jason Hann on percussion and drums and Keith Moseley on bass, both of The String Cheese Incident. Hann and Moseley joined The Nershis for Songs for the Road.
“We met The Infamous Stringdusters back when we were touring with our band Honkytonk Homeslice and had one of the best picks of our lives at Strawberry Music Festival at our campsite,” Jilian Nershi recounts. “With my brain injury, there are so many things I don’t remember over the years, but I have never forgotten the great music that night!”
Twenty years later, the family invited Andy Hall on dobro and lap steel guitar, Chris Pandolfi on banjo, and Jeremy Garrett on fiddle, all of The Infamous Stringdusters, to join them on the album.
Their friend Oren Paisner of Ghost Town Drifters adds mandolin, while Ross James of Terrapin Family Band, another longtime friend from years of international touring, joins the album on electric guitar.
Bill’s signature driving acoustic guitar, together with Jilian and Lauren’s sweeping harmonies, creates a rich musical fabric that has become the sound of The Nershis. Songs for the Road displays the heart and soul of a family destined to create music together.
Songs for the Road
SCI Fidelity Records
Release date: October 9, 2026
ABOUT THE NERSHIS:
The Nershis are a family of musicians and songwriters from the mountains of Colorado, including Bill Nershi, renowned guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and founding member of the genre-bending Colorado jam band The String Cheese Incident.
Bill’s wife and musical partner, Jilian Nershi of Honkytonk Homeslice, joins as a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter who has co-written many String Cheese Incident favorites throughout their 30-year partnership.
Shaped by a lifetime immersed in music, their daughter, Lauren Nershi, enters the family trade to round out The Nershis, often leading the way on vocals, guitar, and songwriting. Raised within a vibrant musical community and constantly surrounded by working musicians, Lauren naturally developed a deep love for storytelling through songwriting.
Living in a home where songs were as constant as conversation, she began singing and playing various instruments alongside her parents.
The music of The Nershis showcases dynamic, driving acoustic guitar and soaring, three-part family harmonies. Known for storytelling, writing original music, and interpreting covers, The Nershis’ repertoire spans Colorado country, old-time, Americana, roots, Tex-Mex, bluegrass, country, and, of course, classic rock.
