Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on November 15, 2025
Drew Emmitt – photo(s) by moran
For Boulder music fans, Thanksgiving weekend means family, friends, and one tradition that’s been going strong for over three decades: Leftover Salmon at the Boulder Theater. The polyethnic Cajun slamgrass pioneers return for two nights—Friday, November 28 and Saturday, November 29, 2025—celebrating their 35th anniversary with a lineup full of friends and family.
Friday features The Travelin’ McCourys’ Ronnie and Rob McCoury alongside Jason Carter and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, plus “Salmon Egg” Silas Herman & The Tone Unit opening the night. Saturday brings Eli Emmitt Band, fronted by Drew’s son, Eli Emmitt. Both shows promise a true family reunion in the heart of Colorado.
🎟️ Friday Tickets
🎟️ Saturday Tickets
Grateful Web: It’s Thanksgiving weekend, and for so many people in Colorado, Leftover Salmon at the Boulder Theater is as much a tradition as turkey and pie. What does it mean to you all to be part of people’s holiday rituals year after year?
Drew Emmitt: That’s where it all started. Boulder Theater has always felt like home; always a comfortable place to play music. It’s always a reunion every year—takes us back to the beginning days of Salmon. Familiar and comfortable place to play. Always a good time with friends, picking buddies, etc.
GW: Boulder County has always been your backyard. How has the town and its music scene shaped the identity of Leftover Salmon over the years?
Drew: Boulder is where it all started. We all met in Boulder; I grew up in Boulder. I had been playing music for the Lefthand String Band, and when Vince came to town we connected.
GW: You coined the term polyethnic Cajun slamgrass over 30 years ago. Looking back now, what does that phrase mean to you in 2025, and how has the sound evolved with this lineup?
Drew: It’s a phrase that Vince came up with to sort of describe what we do, which is all over the map. Some people say it’s country music from a lot of different countries. It describes a wide variety of musical influences, which means we can play any kind of music we want.
GW: Thirty-five years is an incredible milestone. What’s kept the fire burning all these years—through lineup changes, genre shifts, and the evolution of the jam and bluegrass scenes?
Drew: Fun.
GW: This Thanksgiving weekend is a real family affair with the McCourys, Jason Carter, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Silas Herman, and Eli Emmitt. How did the lineup come together, and what excites you most about these collaborations?
Drew: We thought it would be really cool since Eli and Silas are getting their bands off the ground. We thought it would be great to have each of our sons open. Silas is much more bluegrass, Eli is much more R&B. Eli is mostly on electric guitar, and Silas is much more on mandolin—so it’ll be cool to see that balance as they open each night.
As far as The McCourys and Jason, we all go back a long way. Having all of them, including Bronwyn on there, is another amazing way to contribute to the family aspect. It’s great to see her journey as a musician and now a member of our jam band family.
GW: After this 35th anniversary celebration, what’s next for Leftover Salmon—new music, festivals, maybe even another landmark hometown run?
Drew: We have tons of exciting things planned, some new, some we’ve done before. We’re going back to Strings and Sol in Mexico in December. We have New Year’s in Florida, which is different for us. Then going back to Alyeska in Alaska in January, shows in Arizona, WinterWonderGrass in February, our annual Hawaii festival in April—and a bunch more new things that you’ll hear about soon. All things we’re excited for in 2026!
GW: What do you hope fans—old-timers from the Fox days and the new generation alike—walk away with after these Boulder Theater shows?
Drew: Fun.
GW: The Boulder Theater and Fox Theatre recently offered free tickets to government-furloughed workers during the shutdown. What did you think when you saw that gesture, and do you feel like music venues and bands can provide a sense of relief in tough times like these?
Drew: Anything that we can do in the music community to help people in need is a great thing—whether it’s government workers or helping people that have lost food benefits. In general, it’s about spreading joy in a world lacking in that. Anything we can do with our music to help people is important.
GW: Leftover Salmon has always carried a “hippie heart”—community, kindness, and joy are baked into your music. In these days where people feel their basic rights are being eroded, what role do you think musicians can play in giving folks hope, perspective, or even just a little break from the chaos?
Drew: Fun.
GW: Some bands steer clear of politics entirely, but Salmon has never been shy about speaking truth in a fun, irreverent way. How do you balance keeping the vibe light and celebratory with also standing up for things you care about?
Drew: I think you gotta stick to your beliefs and channel that through your music. Hopefully that is enough to help people.
GW: The jamgrass scene often feels like more than music—it’s almost like a family or a gathering of tribes. Do you think that communal spirit has the power to counter the divisiveness we’re seeing across the country?
Drew: Yes.
GW: Looking at Boulder and Colorado specifically—a place where music, activism, and outdoor culture all intersect—do you see this community as a model for how art and grassroots action can keep people connected during turbulent times?
Drew: Absolutely.
After three and a half decades, Leftover Salmon remains one of Colorado’s proudest musical exports—still adventurous, still joyous, and still bringing people together every time they hit the stage. This Thanksgiving weekend marks the final Colorado celebration of their 35th anniversary, and Boulder is the only place it could happen.
Don’t miss this hometown reunion at the Boulder Theater, featuring two unforgettable nights of music, friends, and family.
