Uncle B’s Drunk With Power String Band featuring Bryan Simpson w/ Vince Herman, Wyatt Ellis, John Mailander, Thad Cockrell

Uncle B’s Drunk With Power String Band Show is Bryan Simpson’s irreverent trippy-trad tent revival of a musical experience currently in residence in the Neon Steeple at Chief’s on Broadway in Nashville, Tennessee. Aka. the Damned Ole Opry – the variety show features a wildly talented slew of colorful and creative musicians, singers, and songwriters that tear things down to the stud level all in the way of a grand ole time. Each month, Uncle B’s honors a legendary record with renditions of classic songs performed on banjos, fiddles and mandolins. It’s hay bales and hell yeahs! Imagine Billy Strings meets Barnum and Bailey. Hee Haw and Half Baked had a baby. It’s best witnessed instead of discussed. Come lay eyes on it.

This Month the Drunk with Power String Band play guilty pleasures and old time bluegrass.

Bryan Simpson

Modern American eclectic singer-songwriter Bryan Simpson is an artist whose sound unnervingly explores an evocative amalgamation of southern folk, bluegrass, classic country and indie eclecticism, with the playful swagger, relatable storytelling, and thoughtful introspection of his heroes which include John Hartford, Tom T Hall, Jeff Tweedy, and of course Bob Dylan.

Bryan’s songs have netted praise from all corners: The Huffington Post wrote “Bryan’s original undertakings are reminiscent of the whimsical and whip-smart work by David Byrne and Jim James”. While SeattlePi claims Simpson’s music echoes “Bowie, and Beck in the melodies, moods, and arrangements. The quest is entertaining and thought-provoking.” His genre-spanning career has included making records and touring as a singer/songwriter with luminaries as diverse as The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, bluegrass giant Ricky Skaggs and Mumford and Sons. Since leaving his hometown of Ft Worth Texas with only a fiddle, guitar, mandolin and a box fan to his name, Simpson has had many of his original songs recorded by country music standouts like Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Hailey Whitters, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Brandy Clark, Old Dominion, Stephen Wilson Jr., with several of them ending up with a number 1 beside their name on the Billboard and Music Row charts . He has also been awarded NSAI’s prestigious award of “10 Songs I wish I’d Written”. His songs have easily totaled over 500 million streams at this point.

This year Simpson released his first record under his own name. “The Oldest”, released in April, is a concise 11 songs in length, produced by Eddie Spear (Zach Bryan/Brandi Carlisle) and takes Simpson’s shade tree kaleidoscopic storytelling center stage

John Mailander

John Mailander is an acclaimed multi-instrumentalist based in Nashville, TN. As a performer, producer, composer, educator, and recording artist, John is known for his voice on the fiddle, mandolin, and other stringed instruments.

He is a member of Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, and the leader of his own project, John Mailander’s Forecast. His playing can be heard on albums by Billy Strings (including the Grammy-winning album Home), Noah Kahan, Joy Williams, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Lucy Dacus, Molly Tuttle, Joe K. Walsh, Chatham County Line, Sam Burchfield, and many more.

As a touring musician, John has worked closely with artists including Billy Strings, Mighty Poplar, Lindsay Lou, Sam Grisman, Peter Rowan, Keller Williams, Bella White, Sierra Hull, Tony Trischka, Jacob Jolliff, Ruth Moody, Maya De Vitry, Lee Ann Womack, Rev. Jeff Mosier, and more. He played fiddle for the premier of Steve Martin & Edie Brickell’s musical, Bright Star, in New York. As a member of Bruce Hornsby’s Noisemakers, he has had opportunities to make music on stage with artists and musical heroes such as John Scofield, Kenny Garrett, Christian McBride, Sam Amidon, Shawn Colvin, and The Wood Brothers.

 Vince Herman 

Vince Herman is a Bluegrass guitarist and singer-songwriter, best known for being one of the founding members of the band Leftover Salmon. 

Herman began playing guitar as a child. He discovered David Bromberg & his Big Band while in ninth grade and says it was at that point he knew music was what he wanted to do with his life. He played his first professional gigs in the eleventh grade with local band Eddie and the Night Riders. Herman went to West Virginia University for college and began his music education by playing in a number of bands. He learned from bluegrass legends like Melvin Wine, Mose Coffman, J.P. Fraley and Dewey Balfa. 

After college, Herman moved to Colorado and met future bandmate Drew Emmitt. Over the next few years, Emmitt continued to play with the Left Hand String Band and Herman formed the Salmon Heads. The two formed Leftover Salmon a few years later, in 1989, when they combined Emmitt’s newgrass inspired Left Hand String Band and Herman’s Cajun-jugband Salmon Heads. Over the next 16 years, Leftover Salmon toured extensively, was part of the jamband scene, and played at the influential H.O.R.D.E festivals. The band went on hiatus in 2005 and Herman formed Great American Taxi, who released their debut album, Streets of Gold, in 2007. Great American Taxi toured extensively and released two more albums, 2009’s Reckless Habits and 2011’s Paradise Lost. Herman played with Great American Taxi until Leftover Salmon returned in 2013. 

In 2019, he formed the super-group High Hawks with keyboardist 

Wyatt Ellis 

Wyatt Ellis, 16-year-old mandolinist, singer, and songwriter from East Tennessee, stands out as one of the most exciting young artists in bluegrass and country music. A skilled multi-instrumentalist with a deep respect for tradition, he leads a powerhouse band known for their raw, single-mic energy and crowd-pleasing performances. By age 13, Wyatt performed at the Grand Ole Opry. At age 14, he was invited to return with his band for his Official Opry Debut, performing his original music in the Circle-an unprecedented accomplishment. Wyatt picked up the mandolin at age 10 and honed his craft during 2020, learning from many of the genre’s top musicians. His debut album, Happy Valley, a collection of original instrumentals written when he was just 11 years old, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass chart, marking the arrival of a bold and authentic new voice in American roots music. Wyatt is also currently featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibit and proudly serves as the ambassador for the Great Smokies Region Tourism, representing the rich musical traditions of Appalachia to 

the world. Wyatt’s story embodies the classic country music narrative. From barefoot pickin’ on his porch in a holler in East Tennessee to standing ovations on the world’s most iconic stage, his career is a testament to the power of ‘hillbilly music.” Born and raised in the heart of East Tennessee, Wyatt carries the spirit of tradition while simultaneously reshaping the landscape for future generations. As his career continues to unfold, it’s clear that a special blend of musicality, dedication, and authentic Appalachian heritage will ensure that Wyatt Ellis remains a lasting influence on the bluegrass genre and the broader world of acoustic music for years to come.