Punch Brothers

Punch Brothers originated in 2006, formed by mandolinist Chris Thile. Initially known as The How to Grow a Band, the group eventually settled on the name Punch Brothers, inspired by a Mark Twain short story. The band’s early lineup included Thile alongside Bryan Sutton (guitar) and Greg Garrison (bass). This formation led to their debut album, “How to Grow a Woman from the Ground.” In 2007, the band gained attention for debuting Thile’s ambitious forty-minute suite, “The Blind Leaving the Blind,” at Carnegie Hall. This period marked their transition into a distinctive style combining bluegrass instrumentation with sophisticated compositional structures.

The band’s official recording career with Nonesuch Records began with their album “Punch” in February 2008, featuring “The Blind Leaving the Blind.” Later that year, Paul Kowert joined on bass, solidifying a core lineup that would continue to evolve their sound. Their second album, “Antifogmatic,” released in 2010, further showcased their unique blend of traditional and newgrass styles. In 2011, the band was the subject of the documentary “How to Grow a Band,” which detailed their creative process and challenges. Subsequent albums like “Who’s Feeling Young Now?” (2012) and “The Phosphorescent Blues” (2015) continued to demonstrate their innovative approach to acoustic music, earning widespread critical acclaim and a Grammy nomination for “Julep” in 2016.

A significant milestone for Punch Brothers arrived in 2018 with the release of “All Ashore.” This self-produced album earned the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album at the 61st Grammy Awards in 2019, recognizing their contributions to the genre. In 2022, they released “Hell on Church Street,” a re-imagining of Tony Rice’s iconic 1983 album “Church Street Blues,” paying homage to a pivotal influence in their musical development. The current lineup features Chris Thile (mandolin), Noam Pikelny (banjo), Chris Eldridge (guitar), Paul Kowert (double bass), and Brittany Haas (fiddle), continuing their trajectory as innovators in acoustic and folk music.