Few bands make it 35 years without burning out, calling it quits, or phoning it in. Leftover Salmon isn’t one of those bands. They’re still running hot. Bending genres, lighting up stages and sounding as unpredictable and alive as ever. Somewhere near the center of that chaos is Andy Thorn, the band’s banjo player since 2010, who’s brought a fresh voice to an already fearless sound.
From his home in the mountains outside Boulder, Colorado, Thorn caught up with me ahead of Leftover Salmon’s upcoming show in Syracuse on August 2nd. We talked about the band’s new record, Let’s Party About It (written in a beach house, no less), the joyful weirdness of their creative process and the viral banjo sunrise that turned a jam with a curious fox into an internet sensation. With trademark humility and humor, Thorn proves that the secret to staying together might just be letting go—of ego, of plans, of expectations and trusting the music to lead the way.
Pat Rogers: Hey Andy, it’s Pat Rogers with NYS Music. Thanks so much for taking the time to chat. How’s your day going?
Andy Thorn: It’s going great! I’m up in the mountains here in Colorado, so I’m hoping my signal holds out. It can be a little spotty.
PR: I hear you. I’m in the mountains of Upstate New York, so same deal. Good to have you on the line. You’re in Boulder, right? I used to go camping up near Left Hand Canyon. It’s beautiful there.
AT: I am. Small world, that’s right near where I live. You know, the band originated here, though I’m originally from North Carolina. I’m actually the only one still based in Colorado now, which is kind of funny.
PR: So, let’s dive into some Leftover Salmon. You’ve been with the band for nearly 15 years and now the band is celebrating 35 years—a huge milestone. From your perspective, what’s kept the band not just going, but evolving?
AT: I think a big part is the band’s openness to change. There’s been some lineup shifts—especially after our original banjo player passed. Then there was some turmoil. That period was tough, and the band even split up for a bit. But by the time I joined there was a real sense of gratitude to be doing it again. Since then, we’ve had a pretty steady lineup.
We added drummer Alwyn Robinson a few years after I joined. We’ve gone through a few keyboard players—Bill Payne from Little Feat, Eric Deutsch (who’s with the Black Crowes now) and now Jay Starling. Jay plays both dobro and piano, and he’s brought a whole new layer to the sound. Every change has helped the band musically. Everyone gets along, and we’re all just grateful to still be doing this and making a living from it. That kind of gratitude keeps us together.
PR: That’s beautifully put. I mean, 35 years in any field is impressive, but especially in a touring band. What a ride.
AT: Yeah, a lot of bands don’t last this long. Even if they try, they may not keep enough of a fan base to stay afloat. We’re lucky people are still listening.
PR: Your latest album, Let’s Party About It, dropped back in May. It’s got this joyful, communal energy. From what I understand, this was the first time you all wrote in one focused session?
AT: Yeah, it was a totally new process for us. We actually did it in North Carolina, near Wrightsville Beach. It’s the beach my family would go to while growing up. We had a show in Wilmington and built a little writing retreat around that. I was honestly skeptical going in. I wasn’t sure we’d be focused enough to pull it off, but it worked beautifully. Everyone brought in ideas and once we were all together, the songs just flowed and fleshed themselves out.
PR: How was it creatively different, for you personally, from past albums?
AT: I think a lot of it came from Vince moving to Nashville and doing co-writing sessions there. That format kind of influenced us. It makes you work fast and not overthink. Most of the songs came together in just a few hours. There’s a spontaneity to it that matches the band’s spirit live.
PR: One standout from the album is your instrumental “Salmon Scales.” It’s trippy, layered, very much your voice on the banjo. Can you talk about how that piece came together?
AT: So, that one was the one that wasn’t part of the co-writing sessions. That’s actually one I’d been sitting on for about four years. I made a demo ages ago and tried to get it on our last album, but it didn’t fit.
It’s a bit complex—three parts, odd chords. As a banjo player from North Carolina, I started with more traditional three-chord bluegrass, but I like to push it further, add layers and weird changes. The tune started with this warm-up roll I was playing and I thought, “Hey, this could be something.”
PR: That blend of tradition and exploration really defines your style. What’s inspiring your playing these days outside of bluegrass bubble?
AT: I always try to stretch my abilities. I’m not quite as fast as I was at 25, none of us are. I still aim for that edge where it almost falls off the cliff, you know? That kind of risk adds excitement. In Leftover Salmon, Drew’s mandolin solos can be powerful and intense, so I’m always looking for ways to match that energy. It’s fun to try with the banjo.
PR: The guest list on this album is insane—Del McCoury, Sam Bush, Jeff Coffin. Any pinch-me moments in the studio?
AT: Totally. I grew up as a massive fan of Del and Sam. The wild part is how casual it was. We were in Nashville, and it was like, “Hey, we’re recording. You around?” And they just came by. Del had just sat in with us at the Grand Ole Opry the night before and we asked him on the spot to come sing harmony on a song he didn’t even know. He drove himself over, walked up two flights of stairs, and nailed it. He’s 85!
PR: That’s the vibe in Nashville, right? It’s a big city, but the music scene feels really close-knit and homegrown.
Let’s pivot for a minute because I’ll regret this later, if I don’t ask about the fox videos from the pandemic days. Those sunrise sessions really struck a chord with so many people. They were calming, even meditative. What did those moments reveal about yourself and your creative instincts?
AT: For me, they just showed how connected everything is—people, animals, nature. That fox was curious about the sound. Music’s vibrations speak to all creatures. It made me more aware of our place in the world, and how much we need to respect it.
PR: It’s just incredible to see a feral fox joining you as your audience. It’s literally sitting down and taking it all in, watching you play banjo.
AT: Oh yeah. The original fox family is gone now, but lately we’ve been seeing a lot more foxes. I mean just the other day, my kid and I watched a fox outside for like half an hour. Then, a couple days ago… two bears broke into our house.
PR: What, no way! That’s wild.
AT: It was crazy—they actually came into our bedroom. Middle of the day, too. Definitely not something you expect, even up here.
PR: I get it. I used to live in Asheville, North Carolina and the bears are always about. It’s not uncommon to see them. I had a mother bear and her nearly full-grown cub in my backyard almost every day.
At first, I was terrified—I’d run for the door. But eventually, we kind of developed this unspoken understanding. Like: “You stay over there, I’ll stay way the hell over here.” But I’ll tell you, those first few encounters I think we all startled each other. They were doing their bear thing, like going through my trash, bathing in the creek that was back there or just crossing through the yard. Mama Bear would charge a few feet and then stop and stare me down. To remind me real quick who was in charge. I never invited them inside though, [laughs].
AT: That’s exactly it. I’m not scared of the bears—I just don’t want them in the house. But otherwise, we love it up here. It’s part of what makes the mountains so special. You’re sharing space with nature.
PR: That’s insane and so intense all at once.
AT: I still do sunrise sessions when I can—though it’s a bit tougher now with a two-month-old at home. But I’ve got a new solo album coming out this fall called Banjo Dreams. It’s all dreamy, instrumental mountain music, no hard-driving bluegrass. Kind of like Songs of the Sunrise Fox, which did really well.
PR: Leftover Salmon has inspired so many in the Jam-grass/Americana world. Do you feel that influence flowing in reverse by sharing the stage with younger bands?
AT: Absolutely, like with The Kitchen Dwellers—they’re amazing. One thing we’ve picked up from the younger bands is segueing between songs, as opposed to just ending and starting new songs. We didn’t used to do that much, but now it feels weird not to. We’re jamming more between tunes and doing longer explorations—like Billy Strings does.
PR: I just shot Kitchen Dwellers at Mountain Jam, here in the Catskills. Killer live set. You know them pretty well, right?
AT: I produced one of their early albums. They’re great guys. Played quite a few shows with them.
PR: Speaking of shows, you’ve got a show coming up in Syracuse at Sharky’s on August 2nd with Keller Williams. What can fans expect?
AT: Yeah, Keller’s an old friend and since it’s during the “Days Between”—the week between Jerry Garcia’s birth and passing—we’ll be playing some Grateful Dead tunes, more than usual. We might even throw in something really weird.
PR: Something really weird? A bluegrass Ozzy Osbourne tribute, perhaps? Come on man, there are lots of Ozzy tributes right now!
AT: Maybe, maybe. Will have to wait and see.
PR: So, just to wrap things up—35 years in, a new record out, shows coming up. That’s a lot. Where do you want to take things next, both with the band and personally? You mentioned your new solo project earlier. Any wild ideas, maybe taking a fox on tour?
AT: [laughs] Probably not taking a fox on the road, but honestly, I think it’s more of the same and that’s a good thing. I’m really excited about my new solo album coming out this fall. With the band, we’ve got some great stuff on the horizon for next year. We’re already planning things for 2026.
PR: Always need to be looking ahead.
AT: Yeah, we love doing this small festival in Hawaii that’s really grown into something special. Its kind of our thing we started and It’s kind of become a tradition—it happens every April on Kauai. That’s one of those things we really look forward to.
PR: That sounds amazing.
AT: It is. Beyond that, we’re just letting things unfold. We’re not forcing anything. We’ve done a lot of recording over the past six years, so I don’t think another album is top priority at the moment. But who knows? We’re always writing and once you’ve got a pile of songs, it’s hard not to go into the studio.
PR: Makes sense. As long as you’re gigging and making music for a living, you’re doing something right.
AT: Exactly. We’re grateful. It’s a good place to be.
PR: Any final thoughts for the fans in Syracuse before the show on Saturday?
AT: I’m excited to get up there. Honestly, I can’t remember if I’ve been to Syracuse before—maybe I have? But I love getting out and exploring new places. Looking forward to it.
PR: Andy, thanks so much for taking the time to chat. Really appreciate it.
AT: Thanks. Appreciate you too.
→ Continue reading at NYS Music
