Fireside Collective describes the pinnacle of their live show in almost cosmic terms: the moment “when we all transcend our individual selves, both onstage and in the audience, and become one entity experiencing the precious nature of life.” That is a large promise. A decade into a career that has taken them from Appalachian newgrass to something considerably more fluid, they have built the kind of live set that makes it plausible. They play Lark Hall in Albany on Saturday, December 12.
About the Show
Fireside Collective formed in 2014 in Asheville, North Carolina, when Jesse Iaquinto — working at the Biltmore Estate and studying folk music — gathered bluegrass players to back his original songwriting. Early touchstones were Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, and Bela Fleck. The pandemic reshuffled everything: the Grateful Dead became their north star, setlists started changing nightly, and improvisation moved from flourish to foundation. When drummer Michael Tillis joined in late 2023, the shift accelerated. The band’s own description of their current sound is “a true hybrid, with a strong foundation in bluegrass and folk, and healthy doses of rock n’ roll and funk,” with additional forays into techno and world music. Iaquinto’s songwriting draws from Robert Hunter, Bob Dylan, and the Beatles, aiming to write songs that offer “comfort and warmth.”
Their 2020 album Elements charted at number three on the Billboard Bluegrass Charts. The band earned IBMA Momentum Band of the Year and New Artist of the Year nominations in 2016 and 2022, respectively. The latest record, The Seven, leans further toward roots-rock while keeping the acoustic Americana core intact. They marked its release with a two-night stand at The Orange Peel in Asheville. One regional press outlet described their arc as moving from “a ragtag bluegrass act into one of the rising stars in the jam-grass and greater psychedelic music scene in Southern Appalachia and beyond.” With 24 dates on the books for 2026 spanning August through December, this Albany stop is one of the last of the year.
Venue & Logistics
Lark Hall sits at 351 Hudson Avenue in Albany’s Capital Region, built in 1916 and holding 300 people standing. For a band that plays festivals like Bourbon & Beyond and hosted their album release at The Orange Peel, 300 people is a close-quarters show, worth noting if you want to stake out a spot near the front. Doors open at 7 p.m. The show runs from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Parking is free. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Tickets
Tickets are $24–$30. The Eventbrite listing notes no refunds. Buy tickets