The Fourth Annual Northwest String Summit returned to Hornings Hideout this past weekend with six sets from the host Yonder Mountain String Band. On Friday Yonder opened the first set of its festival as a quintet, augmented by Darol Anger on fiddle. Anger would remain with the group throughout the weekend. From here numerous artists sat in with the band during the sets that followed. First up was Mike Gordon who appeared on banjo and vocals for Molly & Tenbrooks, Lost & I’ll Never Find My Way and Raleigh & Spencer. A bit later Eric Deutsch (Fat Mama, County Road X) appeared on keys and Mark Dalio added drums.
On Saturday, Keller Williams segued his set into that of Yonder and later added vocals to I Want A New Drug and his own Porta Potty. In addition, Vince Herman, who had performed earlier with Rob Wasserman and is still recovering from back surgery, sang on New Speedway Boogie. Wasserman joined in a bit later for a few songs including Kentucky Mandolin and Groundhog, which also featured String Summit Super Jam host Danny Barnes. For the encore all of Saturdays guests along with the members of Themusemeant, Kellers soundman Lou Gossain and Jenny Keel stepped up for a cover of John Hartfords Tear Down The Grand Ole Opry.