Yonder Mountain String Band has announced a 17 date winter tour that has the bluegrass quartet trekking across the Midwest and south beginning January 22 at Buster’s in Lexington, KY before coming to a close February 16 at the Canopy Club in Urbana, IL. The band will be without Jeff Austin, as he will be celebrating the birth of his child.

Yonder Mountain String Band will be joined by The Travelin’ McCourys for select shows, including stops at The Tabernacle in Atlanta as well as Yonder’s two-night jaunt in Asheville, NC. Ronnie McCoury and Jason Carter will perform with YMSB each night they open.

Yonder Ticketing will begin this Friday, November 8th at 12 noon local venue time, while general tickets will go on sale Friday, November 15 at noon local venue time.

Yonder Mountain String Band Winter Tour
January 22 Lexington, KY—Buster’s (with The Travelin’ McCourys)
January 23 Covington, KY—Madison Theater (with The Travelin’ McCourys)
January 24 Nashville, TN—Marathon Music Works (with The Travelin’ McCourys)
January 25 Atlanta, GA—The Tabernacle (with The Travelin’ McCourys)
January 29 Pensacola, FL—Vinyl Music Hall (with The Travelin’ McCourys)
January 30 Jacksonville, FL—Freebird Live (with The Travelin’ McCourys)
January 31 Fort Lauderdale, FL—Revolution (with The Travelin’ McCourys)
February 1 St. Petersburg, FL—Jannus Live (with The Travelin’ McCourys)
February 5 Charleston, SC—Music Farm (with The Travelin’ McCourys)
February 6 Asheville, NC—The Orange Peel (with The Travelin’ McCourys)
February 7 Asheville, NC—The Orange Peel (with The Travelin’ McCourys)
February 8 Knoxville, TN—The Tennessee Theatre
February 11 Charlottesville, VA—The Jefferson Theater (with The Travelin’ McCourys)
February 13 Indianapolis, IN—The Vogue
February 14 Columbus, OH—LC Pavilion
February 15 Madison, WI—The Orpheum Theater
February 16 Urbana, IL—Canopy Club (with The Travelin’ McCourys)

UPDATE: Jeff Austin issued this statement upon the announcement he wouldn’t be touring with the band:

Hello, friends…Jeff Austin here…just taking a minute to write and let you know of a few things coming up.

In late January 2014, my incredible wife and I are going to be welcoming the newest addition to our family into the world…a beautiful baby girl…an experience that we are both as excited about as new parents can be. This event also happens to coincide with the first Yonder Mountain tour of 2014. After much thought and a final decision by all parties involved, I wanted you all to know that I won’t be able to be a part of that tour. Nothing in this world is bigger in life than family…and in this case, not even the music I love so dearly.

Joining the band on that tour will be my brothers in life and music, The Travelin’ McCourys. I am humbled that some of my mentors will be taking up the reins and making music in my absence with the band I’ve given so much of my life to. Whereas I will miss feeding off the energy of all you incredible fans each night…getting to hear reports of them adding new life and energy to the music of Yonder Mountain is something I will relish in hearing from afar.

I want you to know that this decision was not something taken lightly. My family and I appreciate not only your understanding, love, and support during this time, but your confidence that this isn’t only the right decision to make…it is the only decision to make.

Dance hard, spread love, and give every single bit of your incredible energy to those musicians who will take my place. Show them what you are made of, Kinfolk.

Much love
jAustin