Inspired by the burgeoning art scene, close knit community, and natural beauty of Asheville, North Carolina, newgrass turned eclectic jam band Fireside Collective has spent a decade working towards this very pinnacle. Original band members Joe Cicero, guitar, Jesse Iaquinto, mandolin, Tommy Maher, resonator guitar, and Carson White, bass, began playing together in 2014 when Iaquinto gathered the group of bluegrass enthusiasts to back up some of his original songwriting.
When they began touring again after covid, Fireside drew inspiration from jambands like The Grateful Dead, the group’s agreed upon North Star. There was significantly more improvisation, changing setlists from night to night, and longer musical movements. With the introduction of Michael Tillis on drums in late 2023, the sound expanded to include heavy funk elements as well as classic rock and even ventured into techno and world music. By the end of 2024, Fireside Collective had become a true hybrid, with a strong foundation in bluegrass and folk, and healthy doses of rock n’ roll and funk, all blended together in a unique and colorful amalgam of original music.