NEDERLAND -- Guitarist Brian Blaser jokes that five years ago, he didn’t even know how to spell the word “bluegrass.” His music tastes focused primarily on alternative and electric rock, playing in a group that performed songs from artists like the Allman Brothers, Phish, the Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, Radiohead, and Pearl Jam.
One night, at a local bluegrass pick, Blaser met a young banjo player, Sean McFarland, and the two discussed their live performances. The two talked about McFarland sitting in for a gig from Blaser’s band, and while Blaser felt unsure if a banjo would fit in that particular band, he invited McFarland to the gig.
Within the week, Blaser’s band broke up due to internal forces unknown to him. Instead of telling McFarland that the band no longer existed, Blaser assembled a new group of people. From this collection of musicians came the foundations of Smörgåsgrass. To this day, Blaser and McFarland agree to disagree on who asked who about McFarland jumping in.
The name came from the band’s original bass player, Franziska Zenhäusern, who often brought in a smörgåsbord of food during practices. Not only does the band name apply for that personal reason, but it has also become representative of the band’s ever-changing and always flexible lineup. Blaser, McFarland, and harmonica (or “mouth fiddle”) player Alex Medler have been consistent members since its foundation.
Other previous and current musicians include fiddle players Laima Haley and Estella Moore; bass player Rosalyn Weller; mandolin players Sammy Davison and Rowan Gaddis, with Sam Larson currently transitioning into the lineup; and banjo player Michael Zweibel.
The band has also featured many special guests, including mandolin player Georgie Hahn, fiddler and mandolin/dobro player John Bush, and fiddler Andy Reiner. Benny Bloom has jumped in on trumpet, and John Pierce, president of the Colorado Bluegrass Music Society, has jumped in on bass. Except for Bloom and Reiner, none of the current or previous members play as full-time musicians.
Blaser serves as the primary songwriter of the group, crediting Rockygrass Academy in Lyons and lessons from guitarist Bryan Dubrow as major influences in developing his process. Bringing originals into the band, he loves working with the group as a whole to flesh out the songs, constantly malleable through the band’s development of their structures.
The group has continued building their catalogue of original material, and they will be recording their debut studio album in August 2025. Evan Shely of Tonewood String Band will produce the record.
Various members of the band perform in various lineups all over the country, sometimes altogether, sometimes with only a few members, and sometimes even as a duo. Previous members are sometimes tapped back in, and the lineup is always fluid and dynamic. Blaser and Medler are the only founding members of the group still performing, with McFarland recently performing his closing gig as part of the frequent lineup.
The band hopes to check all of the boxes they can in their performances by playing familiar songs and embracing as many sectors of bluegrass as possible. They hope to build a long-lasting, frequently supportive audience, and all of them love playing in the group to connect with friends, community members, and the music they love.
Brian Blaser and Georgie Hahn will be performing as the duo S’moregrass at Busey Brews, located at 70 East First Street in Nederland, on Sunday, July 27, 2025, starting at 2 p.m. Be sure to keep up with the band on Facebook and Instagram.
