Chris Weist & Roadside America

Chris Weist & Roadside America

As a founding member, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist of the critically acclaimed americana/bluegrass outfit Wood Belly, Chris Weist returns to his roots with Roadside America. After a decade of national touring and four full-length albums with the recently electrified Wood Belly, Weist revisits the bluegrass wellspring from which the band first emerged.

Armed with a treasure trove of meticulously sculpted ear-worms, Weist masterfully weaves profound lyricism, enchanting harmonies, and buoyant rhythms into his songs, conjuring an unforgettable musical experience that strikes a deep chord in the soul. Brought to life by some of Northern Colorado’s finest pickers, Roadside America’s mission is to breathe new life into Wood Belly’s original string band catalog while ushering in a new wave of folk inspired bluegrass that bears its heart deep in the Appalachian Mountains where his journey began. 

Raised in eastern Pennsylvania, Weist began his musical exploration on drums, developing a strong rhythmic foundation that continues to shape his songwriting and performance. He picked up the guitar at fourteen and spent years exploring diverse musical landscapes before diving headfirst into bluegrass nearly a decade later. In 2013, Weist embarked on a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail where he slung a mandolin on his back and walked 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine. That transformative journey marked the genesis of his songwriting voice as many of the songs that would later define Wood Belly were born among the flora and fauna of those mountains.

In 2018, Weist and Wood Belly won the Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition and went on to share stages with bluegrass and folk luminaries including Billy Strings, Leftover Salmon, The Steeldrivers, Todd Shaeffer, Del McCoury, Trout Steak Revival, The Lil Smokies, Town Mountain, The Steel Wheels, The Infamous Stringdusters, Sierra Hull, and many more.

Roadside America marks the next exciting chapter in Weist’s musical journey—an authentic, heartfelt continuation of his acoustic folk saga. For a genuine and unforgettable live experience, catch them at a venue near you.