The roster of Punch Brothers features five of the best players in modern bluegrass: Chris Thile on mandolin, Chris Eldridge on guitar, Brittany Haas on fiddle, Paul Kowert on bass, and Noam Pikelny on banjo. But for nearly two decades, the Punch Brothers have been breaking the boundaries of bluegrass, from the 40-minute suite that was the centerpiece of their debut in 2008 to a tradition-bending interpretation of a Tony Rice masterpiece in 2022. They have reworked Debussy and covered Fiona Apple, Radiohead, and Elliott Smith, but they have mostly written stunning and meticulous tunes that pair a conservatory worth of training with the élan and accessibility of their native form. Punch Brothers have been Spoleto favorites since their earliest days, when they were still building this intricate and ebullient sound. They return to Charleston to open the 2026 season of Live at the Cistern.

Chris Thile, mandolin
Chris Eldridge, guitar
Brittany Haas, fiddle
Paul Kowert, bass
Noam Pikelny, banjo

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