Railroad Earth Debuts New Lineup & Welcomes Larry Keel At Horn O’Plenty 2025

By Scott Bernstein Dec 1, 2025 • 2:47 pm PST

Railroad Earth’s next chapter began over Thanksgiving Weekend when the band unveiled a new iteration at this year’s Horn O’Plenty concerts at the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Friday’s show also featured a guest appearance from renowned flat picking guitarist Larry Keel.

The Northwest New Jersey-based ensemble is moving forward with bassist Andrew Ryan and banjo player/guitarist George Guthrie. Ryan steps in for Dave Speranza, while Guthrie replaces Mike Robinson. Robinson took a new opportunity supporting Sierra Ferrell and Speranza is focusing on his growing family. An official announcement detailing the changes was posted on Railroad Earth’s social feeds between Horn O’Plenty shows.

Railroad Earth has been spending Thanksgiving Weekend at the Sherman dating back to 2006. Andrew Ryan and George Guthrie made their RRE debuts on Friday after an opening set from the Larry Keel Duo featuring the guitarist and his wife Jenny Keel. Railroad Earth began their first of two Friday night sets with the beloved “Bird In A House.” More repertoire staples followed in “Bread & Water” and “Walk Beside Me.”

Larry Keel collaborated with Railroad Earth on the subsequent “Old Dangerfield.” Keel shined throughout the extended version of the Bill Monroe-penned instrumental. The guitarist traded licks with both mandolinist John Skehan and fiddler Tim Carbone. RRE moved forward after Keel’s guest spot by performing “Came Up Smilin’” and a seamless run of “Where Songs Begin,” “Fisherman’s Blues” and “Like A Buddha” before tacking on a set-closing “Running Wild” for good measure.

After kicking off Friday’s second set with “Mission Man,” the headliners strung together “Dandelion Wine,” “Farewell To Isinglass” and a well-jammed “Forecast.” A standalone “The Old Man & The Old Land” then gave way to a cover of George Harrison’s “Any Road” that prefaced +15-minute versions of “Birds Of America” and “Seven Story Mountain.” Railroad Earth returned to cap the night with an “Elko” encore.

Saturday featured more of the same as RRE delivered a pair of career-spanning sets at the Sherman. Highlights included adventurous takes on classics “Black Bear,” “Grandfather Mountain,” “Head” and “The Cuckoo.” Railroad Earth also fit their newest song, the Todd Sheaffer-written “Keep Your Eyes Open,” into the final set of the weekend. The band said farewell with fan favorite “Long Way To Go Home” as their lone encore.

Setlists & Audio (Taped by Keith Litzenberger)

Friday, November 28

Saturday, November 29

Set One: Chasin’ Rainbows, Saddle In The Sun, Happy Song, Great Divide, It’s So Good, Crossing The Gap, Black Bear > Grandfather Mountain, Cold Water

Set Two: Lordy Lordy > Head, Keep Your Eyes Open, Storms > The Cuckoo, RV, 1759 > Mighty River > Hard Living

Encore: Long Way To Go