Nickel Creek in Andy May's Acoustic Kids - Walnut Valley Festival, 1995

[@lorenzosarli2310]

No one really mentions Sean but he’s got mad skills too.

[@Desertpunk1986]

I’ve always loved his presence, and he can sing too.

[@brucedelamotte1990]

He’s my favourite singer of the three!

[@ty9884]

Very true. He's the glue.

[@ty9884]

I love how their bass players are kind of like the drummers for Spinal Tap.

[@budg.6094]

Whatever adult act that was scheduled to go on after this: “Uh, I don’t think so.”

[@davidsawyer988]

“I pity the fool.” 😂😂😂

[@Critter145]

For real though!🤣💯

[@allegrafrost]

oh my gosh right😭

[@kathyklein2876]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@jasonpickett4859]

I saw Nickel Creek the 1st time a year after this, in 1996. Scott Thile was teaching music at the university I attended (Murray State University), so the Thile family was living in western Kentucky. They played an event at the university, and I was blown away. A couple of years later, Chris started attending MSU, and I saw him several times playing around between classes at the Campus Coffee Shop. He was only there for a year. He left to go on tour with Dolly Parton - like a lot of college freshmen are prone to doing.

[@bstimy]

Lol, good one.

[@pascalsavy1306]

@@bstimy sounds like you don’t believe him?

[@anhumblemessengerofthelawo3858]

Durrrrrrrrrrr

[@ty9884]

@@anhumblemessengerofthelawo3858 He and Sara have played with everybody but Jesus.

[@StephenRahrig]

How tf are some comments like “they were talented kids, nice 😐” I’m over here trying to scoop my brains back into my skull

[@curtisgrindahl446]

Sara kills it! Then Chris kills it! Then Sean kills it! Talk about talent.

[@sethangel4334]

I love Sara adjusting the sound guy on the fly at 3:15...

[@xyzcomp08]

She still does this! Sara knows what she wants.

[@keithclark486]

That's the way it is with any band with the monitors on stage especially acoustic bands on their instruments.

[@Esmith5488]

She did it last night lol

[@RVMRNNR]

Chris Thile was 14 at the time…with skills like that he could have gotten his license and a voters’ registration card. Incredible talent from everyone onstage.

[@wendysgarden4283]

It's so funny to see him at least a foot too short! He hadn't hit his growth spurt yet at this point.

[@Suire1000]

this is probably how they sounded right out of the womb. Incredible talent.

[@wendysgarden4283]

Funny, but I'm sure as you're aware, this is thousands of hours of work to get to this level. 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration. : )

[@velvetunderpants44]

I had exactly the same thought. I was thinking "Is that Chris Thile..?" Then he started playing...

[@GumbyGoons]

Chris Thile started begging his parents for a mandolin when he was TWO. Dude was born to do this.

[@drewby613]

I remember losing to these kids back in around ‘92, a small festival in Arizona. They were competing under the name “Seldom Clean,” but it was this line-up, and they beat the pants off everybody that day.

[@catherineyoung3889]

I'll be their MOMS gave them that name🤣🤣🤣

[@mikehamilton7668]

When I was their age picking to me was done on the nose, and i even had problems with that. Why in the world would anyone give this a thumb down?

[@TheDallasDwayne]

Listening to Celebrants and thinking how far they’ve come.

[@stephanieouellettevandenzen]

I love that all of the people who saw their new 2021 videos have been brought here! One of the best groups of all time. Amazing chemistry since day one, clearly!

[@jefferypadgett334]

Jesus, they had it even back then! Great harmonies, Chris absolutely blazing on the mandolin. One of my favorite groups ever!

[@number1cabdriveriniowacity736]

I’m glad these kids grew up to be good, finally. Kidding. This was marvelous.

[@jerryhorton5708]

So much talent in such young folk. Surprised they didn’t explode from the talent overload

[@glorygloryholeallelujah]

The 11 dislikes are from the kids that had to perform after them. Still salty about it to this very day...😆

[@thejigantics2641]

Wish I’d thought to say that 😀 I heard they came second in a competition some time before this.....I wonder who came first and what happened to them

[@glorygloryholeallelujah]

@@thejigantics2641 really!? Either they had one heck of an “off day,” or the winners were basically wizards....😆

[@59markr]

The promise of things to come so evident! Thank you Walnut Valley Festival, 1995!!

[@caseylrand]

Dude....this is insane.

[@OhioWeddingOfficiant]

I was thinking the EXACT same thing. I thought I was about to get rickrolled. :D

[@charlietango5163]

What a blessing they are! I've loved them since I first heard them 20 years ago! Keep singing Nickel Creek!

[@pawadventures5544]

That was amazing, I had no idea they had been playing together that long. 👍🏻

[@riceflatpicking4954]

Pretty sure they started before the age of 10 playing together

[@ty9884]

@@riceflatpicking4954 1989. Sara was 7.

[@wreckgarr50]

I used to see Chris at the local music store in college. Amazing player. Guy was just born with it.

[@user-mb8ef6ew7i]

I’ve been playing music since I was about that same age & I see now I should’ve taken up golf a long time ago !!! They’ve always been a phenomenal band , killer players & killer vocals & great harmonies but I didn’t realize at tgat young age they were that great!!

[@SyreenInSapphire]

I wouldn't believe that kids could have this level of skill if i weren't hearing it myself. I only found Nickel Creek a decade or so ago, but I'm so glad they are still together

[@jerrylives2278]

Chris Thile and I are the same age and 1995 is the year I learned to play guitar. These guys were better than I ever be already this year...it boggles the mind! I sure enjoy this clip!

[@indianajim]

I graduated High School in 1995 and they’ve become one of my favorite bands. This is the youngest I’ve seen them before.

[@settledownjs]

Saw them for the first time 2023 and got a setlist. They were wonderful. This video goes to show how long they've been doing it at a high level.

[@dosanchoas]

had NO idea they were such accomplished musicians as young'ins... (no "overnight sensations" here!!)

[@HearturMind]

Loved them live at Merlefest, Wilkesboro, NC way back when. Their first two records still make me cry.

[@Dulcimerea]

Music heaven....

[@nayrreztiewhcs1225]

Thats it....my mandolin will make a fine bird house 🤡

[@Tubie1111]

Yeah, he was a child prodigy. 😊

[@JustFiddler]

@@Tubie1111 indeed. he is my hero. He is not from the earth

[@AmysMusic7]

Bahahaha!! 😂 totally… but he also got to his 10,000 hours of playing mandolin before most😉

[@tjoe2722]

just... speechless

[@onnieduvall2565]

They were great 21 years ago as kids. Even better today.

[@josie4065]

I remember one day when I was four years old, when we went to one of Nickel Creek's concerts, but my older sister and I were too young, so we had to stay out in the van with my mom while my dad and four oldest siblings went inside. I grew up listening to Nickel Creek, but never realized for several years, just what I missed that day.

[@BobCampbelldev]

I was at Winfield that year and while I don't remember this performance, I do remember seeing Chris sitting at a vendor booth, noodling around on mandolin while chatting with people. I couldn't believe how clean these throwaway licks were that he was just tossing out there. It wasn't a performance as such, but it was striking to me how much talent *and practice* was sat right there. I saw a performance in Lawrence, KS maybe 10 years after this that still ranks as about my favourite concert ever. Amazing performers, all of them.

[@alexhusko]

Wow just wow. I didn’t know how deep those Nickel Creek roots were until I saw this.

[@austenrobinson2747]

They are all spectacular players. Chris might be the best musician alive today in any genre his skill level even then was so advanced.

[@brittany3230]

Okay Chris keeping that same energy!! 👏 Love this so much!

[@acousticshadow4032]

Can't believe how polished they are at such a young age.

[@ralphh.2200]

...as sweet as honey pulled out from a forgotten shelf....

[@1000Orgasms]

This is absolutely great... 🤩

[@willb5240]

Wow! A very talented trio right from the start.. Never seen them this young before.. Great video.

[@PoetlaureateNFDL]

Wow! They crushed it! 🎉🎉

[@johnpaul9606]

OMG! look how young they are.

[@northupupgrages09]

They are one of my favorites!!!! ❤️ So young, I've never seen this video. So talented 👏

[@jmmyheffernan]

VERY NICE Andy !!!!!!!!!!!1

[@austenrobinson2747]

The only way you play the mandolin like that at that age is your a prodigy. He could outplay most pros at that age and now without a doubt is the best in the world. Incredible.

[@turdfurgeson1643]

Sara Watkins. Just wow. Woof. Yikes. Sell my soul for a hug. She a legend.

[@jimyoung9262]

Love Nickel Creek

[@Lovingoods3]

wow they were awesome from the beginning

[@andstr4150]

well this blew my mind.

[@sarahbrueggemann9249]

I remember watching them at Winfield when I was a kid.

[@user-cw8ug6jw2x]

I love them! They're so talented! 🤩

[@greekflatpicker]

Crazy good

[@tonyalewis9053]

I saw them at WVF several years; great musicians & folks!

[@heidigilsonmusic2800]

A treasure!!!!!

[@louisevad6091]

A fine young wine that aged into vintage wine

[@donaldbutcher1260]

My how they've grown!

[@nfragala]

This is excellent! Love to see this band all those years ago.

[@andrewkeith9730]

This is fucking incredible

[@Dan0__]

Well that was phenomenal...

[@neildesperandum6114]

Superb.

[@BobWarnerBarn]

Nice 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@williamrobertson6989]

Soooo.... its just always been this way !!???? O_o

[@kelliv2995]

Awesome 👏🏼

[@alro11]

they are so little!

[@garyedwards3269]

And I'm watching the stars from Serenity...

[@garyedwards3269]

Music starts at 2:22. It's quite good.

[@jaltman1981]

I think that kid in the middle will get better at the mandolin

[@DoenerDuesentrieb]

loool how awesome is that

[@mf5202]

I don't think the MC knew what he was dealing with...

[@dirtybrokebored2678]

NICKLE CREEK AT FUCKING WINFIELD? Dude this is wild

[@jondoe8889]

Chris' dad - or security? Not surprising. He knows his way around a bass!

[@jyutzler]

And this is why bluegrass is such a niche. Kids can play it and once you learn the technique, there is nowhere to go with it. They were smart to pivot to more of a folk hybrid.

[@ethansolomon4613]

Did the mountain and stumbling block song ever make an album? cover song?

[@JayKloosterman]

You don't have to a mountain is on their self released Nickel Creek... Not the commercial self titled one

[@rogersilverstein2095]

They released a live version of "You Don't Have to Move That Mountain" on Reasons Why, their greatest hits CD.

[@ScooterBob69]

Sara!! {:^D

[@TheaLorraine]

i did not know n,c. was around in 95

[@CreamyBone]

It's hard to get an electric bass to sit right in this style music

[@joshuakatherine6251]

Right, but I think you're missing the point.

[@bhawley1000]

Hot Rize did pretty well with electric bass

[@CreamyBone]

@@bhawley1000 So did NGR and early Lonesome River Band 😉

[@jasonsmith4291]

That good but that would been a good place for some Jocko 10 year old that been on the fretless bass especially if they would have been as good as Sarah Watkins her brother or Chris thile

[@TheAcydbuzz]

I was first introduced to Nickel Creek sometime in the early 2000's at a music festival in Jackson, MS. One in which I attended for the purpose of seeing Bob Dylan. Not impressed really, I wandered to another stage and stopped to check out this cute chick sawing on a fiddle like she's Johnny battling the Devil. Since that day, when I feel like a few bluegrass tunes, Nickel Creek is my goto. Which is slightly odd since I know Jerry Douglas personally (well, my aunt does actually) and have met Alison Krauss.

[@henrywebstermusic1]

They’re so small that the mandolin looks like a normal-sized instrument 😂

[@sarafina03]

😲

[@flowthroughsmooth]

Somebody mind telling me the name of the first song?

[@thefack149]

Apparently there was a time when they were all the same height

[@Tubie1111]

Chris is so tiny! 🙊

[@BryanBowser]

How old were they at that time?

[@eboethrasher]

14, 14, and 18, roughly. Depending on the month.

[@tomchapman8012]

cool as a horse

[@feelinghealingfrequences7179]

horizontal bass is worse than no bass bluegrass must be vertical bass only

[@wesleyreaves3136]

The "Creek" is an awesome progressive bluegrass band, unfortunately whoever ran the soundboard on this particular show sucks. 😒

[@buttermilkjesus408]

Accoustic kids? Really?