For nearly 18 years, Yonder Mountain String Band has redefined bluegrass music, expanding the traditional acoustic genre beyond its previously established boundaries by steadily pushing the envelope into the realms of rock 'n' roll and improvisation.

The band returns to one of its favorite venues, Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe, at 9 p.m. Saturday.YMSB has always played music of their own design, in the process attracting a devout coterie of fans that often resembles a tight-knit family on an epic musical journey as Yonder traverses the country with an ever-rigorous tour schedule.Yonder is a quintessential ensemble honing its craft night after night on the road, and the fans are there to experience it in real time. The result is music that doesn't stand still, it's always progressing and breaking unprecedented ground.BuckcherryBuckcherry comes to the Peak at 8 p.m. July 7.On their seventh full-length album, "Rock 'n' Roll," the Los Angeles quintet Buckcherry, featuring Josh Todd, vocals; Keith Nelson and Stevie D., guitar; Xavier Muriel, drums; and Kelly LeMieux, bass; staunchly uphold the commandments of rock music with an arsenal of new anthems primed to explode on impact and teeming with riotous energy, sexy swagger, and primal chops intact.It's something that the boys have done since day one, but it's more necessary now than ever.Buckcherry has added fuel to the genre's fire for nearly two decades now. The Grammy Award-nominated multiplatinum outfit is responsible for smashes including "Lit Up" off their gold-certified 1999 self-titled debut as well as "Crazy Bitch" and "Sorry" from 2006's platinum 15.Along the way, they've shared stages with everybody from AC/DC and Mötley Crüe to Slipknot and Rob Zombie as well as festival bills including Bamboozle with Bon Jovi and In-N-Iron, Sturgis and more.Phil VassarAt 8 p.m. July 14 Phil Vassar takes the stage. His career has seen the release of eight albums, two ASCAP Songwriter of the Year trophies, Billboard Country Songwriter of the Year, countless hits as a singer and songwriter and a mantel full of awards and the launch of his own Rodeowave Entertainment label.As a singer/songwriter, Vassar has hit the Top 5 seven times with songs like "Carlene," "Last Day of My Life" and "American Child" and topped the charts with "In a Real Love" and the perennial favorite "Just Another Day in Paradise." Known as one of Nashville's top tunesmiths, his songs other artists have taken to #1 include "My Next Thirty Years" by Tim McGraw, "She's Right on the Money" by Alan Jackson, and Jo Dee Messina's "Bye, Bye" and "I'm Alright."The Virginia native, who received the 2012 VAB Distinguished Virginian Award by the Virginia Association of Broadcasters is definitely no stranger to a good time, and he makes sure with every performance that his fans feel exactly the same way.Years of playing clubs, and even owning his own nightspot at one point, helped Phil cultivate the easygoing, fun-loving manner he displays onstage and the infectious energy that infuses every single show he does."I've always prided myself on writing a lot of different types of songs, while some people may like to play it safe, I prefer diversity. So it's about new energy and doing different things, getting away from the old ways and starting fresh, that's what we've been able to do with Rodeowave."Vassar is an artist who has endured his share of ups and downs in life and the "biz," and one who is not only riding a diverse wave of success but sharing it with others."I'm not going out there to try and change the world, but for me, this is my thing, this is my little world that I can control now, and I'm really excited about this journey, getting new music out to the fans and working on other avenues to entertain people. For me that's what it's all about."Coming up down the road• July 15, Great White with special guest Faster Pussycat•July 28, Mr. Speed - World's Best KISS tribute• July 29, Josh Turner, 8 p.m.• Aug. 15, Ted Nugent, 8 p.m.• Aug. 18, The Beach Boys, 8 p.m.• Aug. 19, The Wall Live Extravaganza, 8 p.m.• Aug. 23, John Butler Trio, 8 p.m.• Aug. 25, Don McLean, 8 p.m.• Sept. 7, Quiet Riot with Black 'N Blue, 8 p.m.• Sept. 10, Make America Rock Again, featuring Scott Stapp of Creed, Drowning Pool, Trapt, Sick Puppies and Adelitas Way, 7:30 p.m.• Sept. 15, Montgomery Gentry, 8 p.m.• Sept. 17, America, 8 p.m.• Sept. 21, Rick Springfield, 8 p.m.• Sept. 22, The Charlie Daniels Band, 8 p.m.• Sept. 23, Ana Popovic, 7:30 p.m.• Sept. 29, Jim Breuer, 8 p.m.Tickets for all concerts are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Penn's Peak Box Office and Roadies Restaurant and Bar. For more information on Penn's Peak, go to

www.pennspeak.com or call 866-605-7325.