In their own promotional material, GSBG describes their sound as "their own version of bluegrass music, mixing the acoustic stomp of a string band with the rule-breaking spirit of rock & roll".

[1] The band was formed in the fall of 2000 by Michael Arlen Bont (banjo), Dave Bruzza (guitar), and Paul Hoffman (mandolin), who initially played together at an open mic night.

[2] As newcomers to the bluegrass scene, the three drew upon an array of influences and varied musical backgrounds,[specify] reflected in their May 2004 release of Less than Supper, recorded with bassist Chris Carr and dobro player Al Bates.

Classical cellist Michael Devol had approached Greensky with an offer to assist in management, but ended up joining the group as bassist in the fall of 2004.

[6] On September 23, 2016 Greensky Bluegrass released their album Shouted, Written Down & Quoted produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos and Co-Produced/Engineered, Mixed and Mastered by Glenn Brown.