How To Grow A Band is the title of a new film, currently in production, that chronicles the life and times of Punch Brothers.

It follows Chris Thile and his merry band (Chris Eldridge on guitar, Noam Pikelny on band, Gabe Witcher on fiddle, and Greg Garrison and Paul Kowert on bass) during their first tour as Punch Brothers, where they debuted Thile’s ambitious four movement piece, The Blind Leaving The Blind. It begins with the band’s appearance at a folk festival in Scotland, and follows them over two years and 25 cities.

Director Mark Meatto tells us that the film is set for a 2010 release, and that he will tell us all about it when that time draws near.

Here’s the trailer (language warning)…

In additional Chris Thile news, Mandolin Cafe has a piece up about live performances of his new mandolin concerto in three movements, Mandolin Concerto (Ad astra per alas porci). The Latin translates to “To the stars on the wings of a pig,” a John Steinbeck reference – in keeping with Thile’s literary naming conventions. Punch Brothers was named for a Mark Twain short story (Punch, Brothers, Punch) from 1876.

This innovative and virtuosic new work will be performed by Thile with seven American orchestras: The Colorado Symphony (September 17, 19, and 20, 2009; with Jeffrey Kahane), the Oregon Symphony (September 26, 2009; with Carlos Kalmar), the Alabama Symphony (October 29, 2009; with Justin Brown), the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (January 23 and 24, 2010; again with Jeffrey Kahane), the Winston-Salem Symphony (March 13, 14, and 16, 2010; with Robert Moody); the Delaware Symphony (March 19 and 20, 2010; with David Amado);and the Portland Symphony (March 28, 2010; with Scott Terrell). This diversity highlights Thile’s wide-reaching appeal.

Read the full piece at Mandolin Cafe.