Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's John McEuen celebrates 'Will the Circle Be Unbroken' album April 29
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founding member John McEuen and a cast of esteemed musicians bring the memories and songs of the band's iconic "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" album to the ECC Arts Center on Saturday, April 29.
The performance will take place at 7 p.m. in the ECC Arts Center, Building H, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.
When the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded their flagship album "Will the Circle be Unbroken" in 1971, the band surrounded themselves with a shortlist of the biggest names in bluegrass and country music: Roy Acuff, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Jimmy Martin, Earl Scruggs, and Mother Maybelle Carter.
This famed collaboration produced a classic record that Rolling Stone has called "the most important record to come out of Nashville."
In this concert celebration of that iconic collaboration between a group of young West Coast hippies and a legion of country music legends, John McEuen joins forces with former Nitty Gritty Dirt Band members Les Thompson and John Cable, as well as frequent McEuen collaborator Matt Cartsoni to share the songs and memories of the "Will the Circle be Unbroken" album.
A founding member of the band, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2016, John McEuen has been performing continuously since 1964, both with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and as a solo performer. Beyond performing, he is passionate about creating, producing, and preserving original and traditional folk/acoustic music. McEuen has recorded more than 40 albums (six solo) and has performed on another 25 albums as a guest artist. His albums have earned four platinum and five gold recognition awards, Grammy nominations, Country Music Awards, American Country Music Awards, and an Emmy nomination. He has also produced more than 300 concerts throughout his career - the first a 1965 concert with Bob Dylan.
McEuen's production of "Steve Martin-The Crow" won the 2010 Grammy Award for "Best Bluegrass Album."
Multi-instrumentalist Les Thompson was with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band until 1973, spanning their rise to popularity with hits like "Mr. Bojangles" as well as the band's landmark platinum record "Will the Circle be Unbroken." Since leaving the band, Thompson has produced and/or engineered numerous other audio and television projects. Always fascinated by the recording process, Thompson owns Cabin Studios, a recording destination for acoustic bands.
John Cable is a veteran musician who began his career in the late 1960s. After serving as lead guitarist and vocalist for Texas country rock pioneers Colours, Cable became a member of the NGDB.
In 1976, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band became the first American band in history to perform in the Soviet Union. John went on to become the first American to lecture at the Moscow Conservatory of Music on the history of western blues and rock music. Cable has performed on "The Tonight Show," "The Midnight Special," "Austin City Limits," and at the Grand Ole Opry.
Composer and multi-instrumentalist Matt Cartsonis first picked up guitar and mandolin at the age of 14. As an undergrad at Vassar College, Cartsonis met folk legend Pete Seeger and played with him at countless benefits for Seeger's environmental organization, the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. Cartsonis has performed with Warren Zevon, Jennifer Warnes, Glen Campbell, Steve Martin and The Kingston Trio.
Tickets for "Will the Circle Be Unbroken with John McEuen and Friends" are $35. Performance tickets plus a meet-and-greet with John McEuen can be purchased for $50.
Tickets for all performances in the ECC Arts Center are available online at tickets.elgin.edu or at the ECC Arts Center box office. Box office hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday. To purchase tickets by phone, call (847) 622-0300. All major credit cards are accepted.
The ECC Arts Center can be found at www.facebook.com/eccartscenter and on Twitter @ECCArtsCenter.