The American country-folk-rock outfit the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has existed in many incarnations since its founding as a jug band in Long Beach, Calif., in 1966, even wading through a period from ’76-81 known only as The Dirt Band (who, incidentally, billed as The Toot Uncommons, provided backing for Steve Martin on his million-selling novelty tune “King Tut”). Singer-guitarist Jimmy Fadden and drummer Jeff Hanna have been constants since the group’s inception, and multi-instrumentalist John McEuen isn’t too many steps behind them. Upon replacing orginal member Jackson Browne, who left after only a few months, McEuen, a driving force with the band from 1966-86 and then again since 2001, helped NGDB find its easygoing country-folk-pop roots and, consequently, its massive success, as evidenced by the band’s blockbuster recording of the crossover hit “Mr. Bojangles.” Then, in 1972, Rolling Stone magazine called the soon-to-be legendary album Will the Circle Be Unbroken, which featured such country stalwarts as Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Roy Acuff and Mother Maybelle Carter, “one of the most important recordings ever to come out of Nashville.”
Forty-some years later, McEuen, whose acoustic mastery on the 5-string banjo, fiddle, mandolin and steel guitar has inspired reviewers and fans to coin him The String Wizard, still tours with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, but he also takes his acclaimed solo shows on the road as well. High Country audiences have the opportunity to catch the Grammy-nominated virtuoso bluegrass picker when he plays a solo concert at the Hayes Performing Arts Center on Feb. 23 at 7:30pm.
McEuen may be pegged as a picker, but brass bands, gospel, ragtime, country, blues and minstrel shows have all seeped into his strange brew of songs. And you can credit audience receptiveness to McEuen’s clever arrangements, as the artist brings bluegrass to folks who otherwise wouldn’t go to bluegrass by inserting the banjo, fiddle and mandolin into different frameworks, and then seeing where the music takes him and audiences alike.
The Hayes Performing Arts Center presents McEuen in concert for one night only on Feb. 23 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $20, $15 student, and are available now by calling the Box Office at 828-295-0112. You may pay by credit card or by cash (in person).
The mission of the Mariam & Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center is to pursue excellence in every way including programming and superior services for our patrons; engage audiences of diverse ages, cultures, and economic backgrounds; instill in the children and youth of the community a life-long love and participation in the arts; and be a community gathering place for active exchange about culture and creativity.
The Hayes Performing Arts Center is located at 152 Jamie Fort Road (off Valley Boulevard), Blowing Rock, NC. Tel: 828-295-9627