The Cedar Presents
JOHN McEUEN & The Circle Band with The Eclectics
Friday, November 1, 2024/ Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM
All Ages
Seated
$35 Advance, $40 Day of Show
This is a seated show with general admission, first-come-first-served seating. The Cedar is happy to reserve seats for patrons who require special seating accommodations. To request seating or other access accommodations, please go to our Access page.
For Cedar presented shows, online ticket sales typically end one hour before the door time, and then, based on availability, tickets will be available at the door.
LISTEN
ABOUT THIS SHOW
As The Cedar continues celebrating our 35 years, we have the great honor of hosting the founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John McEuen & The Circle Band as they take us on a career retrospective.
After 50 years with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, co-founder John McEuen stepped off the bus to bring that humorous history to life on stage with film, video, stills, and hot guest musicians. Coming to The Cedar Cultural Center Nov.1, they cover the early music of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (Mr. Bojangles, Shelley’s Blues, House at Pooh Corner, Long Hard Road, and others). John tells, and plays - and shows on the screen behind the band - stories and music of the iconic ‘Dirt Band’. Also, the music from multi-platinum Will the Circle Be Unbroken album, which John initiated (Rolling Stone says it’s “possibly the most important album to come out of Nashville” it’s in Grammy Hall of Fame and Library of Congress) is also featured. This multi-media show is one you won’t want to miss! Nitty Gritty Dirt Band hits, Bluegrass, and from his new album, The Newsman, John and his string wizards bring us a great evening of entertainment - hits and bluegrass - in overdrive.
McEuen (with his banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle) is joined by 3 great musicians: Justin David (guitar/fiddle. Vocals), Danny Knicely (mandolin, guitar, vocals), and his brother David Knicely on bass.
JOHN McEUEN
A Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founding member, John has assembled a unique cast of friends he calls string wizards, for a special night to share the music and memories of his 50 years of performing with NGDB - and the landmark Will the Circle Be Unbroken platinum album (featured in episode 6 of Ken Burns - Country Music). His multi-media show’s archival photos, 8mm film, video, and Circle session photos, accompanied by John’s humorous narrative and music of early NGDB, take us on his incredible 55-year journey - interwoven with radio hits, hot bluegrass, rare early NGDB music, and more.
A unique part of the show covers the historic 1977 Russia trip (28 sold-out shows), and what happened to the first American band behind the Iron Curtain.
When John initiated the now famous Will the Circle Be Unbroken* record, the icons of Bluegrass, Country, and West coast country rock convened: Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Jimmy Martin, Roy Acuff, Bashful Brother Oswald, Vassar Clements, and Maybelle Carter. Six hot August 1971 days produced the 36 song benchmark record still relevant today.
McEuen as they share, in front of the screen, hits and stories behind the music, leading up to that magic time when three generations came together. The Library of Congress inducted the multi-platinum ‘…Circle…’ as one of the most important American recordings (also, it’s in the Grammy Hall of Fame).
Audiences see the entire span of John’s years and styles in music as they are taken back through some of the best years of their lives.
John McEuen banjo/guitar/fiddle/mandolin/vocals
Songs may include:
Mr. Bojangles — Some of Shelly’s Blues — Keep on the Sunny Side — Will the Circle Be Unbroken —
Dance Little Jean — Long Hard Road — House at Pooh Corner — Wreck on the Hiway — Earl’s Breakdown —
Way Downtown — Cannonball Rag— Dismal Swamp — I Saw the Light —Acoustic Traveller — Fingerbuster —
Buy for Me the Rain — She Darked the Sun — Wildwood Flower — The Grand Ole Opry Song — Blue Ridge Cabin Home — Opus 36
*“One of the most important records to come out of Nashville...” Chet Flippo Rolling Stone
McEuen was recently inducted into the American Banjo Museum’s Hall of Fame
To learn more about JOHN McEUEN:
The Eclectics
The Eclectics history began during the throes of the Covid pandemic. Bassist John Bergquist and banjoist Phil Nusbaum realized that they could work together by passing musical selections back and forth over the internet and using their computers to record their parts. The result was promising enough that when people started congregating again, John and Phil invited fiddler Nick Martin to form a trio. Because of their broad musical interests, the trio adopted the name Eclectics.Eclectics is a good name for a group that relishes traditional fiddle music, good old bluegrass, pop and country songs everybody knows, as well as the envelope-pushing instrumentals Phil writes. The group not only entertains by playing a variety of songs and tunes, but has been successful providing rich contexts regarding the histories and inspirations for composing some of the songs presented. There could be bluegrass versions of a few jazz standards in the next Eclectics show! Nick, John and Phil most enjoy having each other to share their musical interests, and audiences to play for. The goal is to keep on playing worthy music for audiences who appreciate the variety.
To learn more about The Eclectics:
