Bluegrass Archives - Chicago Concert Reviews

Half-century of world fusion phenoms Shakti, John McLaughlin move Ravinia, Béla Fleck bonus

Few jazz fusion acts of the 1970s were as influential and marvelously mind-boggling as the Mahavishnu Orchestra, which meant leader John McLaughlin could literally do [More…]

Banjo man John McEuen gets down to the Nitty Gritty of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken”

The prolific life of singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist John McEuen includes mounds of music with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band dating back to 1966, solo projects, [More…]

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s John McEuen mounts a multi-media “Circle” show, 50th birthday book

Flying high from grassroots momentum in the 1960s and the strength of the now iconic single “Mr. Bojangles” when the decade changed over, country trailblazers the Nitty [More…]

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band dust off Dylan and classic country during City Winery sell out

Country music will be forever indebted to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, who since 1967, have churned out one classic after the next, while also interpreting several familiar [More…]

A bluesy, rootsy Robert Plant & Alison Krauss “Raise The Roof,” plus a little Led Zeppelin

Individually, England’s Robert Plant and Illinois’ own Alison Krauss have kept as busy as ever with recordings and travels, but collectively speaking, it’s been [More…]

Byrd, Burrito Brother and Desert Rose Band’s Chris Hillman turns the pages of “Time Between”

Co-founding The Byrds, whose landmark recordings throughout the 1960s include “Mr. Tambourine Man,” “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season),” “Eight [More…]

Lyle Lovett: “An Evening With His Large Band” Tour at Ravinia

Click here for a review of Lyle Lovett at Ravinia. For additional information on Lyle Lovett, visit LyleLovett.com. Upcoming concert highlights at Ravinia include “Weird [More…]

Ravinia’s Lyle Lovett tradition takes a Texas swingin’ turn towards the large and generous

Sometimes Lyle Lovett performs all by his lonesome, on other occasions he teams up with a famous friend like John Hiatt, or perhaps brings a band in the unplugged format. All [More…]

No nonsense country from an authentic Alan Jackson

Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson had no problem filling Madison’s Alliant Energy Center on the strength of a multi-platinum catalog that spans 17 studio albums [More…]

Alan Jackson: “Genuine” Tour at Alliant Energy Center

Click here for a review of Alan Jackson at Alliant Energy Center. For additional information on Alan Jackson, visit AlanJackson.com. For a list of upcoming concerts at [More…]