Bluegrass Archives - Chicago Concert Reviews

North Shore Center collects rootsy “Space Junk” from Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives

As country music continues to radically stray from its roots, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives have remained a constant force when it comes to steering the [More…]

Mumford & Sons tap into English “Rushmere” roots and foot-stomping folk for United Center

In the seven years since Mumford & Sons released a record, the English band scaled down to a trio and tapped into its “Rushmere” roots, or rather, the spirit of the [More…]

On an Eagles break, “Guitar Slinger” Vince Gill gives Chicago Theatre a country marathon

From his breakthrough in the Pure Prairie League, to annual Christmas concerts alongside wife/fellow artist Amy Grant and accompanying the Eagles since the passing of Glenn [More…]

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss “Can’t Let Go” of “Raise The Roof,” a little Led Zep and Ravinia

When Robert Plant & Alison Krauss made their Ravinia duo debut little over a decade-and-a-half ago, it stood out so much, fans of either individual artist or their [More…]

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Rialto goodbye focuses on “All The Good Times” in country and beyond

Since 1966, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has basically lived on the road, and though its technically not breaking up, the traveling portion is all about to end now that the [More…]

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…]