John McEuen of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s
John McEuen and his Circle Band
with Les Thompson
The Life I’ve Picked
Thursday, October 16, 2025
7:00 PM Concert
Doors open at 6:00 PM
Boordy Vineyards
12820 Long Green Pike
Hydes, MD 21082
John McEuen brings us a special show of songs and stories, sharing his incredible 50-year career with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and the landmark Will the Circle Be Unbroken record.
When John initiated the Will the Circle Be Unbroken album with his brother William (NGDB’s manager, record producer, photographer), he brought together the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and the icons of Bluegrass, Country, and West coast country rock: Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Maybelle Carter, Merle Travis, Jimmy Martin, Roy Acuff, Bashful Brother Oswald, Norman Blake, Junior Huskey, and Vassar Clements. Six hot 1971 August Nashville recording days produced this 36-song benchmark album.
In 4 episodes of Ken Burns Country Music (2020), McEuen closes Episode 6, titled “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”, describing making this milestone album.
“…Circle…” is in the Library of Congress and The Grammy Hall of Fame
His multi-media show (archival photographs, 8mm footage from 1967!), “Circle…” and brother William’s session photos, and NGDB music takes us on his now 60-year journey – interwoven with Dirt Band favorites, hot bluegrass, and new music.
Les Thompson, fellow Nitty Gritty co-founder, on bass, joins in the music and stories of ‘band life’ and more. Bryan McDowell on fiddle/mandolin (Winfield 1st place winner on guitar and mandolin) his hot notes are complemented by his great vocal.
On his own guitar, Marty Fair will hold down the guitar slot in his impickable manner. Marty is also the builder of fine instruments.
All join host John McEuen, with his banjo, guitar, fiddle and mandolin (in front of the screen) for the hits and stories behind the NGDB music, leading up to that magic time when three generations came together. The Library of Congress inducted ‘…Circle…’ as one of “…the most important American recordings” (also, it’s in the Grammy Hall of Fame). More notes than you can shake a pick at – Bluegrass in overdrive!
John’s new album – The Newsman, a man of record – a spoken word/story album (on Compass Records) features John’s new music behind stories from America’s past.
Some of the show’s music includes: Mr. Bojangles Some of Shelly’s Blues Dance Little Jean Keep on the Sunny Side Will the Circle Be Unbroken House at Pooh Corner Earl’s Breakdown Wreck on the Hiway Cannonball Rag Dismal Swamp Way Downtown Acoustic Traveller Fingerbuster Long Hard Road Grand Ole Opry song Old Rivers The Mountain Whippoorwill. Fly Trouble (and more!)
John was inducted in the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame, 2018. He received the 2024 Josie Musician’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grand Ole Opry. Strangely, in 1915 England the first recording of Will the Circle Be Unbroken was made… by William McEwan
Join your friends at Boordy Vineyards for an enjoyable evening of great music, great wine, great friends, …and great food from amazing food trucks.
There will be general admission seating including theater style seats as well as tables and chairs. No reservations. First come first serve. Doors open at 6:00 PM.
TICKETS
$47.50 plus $2.50 ticket processing fee
Boordy Vineyards will be selling wine both by the bottle and by the glass at the event.
10% OF ALL WINE SALES WILL BENEFIT THE HOMELESS IN MARYLAND!
12820 Long Green Pike
Hydes, MD 21082
