The Bluegrass Album Band to appear at Bluegrass First Class

Posted on | September 4, 2012 | No Comments

On Saturday, February 16, 2013 Bluegrass First Class will present a special reunion of one of the greatest bands in the history of bluegrass music: THE BLUEGRASS ALBUM BAND!

The Bluegrass Album Band was organized in 1980 by Tony Rice, with the idea of gathering some of the top artists of the day to record an album of authentic bluegrass. In addition to guitar virtuoso RICE, the original band consisted of banjo master J.D. CROWE (2003 IBMA Hall of Fame inductee), mandolinist and tenor vocalist extraordinaire DOYLE LAWSON (2012 IBMA Hall of Fame inductee), legendary fiddler BOBBY HICKS, and bass wizard TODD PHILLIPS.  The resulting album was so well received that the group decided to make another, and then another.  An eleven-day tour with shows in ten different states was organized by promoter Milton Harkey in 1983.  The Bluegrass Album Band went on to make a total of six highly acclaimed, best selling albums.  They performed on the very first IBMA Awards Show in 1990, and were named Instrumental Group of the Year.

This year marks the 30^th anniversary of The Bluegrass Album Band’s historic 1983 tour.  Their appearance at Bluegrass First Class will be the first time all five original members have taken the stage together since 1990.  They will be joined for this performance by three-time IBMA Guitarist of the Year Josh Williams, on lead vocals.   For those who missed their ’83 tour, this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see one of the greatest bands ever assembled – a bluegrass “Dream Team.”  Rice, Crowe, Lawson, Hicks, and Phillips individually have amazed and inspired multiple generations of young musicians with their groundbreaking work in various top-flight bands. With The Bluegrass Album Band, they recreate the magic, power, and excitement of the classic bluegrass sounds that first inspired them to play.  It doesn’t get any better than that!

Other performing artists at this year’s event include: Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Lonesome River Band, The Grascals, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, The James King Band, and many more!

Tickets go on sale October 15th at 10am.  To order tickets click here.

Special thanks to Penny Parsons of Durham, NC, Press

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