Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Celebrates 50th Anniversary at Van Wezel

The iconic and profoundly influential Nitty Gritty Dirt Band come to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Monday, March 27th at 8PM. Often cited as a catalyst for an entire movement in Country Rock and American Roots Music, the band celebrates their Golden (50th) Anniversary together as they continue to add to their legendary status.

Two of the founding Nitty Gritty members currently reside in the Sarasota/Bradenton area. Drummer Jimmie Fadden was the first to move to the area, buying a house in Sarasota to call home in the winter while he is home from touring. He chose "a quieter, nicer way of life" here in Sarasota after growing up in Southern California and longing to return beach-side. Multi-instrumentalist John McEuen soon followed after Fadden sent him a package full of Sarasota-related items while he and his wife were considering a move but weren't sure where they wanted to go. McEuen fell in love with Bradenton and took up permanent residence there. The musicians applaud the local area's love for music ranging from the passion of the performers to the undivided attention given from audiences.

The band's accolades continue to accumulate with multi-platinum and gold records, strings of top ten hits such as "Fishin' In The Dark" and "Mr. Bojangles" in addition to multiple Grammy, IBMA, and CMA awards and nominations. Their Groundbreaking Will The Circle Be Unbroken album has been inducted into the U.S. Library of Congress as well as the Grammy Hall of Fame. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's recording of "Mr. Bojangles" was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2010. They continue their non-stop touring routine with recent tour stops at Stagecoach, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, as well a sold-out show at The Historic Ryman Auditorium. Don't miss them at the Van Wezel!

Tickets are $16-$66. Purchase at VanWezel.org, the Box Office, or by calling 941-953-3368.

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