Kelsey Klont
Contributing Writer

(Photo Provided)

John McEuen, fiddler of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, will be collaborating with local band, Stranded Hobos Band, for a once in a lifetime country-bluegrass concert that you do not want to miss. Come to Nashville on Saturday, November 9, for a great concert with a good cause.

Over the last couple of years, McEuen and the Hobos have performed at a handful of bluegrass shows together including Frankfurt, Shipshewana, and Ann Arbor. They have a song together called “Bluegrass Banjo Boy,” which was a benefit for the Wounded Warrior Project when it was released two years ago. That collaborative work came about when Mike Madill, lead singer of the Stranded Hobos Band, pitched to McEuen, to play banjo on the song, which he accepted.

McEuen, a critically acclaimed banjo player with songs like “Mr. Bojangles”, “Buy for Me the Rain”, “Long Hard Road”, and the infamous “Fishin in The Dark” on his catalog have earned him accolades from Grammy, ACM, IBMA, CMA, Western Heritage. Coming up at the end of the month, McEuen will be honored with the Musician Lifetime Achievement Award at the Josie Awards, for his dedicated work to the music industry.

As a co-founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for 50 years, McEuen was on 35 of the Dirt Band’s albums, which is the coined name of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Then five years ago, set out on his solo career, now having four solo albums, including the release of his latest album: “The Newsman: A Man of Record.”

This highly anticipated concert came to fruition when Madill had asked McEuen about doing a concert together because of their friendship over the years that has formed from their collaboration with “Bluegrass Banjo Boy.” McEuen’s response, “absolutely let’s do it, closest to where you are.” Partnering with FoxView in Nashville, Stranded Hobos Band found a venue for the upcoming concert. McEuen, as a musician living in Nashville, Tennessee, said that he is looking forward to visiting another Nashville. “This situation is rare and one of a kind, but I am really looking forward to it. Anything to help veterans is a good thing.” McEuen tells me.

Stranded Hobos Band is a four-member band, three of which have sacrificially served our great country in the armed forces, are also very excited for the upcoming concert with McEuen. Based out of Delton, Madill started Stranded Hobos Band five years ago soon after having met the drummer, Sean Koglin, who also served in the Air Force like Madill, at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center; and lead guitar player, Tim Fields, while serving together in the Army. Being veterans themselves the Stranded Hobos Band know the importance of giving back to organizations that help veterans, so every concert that they do part of the proceeds go to the VFW. The collaborative concert with McEuen is a benefit for the VFW National Home, located in Eaton Rapids.

McEuen will kick things off at the concert on November 9, starting at 7 p.m., with a solo performance singing songs off Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Will the Circle be Unbroken” album with songs from country iconic legends like “Mother” Maybelle Carter, Roy Acuff, and Merle Travis and storytelling, as heard on his new album. Also telling me, “Make sure you come with questions. I always ask the crowds what questions they have because this is their time to ask what they have always wanted to know.”

Stranded Hobos Band will be on after performing some songs off their 17-track album. Then McEuen and the Stranded Hobos band will perform together, including their song “Bluegrass Banjo Boy.”

Before the concert, at 6 p.m. there will be a dinner provided at FoxView, for an additional cost. This concert with the incredible John McEuen and the Stranded Hobos Band, with their deep military roots, is something that you do not want to miss. Get your tickets today by contacting FoxView today.