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Tag Archives: Earl Scruggs


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Earl Scruggs Center presents ‘Remembering Earl’ benefit concert on Saturday, Jan. 13

With its 10th anniversary approaching, the Earl Scruggs Center is proud to announce the return of its annual Remembering Earl benefit concert, taking place Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 at Malcolm Brown Auditorium in Shelby, North Carolina. Featuring GRAMMY-winning bluegrass ensemble The Travelin’ McCourys, internationally-esteemed banjoist Tony Trischka and unrivaled dobro master Jerry Douglas, the forthcoming celebration will both honor the legacy of Earl Scruggs –– a Cleveland County-born bluegrass pioneer whose innovative three-finger banjo technique is now an industry standard –– and illuminate the lasting influence of his contributions to American music. General Admission and VIP tickets are on sale now, with proceeds supporting the Earl Scruggs Center and its ongoing educational initiatives. 

Founded in 2014, the Earl Scruggs Center boasts an immersive, all ages museum and multipurpose event space which plays host to a variety of programming year-round. In addition to its unique display of permanent exhibits, the Scruggs Center also regularly features a number of rotating presentations that further explore Earl Scruggs’ comprehensive career, personal history, and cultural impact. In deference to Earl’s 100th birthday occurring January 6, the Scruggs Center has joined forces with Tony Trischka to unveil a new exhibit which will examine the banjoist’s early life from birth until his post-WWII pursuit of a professional music career in 1945. The grand opening of this exhibit is due Jan. 13, in correspondence with the Remembering Earl concert, and kicks off a series of special events spanning the year as a tribute to these milestone anniversaries.

Tickets to Earl Scruggs Center Presents – Remembering Earl Benefit are on sale now. VIP packages include access to an encore after party taking place at the Earl Scruggs Center following the show. For more information, visit www.earlscruggscenter.org. 

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Earl Scruggs Center Presents – Remembering Earl Benefit Concert

WHEN: Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 6:00 PM (ET)

WHERE: Malcolm Brown Auditorium (230 E. Dixon Boulevard)

TICKETS: $30 – $150

TICKET LINK: bit.ly/RememberingEarl24 


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Women poised to dominate 2018 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards

In 2017, Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Hall of Fame. With the exception of women who were part of a band, and usually a family band, ie. the famous Carter Family, who were inducted in 2001, only one other woman — Louise Scruggs in 2010 — has received solo recognition by the hall of fame organizers since 1991. And this week, songwriter Dixie Hall will be inducted as the fourth.

Let’s face it. Bluegrass has been a good old boys genre since Bill Monroe picked up a mandolin, Louise’s husband Earl Scruggs met Lester Flatt and the Stanley Brothers became the Clinch Mountain Boys. But as Bob Dylan once wrote, “the times they are a changin.'”

Fast forward to 2016, when Sierra Hull and Becky Buller became the first women to win Instrumental Performers of the Year awards for mandolin and fiddle, respectively. Hull came out on top in the same category in 2017, and Molly Tuttle, who appears poised to be among the next female superstars of bluegrass, won Instrumental Performer of the Year for her guitar picking prowess — the first woman to ever top that particular chart. Continue reading →


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Sam Bush Band, Hank and Pattie Duo rock Cat’s Cradle

Sam Bush loves North Carolina. And gauging from the roar of the appreciative crowd of some 200 souls gathered at the Cat’s Cradle live music venue in downtown Carrboro on Saturday night, North Carolina loves Sam Bush and company, and in this particular instance, the Sam Bush Band.

“It don’t get no better than to play in North Carolina,” Bush said from the stage.

His fans agree. “As always, Sam and band were amazing,” commented Rick Henderson of Raleigh. “No two shows are the same, but they’re all terrific.” Continue reading →