Another legendary musical act made its way to Cranbrook on Friday, Oct. 13.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, celebrating 50 years together as a band, performed to a large and appreciative audience, from all over the region, at Western Financial Place.

Considered an instrumental act in terms of crossover genres, from roots, country, rock and roll, blues and more, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, led by guitarist/vocalist Jeff Hanna, John McEuen (banjo, fiddle, mandolin, lap steel and guitar), drummer/harmonica/vocals Jimmie Fadden, Bob Carpenter (keyboards/vocals) and bassist/vocalist Jim Photoglo showed exactly why they’ve last five decades and captured Grammy Awards and a plethora of other honours.

The band nimbly laid out hits from over the decades, including their mega-hit cover of Jerry Jeff Walker’s Mr. Bojangles, Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Bless the Broken Road, Workin’ Man (Nowhere to Go), Fishin’ in the Dark, which had many couples dancing in the aisles and more, including a wicked version of The Band’s The Weight with opening act JJ Shiplett returning to the stage to help out during the encore.

Lead image: John McEuen’s 72-year-old fingers have not slowed down.

Photos by Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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