From the Promoter

For five decades, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has remained one of the most iconic names in American music. With one foot planted in the traditions of country-folk and the other pointing toward something new and unexpected, the group continues to tour and release music, influencing multiple generations of audiences and artists along the way. Today, they announce a 50th Anniversary Tour with six shows in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and two U.S. dates in North Dakota (full list below with more dates to be announced soon). Tickets will go on sale via nittygritty.com on May 26 at 10 A.M. CST. Alberta born singer-songwriter JJ Shiplett will be opening for all Canadian dates.

In September 2015, the band celebrated 50 years of music with a sold-out show at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. NGDB was joined onstage by John Prine, Sam Bush, Vince Gill, Jerry Jeff Walker, Alison Krauss, Rodney Crowell, Byron House, Jerry Douglas, Jackson Browne, and longtime Dirt Band member Jimmy Ibbotson. In 2016, the band released a live recording (cd/dvd combo) of this night titled Circlin' Back: Celebrating 50 Years. The Ryman show, which was also recorded for PBS, won a Midsouth Regional EMMY® for Special Event Coverage at the 31st annual award ceremony in Nashville in January 2017. Most recently, the band released a 21-track greatest hits album titled Fishin' in the Dark (Rhino Records). The February 2017 release includes the band's biggest hits on both country and pop radio ("Mr. Bojangles," "Dance Little Jean," "Fishin' in the Dark," and more), along with many fan-favorites ("Cadillac Ranch" and "Ripplin' Waters") and is available at nittygritty.com and Amazon.

About Nitty Gritty Dirt Band:
Long before Americana music had a name, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band helped lead the charge, mixing elements of country, bluegrass, folk, mountain music, and rock & roll into a sound that celebrated the full range of American music. The guys were traditionalists and trendsetters, performing songs that nodded to the past while still pushing toward the future. Released in 1972 - just six years after the group formed in Southern California - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Will the Circle Be Unbroken still stands as one of the most beloved albums in the country catalog, pairing the young band with legends like Roy Acuff, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, and Mother Maybelle Carter.

Many decades have passed since that milestone album's release, with the members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band now enjoying their own legendary status. They continue to blur lines between genres, however, and Circlin' Back accomplishes something very similar to the classic Will the Circle Be Unbroken, pairing the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with the hit-makers, rule-breakers, and iconic figures of today's roots music community. This time, Hanna, Fadden, Carpenter, and McEuen are the elder statesmen, passing down their influence and inspiration to a younger class without giving up the torch just yet. There's more music
to be made, after all. More shows to play. Another half-century to chase down. The circle rolls on.

About JJ Shiplett:
Rugged, raspy and reserved, JJ Shiplett is a true artist in every sense of the word. Unapologetically himself, theAlberta born singer-songwriter and performer is both bold in range and musical creativity and has a passion and reverence for the art of music and performance that has captured the attention of music fans and critics across the country. Aesthetically minded and unyielding, Shiplett combines honest lyricism with impressive and effortless vocals. Destined for a critically praised career ahead, Shiplett released his self-penned breakthrough debut, “Something To Believe In” via HALO Entertainment Group/Warner Music Canada earlier this year. Visit jjshiplett.com for the latest tour dates.

Promoter