Special C.'s star-studded John Denver tribute

Compass Records announce that the next album by the Special Consensus (USA) will be a tribute to the late John Denver, in which the band will be joined by friends from the top ranks of bluegrass music.

The Special C. have toured regularly in Ireland since 1995 (most recently in January 2013), and have made many friends and fans here over the years. Their 2012 release Scratch Gravel Road was nominated for a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album.

Country boy: a bluegrass tribute to John Denver is scheduled for release on 25 March 2014, and is produced by Compass Records co-founder Alison Brown, who plays banjo on one track along with Special C. leader Greg Cahill. Other guest artists include Dale Ann Bradley, Jason Carter, Mike Cleveland, John Cowan, Rob Ickes, Jim Lauderdale, Claire Lynch, Peter Rowan, Buddy Spicher, and Rhonda Vincent. The album can be pre-ordered from Compass; the first 100 pre-orders will receive a signed copy.

For more details, read this article by John Lawless on Bluegrass Today, including Greg's account of how the project was conceived, and a really lovely video of the Special C., with Claire Lynch and Rob Ickes, performing the Denver song 'Wild Montana skies' round a single mike.

PS: While you're on Bluegrass Today, visit here for another very appealing video of top musicians in action.