Tracker Pixel for Entry

​History Comes to Life at the Historic Holmes Theatre

Music | November 13th, 2019

John McEuen & The String Wizards performing - photograph provided by John McEuen

John McEuen & The String Wizards will perform at the Historic Holmes Theatre in Detroit Lakes this Saturday in what will be a multimedia showcase of McEuen’s legendary career in the music industry.

The show will be a performance of “Will the Circle be Unbroken” as well as original songs by McEuen. “Will the Circle be Unbroken” was originally released in 1972 by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The album was a collaboration between The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and major artists in the country and bluegrass industry including Roy Acuff, Maybelle Cartestory comes to lifer, Doc Watson, and Earl Scruggs and Randy Scruggs to name a few.

For this show, McEuen has brought along fellow Nitty Gritty Dirt Band alumni Les Thompson and John Cable.

Fans will be taken back in time and watch video and see pictures taken during the time of the original run of “Will the Circle be Unbroken,” including footage of the leg of the tour in Russia where The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band played to 28 sold-out audiences. While the footage and pictures are behind the band, they will be playing the music that corresponds.

McEuen’s career has spanned over 50 years and includes both solo and collaborative efforts in country and bluegrass. He has performed with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dizzie Gillespie, The Doors, John Denver, and even Steve Martin. He is a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and last performed with the band in Fargo two years ago.

McEuen first picked up a banjo at the age of 17 and has been giving his all to audiences all around the world ever since, including a benefit concert for the Bemidji Fire Department in Bemidji on September 11, 2002 – a day McEuen said no one else was performing. He has been involved in recording over 50 albums with various artists.

As a part of collaborations and solo, McEuen has won many awards and accolades, including Grammy Awards and an induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame for “Mr. Bojangles” with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. In 2010, he was presented with the Folk Alliance’s Best of the West Performer Award. He is also a member of the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame.

McEuen hosts a program on Sirius XM and has recently released a book called “The Life I’ve Picked.”

Recently, McEuen has taken part in a PBS documentary series called Ken Burns: Country Music. “Will the Circle be Unbroken" was featured in episode six. Since then, the album has seen a resurgence and went to number 1 on Amazon Music.

John McEuen & The String Wizards’ performance promises to be a unique experience that will appeal to fans of McEuen and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, but also to the music historian. The footage that will be shown will take those in attendance back in time 50 years and capture the mood and experience felt by McEuen, the band, and others involved in the creation of those albums and concerts.

John McEuen & the String Wizards

Saturday, November 16, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Holmes Theatre, 806 Summit Ave, Detroit Lakes, MN

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comNorth Dakotans will take part in a nationwide civil rights rally on Thursday, July 17. Protests, marches, rallies and acts of service are scheduled in Bismarck, Bottineau, Devils Lake,…

Back-to-school season is on the horizon, but there's still plenty of summer left. Check out our favorite August attractions and events in North Dakota and western Minnesota. And if if you missed them, here are a few excellent May…

July 18-19, 25-26 and August 2-3North Dakota Horse Park, 5180 19th Ave. N., FargoLadies and gentlemen, prepare to place your bets — racing season is upon us! Not just horses will be racing this year; word on the street suggests…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com On July fourth, Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest took place at Coney Island. The winners, Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo, reigned victorious. Chestnut earned his 17th title by…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWhy doesn’t the world require politicians to leave office at 60?Most of the leaders of countries, whether gods, fascists, democrats or socialists, are not doing very well these days. David Van…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gion and Simone Wairickgion@gmail.com The Red River Market returned to downtown Fargo on Saturday, July 12. The event will take place every Saturday except July 19. (That date will be moved to Sunday, July 20, due to the…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comThe Moorhead Public Library will offer three free, all-ages outdoor concerts featuring regional bands this summer. The series begins on June 12 with the Meat Rabbits, a group that blends…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comPhoto by Sabrina Hornung Wing, North Dakota is a town of 132 located about an hour northwest of Bismarck on Highway 36. There’s a shiny new Cenex on the intersection of the highway and the high…

By Deb Wallworkdwallwork@icloud.comI first met Catherine Mulligan at a party at her house. It was a small gathering, spontaneous, just a few people over for dinner. Directed toward a stack of plates and bowls and a big pot warming…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comPhoto by Yvonne Denault There is something intimate and personal about plays. Even in our age of multimillion dollar Hollywood productions and droves of streaming services, watching actors…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

The drug that keeps re-purposing itselfBy Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com There is a drug that is getting a lot of attention nowadays all over the world. It has various commercial names (Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus), but…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.com Working in the Bakken oil fields of the Williston Basin is so different from my home in Fargo. I'm not judging, because the people working and living in western North Dakota are very…