Text Box: The Special Consensus are old hands at Steeple Morden. Over the years John has booked this fantastic band so here they are again in full swing. The Special Consensus are a four piece acoustic bluegrass band that began performing in the Midwest in the spring of 1975. The first band album was released in 1979 when the band began touring on a national basis. In 1984, The Special Consensus initiated the Traditional American Music (TAM) Programme in schools across the country and began appearing on cable TV and National Public Radio shows. The band has since appeared on The Nashville Network “Fire On The Mountain” show, toured for three seasons as 4/5 of the cast in the musical Cotton Patch Gospel (music and lyrics by Harry Chapin), and released twelve additional recordings. Songs from the 1998 Our Little Town, 2002 Route 10 and the 2004 Everything’s Alright releases appeared on the National Bluegrass Survey chart in Bluegrass Unlimited and on the Gospel Truths chart in Bluegrass Now. A video production of the TAM Programme, sponsored by the Northern Indian Bluegrass Association, has been archived at the Nashville office of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and sent by IBMA to hundreds of schools throughout the USA. In 2000, Pinecastle Records released the first band performance video, filmed for Iowa Public Television’s “Old Time Country Music” show, and The Special Consensus 25th Anniversary recording to mark this milestone Text Box: Founded by John Pearman East Anglian Bluegrass Music Events

The East Anglian Bluegrass Boys

John’s own band (John on double bass)

 

 

 

 
Special CText Box: year for the band. The 25th Anniversary and Route 10 recordings each received a Highlight Review in Bluegrass Unlimited, and Route 10 was included in the Top 10 Recordings of 2003 in both Bluegrass Now and the Chicago Tribune. In November 2003, The Special Consensus received a standing ovation after the first band performance on the Grand Ole Opry at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. The 2005 Everything’s Alright release was included in the Top 10 Recordings of 2005 in Bluegrass Now and Greg was featured in the September 2006 cover story of that periodical. The band was featured in the August 2005 cover story of Bluegrass Unlimited. International tours have brought The Special Consensus to the UK, Canada, Europe, Ireland and South America. In 1993, the band performed the first of many concerts with a symphony orchestra, complete with orchestral arrangements of songs from the band repertoire. The Special Consensus is included on the touring rosters of the Illinois Arts Council (Artstour) and the Heartland Arts Fund and continues to participate in the Arts Midwest Performing Arts Touring Programme. THE SPECIAL CONSENSUS repertoire features original compositions by band members and professional songwriters (such as “Ten Mile Tennessee” and “Margarita Breakdown”). The repertoire also includes traditional bluegrass standards (songs by Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, Jim & Jesse McReynolds, etc.) and songs by artists from other musical genres (such as “Blue Skies” by Irving Berlin). As a result of this musical diversity. The Special Consensus has performed at the most traditional bluegrass festivals and has also been the band to bridge the gap between traditional and progressive bands at more diverse festivals and fairs. Check out their website www.specialc.com

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Thank you for your kind support to these special events, we hope you have a good time and we are open to comments to improve on the events, so sit back and enjoy the music!!