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John McEuen Comes Full Circle with 80th Birthday Bash at Harken Hall in Madison
On Friday, December 19, 2025, fans and friends of John McEuen gathered at Harken Hall in Madison, Tennessee to celebrate the life and music of this Grammy Award winning artist. The show was billed as John McEuen's 80th Birthday Bash with the Circle Band and Special Guests.
John McEuen with the Circle Band at Harken Hall in Madison. As a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John has inspired generations of pickers and players, so naturally the evening featured Dirt Band classics, songs from the fabled Will the Circle Be Unbroken album and new music from McEuen himself. Also of note was archival photos and videos compiled by William McEuen who is John's brother, longtime Dirt Band manager and producer of Will the Circle Be Unbroken. The footage added a visual element to this career-spanning concert. The 19th was John's actual birthday and the Hall was decked out for the holidays adding to the festive feel of the evening. The show opened with video clips of artists wishing McEuen a happy birthday. We learned that John went to high school with Steve Martin the comedian who said it was John who taught him how to play the banjo. At one point a photo was shown of the two as youngsters and then again 50 years later. "Musician's musician," declared John Oats describing the lasting influence of McEuen. During the Bash John would play four instruments starting with the banjo. As the show unfolded, he shared snippets of his childhood along with memories of working with the legendary Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Maybelle Carter, Roy Acuff and more. After a few solo numbers John's other musical guests joined him. His talented team featured Mike Bub (bass), Justin David (guitar/fiddle), Becky Buller (fiddle), Brandon Lee Adams (guitar), Bill Miller (guitar/vocals), Nathan McEuen (guitar), Muriel Anderson (Harp guitar) and Marilyn McEuen (wife/vocals).
John McEuen turned 80 on Friday and - with son Nathan - threw a Harken Hall birthday bash to celebrate. Among the hits was "Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper's Dream)" written by Rodney Crowell and recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. It was released in May of 1984 and it was their first No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. "Colorado Christmas" was a suitable choice along with the bluegrass staple "Blue Ridge Cabin Home". Both were packed with potent picking and visual imagery. "It's weird," McEuen confessed as a newly minted octogenarian but he seemed to be taking the big number in stride as he joked a bit to start the show - feigning limited mobility before showing off his still intact stretching skills as he placed and retrieved his instruments from the Harken Hall stage floor. McEuen complimented Harken Hall as a much needed musical mecca in Madison and reminded the audience how key figures such as Maybelle Carter and Roy Acuff from the first Circle album had considerable roots in this town. Next, several highpoints of the evening followed including the classics - "Mr. Bojangles", "Keep on the Sunnyside" and "Will The Circle Be Unbroken". "Anyone have any questions," McCuen asked the fans in attendance. One asked how many strings were on his bango to a non-plussed birthday boy. However, the next query inquired about John's meeting Vassar Clements. Vassar (1928-2005) was a well-respected fiddle player who appeared on many recording including those of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Muriel Anderson and her harp guitar; John and Marilyn McEuen in Madison. John paid his respects to his friend by launching into the most impressive feat of the evening. McCuen played the lengthy story song "Lonesome Fiddle Blues" in full recalling the lyrics and detailed narrative off the top of his head without prompting while switching between fiddle and banjo during the daunting performance that was a daring audible on an already fluid setlist. John McEuen's 80th Birthday Bash was a celebratory concert of the man and his music, and we cannot think of a better way to mark such a momentous occasion. Plus, we were all just happy that he's still going strong and is on the right side of the dirt. John's host - Harken Hall located at 514 Madison Station Blvd in Madison blends historical charm with cutting-edge technology. The floor had seating by the stage and the loft was a combination of sofas and suites that had a small living room setup with bar stools by the rails for fans to relax and enjoy the party. Harken Hall’s outdoor patio/stage can comfortably host up to 150 attendees for music jam sessions or other gatherings. They have state-of-the-art advanced AV and lighting systems, while their environmentally conscious design and operations make for a greener event experience. Plus, there is plenty of free parking. Please visit Harken Hall's website for a complete list of upcoming shows.
At Harken Hall - the beautiful new listening room in Madison, Tennessee. Related Links: For more information on John McEuen and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links - John McEuen | Harken Hall
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