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35

Chicago-based Special Consensus celebrates its 35th anniversary with the release of 35. The new album, and the group’s 10th release, features band founder Greg Cahill (banjo and vocals), Rick Faris (mandolin and vocals), David Thomas (bass and vocals) and Ryan Roberts (guitar and voc... more

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ABOUT SPECIAL CONSENSUS

“Yes, Special Consensus may be Chicago’s very own veteran bluegrass band, but talent like this is the property of the world.” - Chicago Tribune

“O Brother, that’s good bluegrass!” - Salt Lake Tribune

“Special Consensus is a superb bluegrass outfit in a classic vein...the vocals are spotless, the playing as shiny as a newly minted penny, and music like this is the reason people come to love bluegrass” - Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange

 

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) Program in schools across the country and began appearing on cable television 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 fourteen additional recordings. The Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association sponsored a video production of the TAM Program and copies were sent to schools around the world by the Nashville-based International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). 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 year for the band. The band has been featured in cover stories of the renowned bluegrass publication Bluegrass Unlimited in 1998, 2005 and 2010 and several of the band recordings have received Highlight Reviews and appeared on the National Bluegrass Survey chart in that publication. 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. International tours have brought The Special Consensus to the United Kingdom, 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 fifteenth band recording "35" was released in 2010 by Compass Records in celebration of the 35th anniversary of the formation of the band as a professional touring and recording entity. The Special Consensus is included on the touring rosters of the Illinois Arts Council (Artstour) and continues to participate in the Arts Midwest Performing Arts Touring Program.

Greg Cahill (banjo), David Thomas (bass), Rick Faris (mandolin) and Dustin Benson (guitar) make up The Special Consensus.