Erika Goldring / WireImage
For almost six decades, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, a three-time GRAMMY Award-winning group, has captivated audiences with their exceptional musical talent and enduring hits such as “Fishin’ In The Dark,” “Mr. Bojangles,” “An American Dream,” and more.
Now, the moment has arrived for the band, dedicated to American country and roots music, to bid farewell to the paths they’ve journeyed throughout their illustrious career.
In 1984, the band achieved a No. 1 spot on the Hot Country Songs chart with their song “Long Hard Road.” This success was followed by another chart-topper in 1985, “Modern Day Romance,” and in 1987, their smash hit “Fishin’ In The Dark” claimed the No. 1 spot as well.
Notably, in recent years, artists like Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Dierks Bentley have covered the popular “Fishin’ In The Dark.”
Longstanding keyboard player for the band, Bob Carpenter, mentioned that their name was inspired by the 60s trend when bands often had long and unconventional names, reminiscent of groups like The Strawberry Alarm Clock or the Tenth Street Southside Fifth Avenue Kazoo Band.
“When the band was forming, they were the kind of group names that everyone was using. So the band wanted to have a lot of words in the name,” he said.
The band underwent multiple name changes in its first year, at one point adopting the name “The Illegitimate Jug Band,” as it initially began as a jug band.
Fun fact: The choice of “dirt” in their eventual name was more aligned with the concept of “soil of the earth” rather than connoting “filth.”
RELATED: John Denver & Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Enchant With Live ‘Back Home Again’
On March 21st, 2024, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band will kick off the first leg of their last traditionally scheduled gigs. While it’s not a permanent farewell, it does mark the conclusion of the era of multi-city runs and extended bus journeys for the group. They were at the forefront of the band’s seventh studio album Will The Circle Be Unbroken series, which features icons such as Mother Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Emmylou Harris, Levon Helm, and numerous others.
“‘All the Good Times’ perfectly describes our career,” the band said in a statement. “Playing our music for Dirt Band fans all over the world has been an incredible experience for us. The most important part of that has been the connection to our audience — that beautiful communal give and take is like nothing else. That’s the very spirit we’ll be celebrating as we head into our farewell tour. We’re really looking forward to seeing you folks. Good times will be had by all!”
March 21 – Bowling Green, KY – SKyPAC – Main Hall
March 22 – Bloomington, IL – Bloomington Center For The Performing Arts
March 23 – Mount Vernon, KY – Renfro Valley Entertainment Center
March 24 – Marietta, OH – Peoples Bank Theatre
March 28 – Odessa, TX – The Ector Theatre
March 29 – Abilene, TX – Outlaws and Legends Music Festival
March 30 – Houston, TX – Arena Theatre
April 25 – Shreveport, LA – The Strand Theatre
April 28 – Oxford, AL – Oxford Performing Arts Center
May 9 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre
May 10 – Harris, MI – Island Resort & Casino
May 11 – Harris, MI – Island Resort & Casino
May 12 – Joliet, IL – Rialto Square Theatre
May 17 – Raleigh, NC* – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
May 18 – Bristow, VA* – Jiffy Lube Live
May 19 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
June 21 – Mankato, MN – Vetter Stone Amphitheater
June 22 – Cedar Rapids, IA – McGrath Amphitheatre
June 23 – Bayfield, WI – Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua
June 27 – Sioux Falls, SD – Alliance Center
June 28 – Mahnomen, MN – Shooting Star Casino Hotel & Event Center
June 29 – Bismarck, ND – Belle Mehus Auditorium
June 30 – Dauphin, MB, Canada – Dauphin’s Countryfest
July 11 – Mayetta, KS – Prairie Band Casino & Resort – Great Lakes Ballroom
July 12 – Jefferson City, MO – Capital Region MU Health Care Amphitheater
July 13 – Newkirk, OK – 7 Clans First Council Casino
July 25 – Lubbock, TX – The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences – Helen DeVitt Jones Theater
July 26 – New Braunfels, TX# – Whitewater Amphitheater
July 27 – Fort Worth, TX – Bass Performance Hall
July 28 – Amarillo, TX – Globe-News Center For The Performing Arts
September 14 – Kansas City, MO* – T-Mobile Center
* with Hank Williams, Jr.
# with Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
Additional dates are soon to be announced!
Watch the band perform “Will The Circle Be Broken” live on TV below.
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