A trio with more than a century of stellar musicianship has combined talents, friendships and separate story lines into a bound-to-be thumbs-up concert.
John McEuen and country-rock pioneers Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen perform Feb. 5 in Edmonds.
McEuen, co-founder of the country-folk-rock Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, with which he still performs, brings his vintage string instruments to work.
McEuen recorded more than 30 albums with NGDB, including “Will the Circle Be Broken?” “Circle” turned out to be an iconic crossover to country album, influenced by an all-star bluegrass and country recording lineup.
McEuen has shown his versatility by performing or recording with Dolly Parton, The Doors, Andy Williams, Willie Nelson, Little Richard, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Phish.
Now he’s joined Pedersen and Hillman for a three-man ride that attracts two generations of listeners.
Guitarist and mandolinist Hillman shifted from folk to bluegrass before he became a founding member of The Byrds. In 1965 the band recorded “Mr. Tambourine Man” with electric instruments. Folk-rock was born.
Three years later, with Gram Parsons featured in the band, “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” jump-started country rock.
By the 1980s, Hillman had rediscovered his bluegrass and country roots, joining Pedersen to form the Desert Rose Band.
Pederson, armed with a five-string banjo and a tenor voice, has worked with John Prine, Jackson Browne, Earl Scruggs, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Jerry Garcia and Vince Gill.
Strunz and Farah: Grammy-nominated acoustic guitarists Jorge Strunz, who is from Costa Rica, and Ardeshir Farah of Iran have widened the expression of the acoustic guitar since 1979.
They mix their countries’ musical riches with improvisations and rhythmic compositions.
Nelo: This six-piece acoustic-rock/pop band excels in laid-back grooves, rolls out several instruments, including sax, trombone and organ, and lets loose ear-catching original songs. The group’s self-titled debut CD is a good start.
MXPX: While the punk-pop band’s album “Panic” was on the dark side, prompted by one world disaster or another, MXPX’s new CD, “Secret Weapon,” focuses more on the personal. “Top of the Charts” is a lament on music-business pressures and “Punk Rawk Celebrity” calls out the punk posers.
Torch of Dreams: A local show benefits the Washington’s Special Olympics program. The performance features the magic of Sterling Dietz (World Teen Champion of Magic), comedy jugglers Brothers from Different Mothers, Lake Stevens High School Dance Team and Ivanca Olanu (2008 Aquafest Idol Winner).
Shemekia Copeland: Grammy-nominated and collector of W.C. Handy Awards, Copeland has kept her blues roots while adding big rhythms and a fiery voice. Her first album brought critical praise; her second earn her a Grammy nomination.
Mark Siano and the Freedom Dancers: Their popular cabaret goes downtown with high-energy mix of flamboyant dancers, comedy, original music, a seven-piece band, campy sing-alongs and a little off-color thrown in.
Out and about: Starting at 6 p.m., Tamara Lewis performs at the Red Umbrella (Jan. 30, Everett) … Three-time Grammy winner Ramsey Lewis (“Hang on Sloopy,” “Wade in the Water”) is a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters award (Feb. 5-8, Jazz Alley) …
Heavy metal band Cradle of Filth has evolved into other forms of metal, influenced by Gothic literature, mythology and horror films (Feb. 3, Showbox at the Market) … Juno Award-winning indie rock band Broken Social Scene’s sound often has an experimental baroque-pop take on music (Feb. 5, Showbox SoDo) …
Singer-songwriter Serena Ryder, who cut her first indie CD at 15, won the 2008 Juno Award for Best New Artist (Feb. 4, Triple Door).
Where to hear it
Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen, John McEuen: 8 p.m. Feb. 5, Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N; $24.50, $27; 425-275-9595.
Strunz and Farah: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3-4, Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave. Seattle; $25.50; 206-441-9729.
Nelo: 9:30 p.m. Jan. 30, Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle; $10, $12; 800-965-4827.
MXPX: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31, El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., Seattle; $10, $12; 206-262-0482.
Torch of Dreams: 3 and 7 p.m. Jan. 31, Lake Stevens High School Performing Arts Center; $12 at Jay’s Market, Haggen Food &Drug, www.showcasemg.com; $15 for day of show tickets.
Shemekia Copeland: 8 p.m. Jan. 30, Lincoln Theater, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon; $29-41; 877-754-6284.
Mark Siano and the Freedom Dancers: 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Jan. 30, Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle; $15, 20; 206-838-4333.
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