Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman starts this week

This Thursday (6/23) will mark the beginning of the 2011 Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman series in downtown Nashville. The shows will run each Thursday evening through July, all of them presenting top bluegrass artists at the venerable “Mother Church” of country music during peak tourist season.

The first show will feature Vince Gill with a crack bluegrass band: Jim Mills on banjo, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Mike Compton on mandolin, Jeff White on guitar and Mike Bubb on bass.

Each Thursday’s shows will also include free entertainment on the plaza outside the theater.

Here’s the complete lineup:

June 23 An Evening with Vince Gill Plaza:  The Howling Brothers
June 30 Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder Plaza: Freshwater Creek
July 7 Sam Bush with The Josh Williams Band Plaza: Rigney Family
July 14 Bill Monroe 100th Birthday Plaza: Todd Grebe and Bearfoot
July 21 Dailey & Vincent with Joe Mullins
& The Radio Ramblers
Plaza: Dana Romanello
July 28 An Evening with Doc Watson Plaza: Syndi Perry

The Bill Monroe 100th Birthday show will feature Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press, and Sierra Hull & Highway 111.

Sam Bush is offering a chance to meet him live and in person at his July 7 show. You can find all the particulars on Facebook.

All shows start at 7:30 p.m. (CDT) with the outdoor performances kicking off at 6:00. Full details and ticketing are available online.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.