BLUEGRASS JAM SPECIAL EDITION FEATURING THE DARREN NICHOLSON BAND
OPEN BLUEGRASS JAM FOLLOWS AT 9:30PM!
A Grammy nominee and the winner of 13 International Bluegrass Music Association awards, Darren Nicholson has taken his own brand of mountain music around the world. A regular for years on the Grand Ole Opry and a founding member of acclaimed bluegrass group Balsam Range, Darren now spends his time recording, writing new songs, and performing original roots music inspired by the history & culture of his native Western North Carolina — homegrown, wholehearted music with a purpose.
A punchy mandolinist with instrumentation nods to Bill Monroe and Marty Stuart, Darren is also an introspective songwriter, technical harmony singer, convincing lead vocalist, and a man on a mission. His shows are a tailored experience — genuine, entertaining, and an extended handshake to the community., reflecting the fun-witted and approachable character formed in his raising.
Darren’s passion is sharing raw, honest-to-goodness, quality music with his audience. Music that’s good for his soul and theirs too. “That’s all I want,” says Darren. “I want to be a positive part of other people’s lives with music, you know? I want to be an ambassador to roots music – tip my hat to the past while looking forward at the same time. This music was intended to be played in a way that adds joy to the community. All I want is to restore that purpose, not to complete a transaction.”
Darren says that when you come out to a show, whatever you do, please come talk afterward. “I’m like Willie Nelson. ‘I don’t want fans, I want friends.’ It’s a communal thing.”
You can catch Darren almost every week sharing the music he loves somewhere, traveling both nationally and internationally — as a solo artist, in collaboration with other musicians, and with his own Darren Nicholson Band — a group of Appalachian musicians with a common respect for and love of American acoustic music who creatively blend bluegrass, folk, gospel, and swing into a new music experience.
Doors at 6pm — show starts at 7pm. Suggested cover at the door. Open Jam follows at 9:30pm.
