Special Consensus Celebrates 50 Years of Bluegrass Magic in Chicago
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
Concert: Special Consensus 50th Anniversary Celebration Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025 Venue: Old Town School of Folk Music – Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall, Chicago, IL
The Old Town School of Folk Music became the epicenter of American roots music last night, Saturday, October 18, 2025, as The Special Consensus delivered an extraordinary, career-spanning performance to mark their 50th Golden Anniversary. This wasn’t just a concert; it was a jubilant, multi-generational reunion that cemented the Chicago-based band’s legacy as one of bluegrass music’s most enduring and innovative institutions.
Founded in 1975 by banjoist and bandleader Greg Cahill, Special Consensus—or “Special C”—has achieved the rare distinction of being the longest continuously touring and recording band in the genre. Cahill, the unwavering anchor and recipient of the IBMA’s prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award, led the celebration, his distinctive banjo stylings driving the evening’s narrative.
A Legacy on Stage: The Reunion
The true magic of the night lay in the parade of alumni who joined the current, formidable lineup of Greg Blake (guitar), Dan Eubanks (upright bass), and Brian McCarty (mandolin). The stage was transformed into a living retrospective, honoring the “Special C farm team” that has passed through the ranks over five decades.
A large portion of the celebration was dedicated to performing tracks from their anniversary album, Been All Around This World. The audience was treated to rare, live collaborations featuring notable former members on songs like the title track, “I’ve Been All Around This World,” which saw the joyful return of Robbie Fulks, Josh Williams, and Ashby Frank. The robust, collaborative cover of John Hartford’s “I Wish We Had Our Time Again,” featuring multiple alums, served as a powerful and fitting conclusion to the main set, deeply steeped in nostalgia and shared history. Other highlights from their expansive two-dozen-plus album catalog included classics like “Freight Train Boogie,” “Ten Mile Tennessee,” and the Grammy-nominated “Carolina in the Pines.”
The Enduring Power of the Consensus
The performance perfectly showcased the band’s hallmark sound: deep, authentic appreciation for traditional drive and harmonies, seamlessly blended with the contemporary vocal prowess of Greg Blake (the 2023 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year). The acoustics of the Maurer Concert Hall provided an immediacy to the sound, allowing the audience to truly feel the complex, tight harmonies that define the “Special C” sound.
The celebration was a resounding success, proving that the communal spirit and dedication to excellence that fueled Greg Cahill’s vision fifty years ago is stronger than ever. For the faithful in the Old Town School audience, this was an essential pilgrimage—a reminder of the enduring power of bluegrass music rooted in tradition, refined by consensus, and dedicated to a boundless future.