Belleville Roots Concert Sells Out

NEWBURYPORT – The SteelDrivers, one of the biggest names in progressive bluegrass music, has done it again in the port city.
The Grammy-nominated band for the second time has sold out its concert next week on April 29 as part of the popular Belleville Roots Music Series. The roots series, staged at the 500-seat Belleville Congregational Church, has had two sell outs, both with the SteelDrivers.
“It is a very nice feeling,” said founder Ken Irwin. “It is an anti-stress event,” meaning he and the other Roots board members do not have to worry that the crowd for their concert will not be large enough.
Selling out weeks before the concert also sends a message to the Roots fans that they need to buy their tickets early to future concerts like the upcoming one with Marcia Ball’s band on May 20, Irwin said.
The SteelDrivers, which debuted in 2005, has been nominated for four Grammys and in 2015, won the Best Bluegrass Recording award for its “Muscle Shoals Recordings.”
The Nashville-based group was also named by the Americana Music Association as New Artists of the Year and the IBMA’s Emerging Artist of the Year in 2009.
Irwin said Newburyport is the only tour date for the band in New England, which may have helped swell the crowd. He also said the band, which appeals to a younger crowd, known as SteelHeads, has a strong social media following.
The SteelDrivers’ sound has been called “new music with an old feeling,” or simply bluegrass soul. The legendary country and bluegrass star Vince Gill described the band of veteran performers “an incredible combination.”
The band members are Richard Bailey on banjo, Tammy Rogers on fiddle, Mike Fleming on bass, Brent Truitt on mandolin and Matt Dame on guitar. From 2008 to 2010, award-winning country artist Chris Stapleton was a lead vocalist with the band.
Beer and Wine will be sold pre-show and during intermission by Bent Water Brewing Co. and Lucille’s Wine Shop.
The non-profit Belleville Roots Music Series was founded in 2010 to bring a variety of high-quality music to the Newburyport area. It showcases music from a cappella to zydeco including many genres such as blues, bluegrass, Cajun, Celtic, country folk, gospel, Irish, jazz and world music.
The concert series raises funds to restore and maintain the historic 1867 Belleville Meetinghouse and adjacent Fiske Chapel complex at 300 High Street in Newburyport.
“We hope that the Meetinghouse and the nearby complex will continue to serve as gathering places for years to come,” its web site states.
For more information and to buy your Marcia Ball Band tickets, visit bellevilleroots.org.