John McEuen & the Circle Band

City Winery Nashville Presents John McEuen & the Circle Band live in concert on November 3rd at 8pm.

Multi-instrumentalist John McEuen, best known as a member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, is a key figure in the history of American folk music. Born in Oakland, California, McEuen grew up outside of Los Angeles. He began playing the banjo at age 17, after hearing live bluegrass at a club near his home. That night changed McEuen’s life. He introduced his high school friend, comedian Steve Martin, to the banjo and both fell in love with the instrument together. While working in Disneyland’s magic shops, the two teenagers would arrange their breaks to catch whatever bluegrass band was scheduled to play in the park’s Western-themed Frontierland. Not long after, during a trip to Nashville with their father, John and his brother had tried to get tickets to see Earl Scruggs perform at the Grand Ole Opry. The show was sold out, so they snuck around back of the Ryman Auditorium to an open window. Just then, they heard Scruggs perform “The Wildwood Flower” with Lester Flatt and Mother Maybelle Carter.