Special Consensus Raheen House Hotel Thursday 04th February 2027

Special Consensus

Raheen House Hotel

Thursday 04th February

Formed in the Chicago area in 1975, Special Consensus is a four-person acoustic bluegrass band. They have appeared on numerous NPR programmes in the USA and cable television shows, including The Nashville Network and the Grand Ole Opry at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Two-time GRAMMY nominees and six-time International Bluegrass Music Association award winners, the group has amassed an expansive discography of over 20 releases.

At last year’s IBMA Awards in Raleigh North Carolina, they picked up the award for Music Video of the Year for ‘Alberta Bound’, the Gordon Lightfoot song from their current album ‘Great Blue North’ which is a collaboration with Canadian musicians. The video was filmed in the USA, Canada and Belfast. Alberta Bound also won Collaborative Recording of the Year in last years IBMA’s and Greg Blake was named Male Vocalist Of The Year at the same ceremony.

GREG CAHILL, the band co-founder, plays banjo and sings baritone and tenor harmony vocals. Greg is the former President/Board Chair of the Nashville-based International Bluegrass Music Association

GREG BLAKE plays guitar and sings lead and harmony vocals. He has toured Ireland with Geoff Scroggins, and with his own band. He has an amazing country/bluegrass singing voice, and he loves singing George Jones songs ! Greg is a three time  IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year, including this year

Nico Humby plays bass and backing vocals. He is the newest recruit to Special C. Nico has made his presence known in and around the Bluegrass scene for the last decade. He has had the honour of offering his groove and presence as a bassist and vocalist to groups like Jeff Scroggins and Colorado, the Greg Blake Band, and Jesse Brock & Streamliner

BRIAN MCCARTY plays mandolin and sings lead and harmony vocals. Brian McCarty grew up in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. The son of a prolific gospel songwriter and singer, he was immersed in the world of music from birth. He first performed with his mother’s gospel band at the age of 7. Brian won the 2005 International Bluegrass Artist of the Year award in the Branson-based CGMA. He has played with numerous bands in the Kansas City area over the past two decades, including 15 years as mandolinist for the Bluegrass Missourians.

“One of the longest-running and best-respected outfits in bluegrass history.”

— Chicago Reader

“Special Consensus is a superb bluegrass outfit in a classic vein…the vocals are spotless, the playing as shiny as a newly minted penny, and music like this is the reason people come to love bluegrass.”

— Folk & Music Exchange

“Yes, Special Consensus may be Chicago’s very own veteran bluegrass band, but talent like this is the property of the world.”
— David Royko; Chicago Tribune