Del McCoury

Even among the pantheon of music’s finest artists, Del McCoury stands alone. From the nascent sound of bluegrass that charmed hardscrabble hillbilly honkytonks, rural schoolhouse stages, and the crowning glory of the Grand Ole Opry to the present-day culture-buzz of viral videos and digital streams, Del is the living link.

Emerging from humble beginnings in York County, Pa. nearly eighty years ago, Del was captivated by the banjo playing of one of its masters, Earl Scruggs, and decided he’d be a banjo picker, too. He was offered the opportunity of a lifetime to join Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in early 1963. Monroe transformed McCoury, moving him from the banjo to guitar, anointing him lead singer, and providing him with a priceless trove of bluegrass tutelage direct from the source.

Now helming the Del McCoury Band, with sons Ronnie and Rob, the ensemble is a peerless torchbearer for the entire sweep and scope of bluegrass history. Those many years, not to mention a good-natured willingness to stay alert to the latest sounds and opportunities around him, earned McCoury a whole new generation of fans, including some in unlikely places.

“I’m just doing what’s natural,” says Del. “When young musicians ask me what they should do I always tell them, ‘You do whatever’s inside of you. Do what you do best.’”

With but a single change in membership in twenty seven years The Del McCoury Band shows unprecedented stability as well as garnering the respect and admiration of the industry for its unmistakable work: ten IBMA Entertainer of the Year trophies (most recently in 2024); in 2003, Del’s awarded membership in the cast of the legendary Grand Ole Opry; the band’s first Best Bluegrass Album Grammy award, in ’05, followed by a second Grammy win in 2014, (not to mention double-digit nominations). “I know (having the same band) helped with my success. It keeps your sound constant,” says Del. “We really enjoy what we’re doing.”

If there was ever a collection of recordings confirming McCoury’s wide-ranging impact and spirit of musical comradery, it would be American Legacies. Recorded post-Hurricane Katrina, the album is a collaboration with New Orleans’ revered Preservation Hall Jazz Band, presenting a musical cross-section of traditional bluegrass and the Dixieland pomp of New Orleans, typifying the Del McCoury Band’s evolution from bluegrass vanguard to an American treasure. “All music is related. Bill Monroe went to New Orleans and listened to jazz players. Earl Scruggs- some of the tunes he recorded were from New Orleans,” says Del. “It all fits together if you’re willing to be open-minded.”

On their latest release, Songs of Love and Life, A 15-song collection, the album features a diverse set of tracks–vintage and contemporary–as McCoury and his crackerjack band nod to icons Kenny Rogers, Roy Orbison, and Elvis Presley, as well as welcoming next-generation talent Molly Tuttle to the party. Across his six decades of making classic albums, Del knows what he’s looking for in a song. “I like a challenge. I’ve always liked a challenge,” says Del. “I like to learn different things. Doing the same things is boring to me.”

More information: Del McCoury

ADDITIONAL CONCERT DETAILS

•  Ticket purchases are nonrefundable
•  Concerts take place Rain or Shine
•  Admission gates open at 5:45 pm
•  Showtime is 7 p.m.
•  You need to bring your own lawn chair and/or blanket
•  We recommend bringing a jacket or sweatshirt as it often gets cooler after the sun goes down and sometimes a rain shower pops up
•  You are welcome to bring a picnic with drinks and beverages (no alcohol is permitted on-site)
•  There is a on-site food vendor – for larger attendance shows sometimes two food vendors, but we always recommended bringing at least some water and a few snacks in case the lines at the food vendor are long and/or they run out of food
•  Alcohol, drones, pop-up tents, and tables are not allowed in the amphitheater
•  Dogs are permitted at most shows with the following rules: dog(s) must always be on a leash, concert goers with dog(s) are only permitted to sit on the hillside above the rock walls and not in the main seating area below the rock walls, you must clean up after your pet, if your dog(s) behavior is interfering with other patrons enjoyment of the show, you and your pet may be asked to leave the amphitheater and no refund will be given 

The Bluffs Restaurant will offer food and beverages for purchase during the concert. Visitors may bring their own food and beverages into the amphitheater. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted. 

Assistive listening devices are available for use during concerts. If you would like to borrow a free device, email info@blueridgemusiccenter.org in advance of your visit.

For more information, view our concert FAQs