Bluegrass fans in Southern Maryland will celebrate 50 years of musical excellence when Special Consensus makes its first appearance in the region on Sunday, April 19, 2026. The 2012 and 2018 Grammy-nominated band headlines the sixth concert of the Southern Maryland Bluegrass Series at the Calvert Elks Lodge in Prince Frederick.
The event takes place at the Calvert Elks Lodge located at 1015 Dares Beach Road in Prince Frederick, Maryland. Doors open at noon, with the show starting at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $23 per person and are sold at the door, though pre-purchase options may be available. Children under 12 enter free with a paid adult. Food will be available for purchase from noon until 2 p.m. A 50/50 raffle and door prizes add to the afternoon.
Special Consensus, marking its golden anniversary in 2025, brings a sound grounded in traditional bluegrass with contemporary drive and harmonies. Founder Greg Cahill leads the band on banjo. Cahill received the International Bluegrass Music Association Distinguished Achievement Award and induction into the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America Hall of Greats. The group has released 22 acclaimed recordings, earned eight IBMA awards and earned two Grammy nominations.
Current members include Greg Blake on guitar, the 2023 and 2025 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year known for his rich, powerful voice connected to Appalachian mountain sounds. Brian McCarty plays mandolin and Nico Humby plays bass. The musicians blend creative expression while staying rooted in bluegrass tradition.
Over five decades, Special Consensus has toured internationally in Australia, Canada, Europe, South America, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The band has performed on National Public Radio, The Nashville Network and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, and has appeared with symphony orchestras worldwide.
In 1984, the band launched the Traditional American Music Program to introduce bluegrass to school students across the United States and several foreign countries. This educational outreach continues alongside their performance schedule.
The band records for Compass Records. Their version of Gordon Lightfoot’s “Alberta Bound” won the 2023 IBMA Collaborative Recording of the Year and the first-ever 2024 IBMA Video of the Year. Their 2025 album “Been All Around This World,” released for the 50th anniversary, features special appearances by past bandmates Rick Faris, Ashby Frank, Robbie Fulks, Chris Jones, Dallas Wayne and Josh Williams alongside current members.
The Southern Maryland Bluegrass Series, now in its fourth year at the Calvert Elks Lodge, continues to bring top artists to the area. One more show remains this season: The Kody Norris Show on Sunday, May 3, 2026. That performance was originally scheduled for February 1.
Media sponsorship for the series comes from Bluegrass Country Radio. For additional details, visit the official site or call 301-737-3004.
The April 19 concert offers local audiences a chance to experience a band that has shaped bluegrass for half a century while supporting music education for students worldwide. Attendees can expect high-energy harmonies, skilled instrumentation and the rich legacy of Special Consensus.
Prince Frederick serves as a growing hub for live music events in Calvert County, with the Elks Lodge providing a welcoming venue for bluegrass enthusiasts. The series helps preserve and promote traditional American music in Southern Maryland.