Submitted photo The Special Consensus, which received a Grammy nomination, is playing Friday evening at the Fredonia Opera House.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House will present five-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Award winner and two-time Grammy nominee The Special Consensus in concert as part of the Folk in Fredonia Music Series on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Opera House Executive Director Rick Davis notes that “due to the continued high positivity rate of COVID in Chautauqua County, and in accordance with CDC and State guidelines, we are requiring all patrons to wear masks before, during and after Opera House events.”

Formed in the Chicago area in 1975, The Special Consensus is a four-person acoustic bluegrass band with a repertoire that features traditional bluegrass standards, original compositions, and songs from other musical genres performed in the bluegrass style.

The group has performed at the Grand Ole Opry at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., while international tours have brought the band to Australia, Canada, Europe, South America, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Band leader and founder Greg Cahill is a recipient of the prestigious IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award. The group’s sound is grounded in a deep appreciation and understanding of bluegrass music. With Cahill’s unique banjo-playing style as a foundation, Rick Faris (guitar), Nate Burie (mandolin), and Dan Eubanks (bass) effortlessly support each other and consistently maintain a bluegrass center whether they’re playing a jazz-tinged instrumental or a song from the band’s award-winning John Denver tribute album.

These four talented vocalists and instrumentalists follow their creative desires without straying too far from their roots. Rivers and Roads, the band’s 19th recording, received a 2019 Grammy nomination, five 2018 IBMA nominations and was named IBMA Album of the Year. The tune “Squirrel Hunters” from that recording received the Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year award.

The Special Consensus performance is part of the Opera House Folk in Fredonia Music Series, which is generously sponsored by The Gilman Family. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for Opera House members and $10 for students, and may be purchased in person at the Opera House Box Office or by phone at 716-679-1891, Tuesday-Friday, 12-4:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at www.fredopera.org anytime.