It’s hip to like the rootsy country sound of bluegrass these days, and the leaders of that movement are multi-Grammy Award winning Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas.
Their 26-city tour makes at stop at Alltel Arena on Saturday, March 19, at 8 p.m. It’s just them, there’s no opener. Tickets are $41.50 and $36.50 through Ticketmaster (975-7575) or the arena box office.
They were last here as a group almost three years ago in the “Down From the Mountain” tour that sprang from the popularity of the “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” movie soundtrack and subsequent records. Dobro-playing Douglas brought his own band to Mountain View and the Ozark Folk Center last May.
Krauss and company are touring in support of their latest album, “Lonely Runs Both Ways,” the group’s fastest selling album, hitting 500,000 in sales in just over five weeks.
Krauss plays the fiddle and sings. Other band members along with Douglas are Barry Bales on bass, Ron Block on banjo guitar and Dan Tyminski on guitar and vocals. Tyminski was the voice that made George Clooney even more famous in “O Brother.”
No Depression magazine has described Krauss as “one of the greatest singers of our time –- not just in bluegrass, not just in country but in all of English language pop.” Krauss has released 11 albums since her debut in 1989 and has been a part of 28 compilations, side projects and guest appearances. She also produced Nickel Creek’s most recent two albums.
Alltel Arena seating will be set up in its intimate theater style (people who saw Blue Man Group there will remember it), and with ticket sales brisk, according to an arena spokesman, the upper deck is likely to be used as well.
Alison and the boys
Krauss, Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, bring rootsy bluegrass to Alltel on Saturday.