Nashville, TN (March 21, 2025) – Multiple IBMA Award-winners Special Consensus announce their upcoming 50th anniversary release with the lead single and title track “Been All Around This World,” out today. The two-time GRAMMY nominees are celebrating their golden anniversary with the upcoming release of Been All Around This World, a stellar set of contemporary bluegrass featuring a cast of prior band members, due June 6th.
Special Consensus offers fans a sneak peek of the new music with the album’s debut single and title track. “Been All Around This World” features three of the band’s most notable alums: Robbie Fulks, Josh Williams, and Ashby Frank, alongside current members Greg Blake (guitar, vocals), Brian McCarty (mandolin, vocals) and Dan Eubanks (bass, vocals) and band founder Greg Cahill (banjo).
Producer Alison Brown arranged the song for a tapestry of voices through three-key modulations, with Josh Williams, Greg Blake, and Robbie Fulks each featured on a step-out verse and taking turns dueting with Frank and Brian. The track is an enticing taste of the new project’s collaborative theme, featuring performances from past Special Consensus members Dallas Wayne, Rick Farris, and Chris Jones.
Greg Cahill says: “It was such a joy to be back in the studio with the band and a cast of former band members to make this recording. Dan, Greg, Brian and I so appreciated Robbie Fulks, Josh Williams and Ashby Frank for joining us on “Been All Around This World”! They were each in the band at different times over the past decades, so bringing them together at the same time with us was indeed very “special.” The song also felt very appropriate for us since 2025 is the 50th anniversary of Special C as a professional touring and recording band.”
No band has done more to elevate bluegrass music over the past half a century than the Chicago-based Special Consensus. They have garnered numerous accolades throughout their career, including Grammy nominations and multiple IBMA awards. With a 50-year legacy, Special Consensus has contributed significantly to the bluegrass genre, blending classic sounds with contemporary influences. Their ability to maintain a balance between preserving the roots of bluegrass and pushing its boundaries has made them a respected and enduring force in the bluegrass, inspiring new generations of musicians and fans alike.
“Been All Around This World” is available today on all digital platforms via Compass Records. Look for the new album coming June 6th.
