Dust, Harmony, and One Last Dance: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Farewell Shines in Saskatoon

by Scott Roos

photos by Deanna Roos

Tuesday night at Saskatoon's TCU Place felt like a celebration of storytelling, musicianship, and legacy as the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band rolled into town on their "All the Good Times: The Farewell Tour", joined by the luminous Kathleen Edwards as the opening act.

Edwards delivered a compact yet emotionally rich set, performing in a stripped-down trio format with herself on acoustic guitar, joined by a pianist and an electric guitarist. Her presence was immediately commanding - warm, witty, and fully in tune with her bandmates. Their chemistry onstage elevated her performance, with highlights including her SOCAN ECHO-winning song “A Soft Place to Land”, co-written with John Roderick. She also delivered a hauntingly folksy take on Supertramp’s “The Logical Song”, reinterpreting it with a tenderness and insight that left the audience awestruck.

Next, it was time for the legends themselves to take the stage. From the moment the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band stepped on stage, it was clear this wasn’t just a concert. It was a heartfelt sendoff from a group of musicians who’ve spent decades mastering their craft and now, gracefully, are taking their final bow.

They played with the ease and confidence of veterans but also with a spark that showed they’re still genuinely enjoying every moment. Their setlist was a treasure trove of fan favorites, with standout performances of “Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper's Dream)”, the brilliant Bob Dylan cover “Girl From the North Country”, “Workin’ Man (Nowhere to Go)”, “Bless the Broken Road”, and of course, “Fishin’ in the Dark” and “Mr. Bojangles”, which both got very enthusiastic responses from the crowd.

Jeff Hanna, one of the band’s founding members, anchored the group with his calming presence and tasteful guitar work. His vocals were smooth and reassuring, setting the tone for the night. His son Jaime Hanna, a more recent addition, proved to be a revelation—his onstage chemistry with Jeff added a personal, heartwarming layer to the performance.

Jimmie Fadden impressed with his multitasking, simultaneously playing drums and harmonica, adding a raw edge to several songs. While his voice showed the marks of time, it only added to the authenticity. Bob Carpenter was a vocal powerhouse and a master on both keys and accordion. Jim Photoglo held it all together with solid, unobtrusive bass lines. But perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was Ross Holmes—his fiddle and mandolin playing bordered on virtuosic. Holmes stole more than a few moments, dazzling the crowd with his technical brilliance and expressive performance.

The night ended with Kathleen Edwards returning to join the guys in a rousing rendition of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken". At the end of the night, this farewell show felt less like a goodbye and more like a celebration: a band taking a well-deserved victory lap while still delivering the goods night after night. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band may be winding things down, but on April 29, they proved they're going out on an undeniable high.