One of the Midwest's leading bluegrass groups, the Special Consensus are also one of the most enduring, forming in the mid-'70s and still performing and recording in the 2020s. Led by banjo player Greg Cahill (whose work would earn him the Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association), Special Consensus struck an easy balance between the classic sound of traditional bluegrass and more progressive newgrass sounds on LPs like 1998's Our Little Town and 2005's Everything's Alright. The Special Consensus have created a body of work that's fresh while honoring the founders of bluegrass, and under Cahill's leadership, many talented pickers have helped maintain their reputation for exceptional instrumental skill and stellar harmonies. They've also revealed a knack for geographically themed concept albums, such as 2020's Chicago Barn Dance (honoring their hometown of Chicago) and 2023's Great Blue North (playing tribute to Canadian bluegrass artists).