Rising acoustic music stars Nickel Creek to perform at Purdue

The performance is presented by Purdue Convocations.

Formed in 1989 when members Chris Thile (mandolin and vocals) and Sara Watkins (violin and vocals) were 8 years old and Sara's older sibling, Sean Watkins (guitar and vocals), was 11, Nickel Creek earned a loyal following playing the festival circuit for nearly a decade.

Sugar Hill Records released the band's self-titled Grammy-nominated debut album, which was produced by Alison Krauss, in 2000 to commercial and critical acclaim. The band sold nearly one million albums and Time Magazine named the trio "Music Innovators for the New Millennium."

Nickel Creek released two more albums on Sugar Hill, winning the group's first Grammy for "Best Contemporary Folk Album" with 2002's "This Side" and earning two more nominations for 2005's "Why Should the Fire Die?"

The three southern Californians began their careers by playing bluegrass music, but their sound has since evolved to incorporate elements of folk, rock, jazz and even classical music.

"We'd been listening for years to musicians, from Bela Fleck to the Beatles, that pushed envelopes," Thile said. "We wanted to be challenged. Then we started writing songs. An honesty issue arose at that point: Like, we probably shouldn't necessarily write songs set back in the hills about moonshine and coalminers."

Nickel Creek's live performances have garnered legions of fans that enjoy the hybrid of genres that concoct their sound.

Guitarist Sean Watkins said the trio has a lot of freedom in a live setting.

"Because we knew each other so well musically as well as personally, our songs can take different shapes live without too much thought — and it's really nice to have three versatile instruments when we leave the page," Watkins said.

The band recently announced they it take a hiatus from touring in late 2007. A statement from all three musicians said, "After seven years of extensive touring … we've decided to take a break of indefinite length at the end of 2007 to preserve the environment we've sought so hard to create and to pursue other interests. It has been a pleasure to write, record and perform for you through the years and we'd like to heartily thank you for your invaluable contribution to our musical lives."

Nickel Creek with be joined by opening act Tift Merritt at the Purdue University performance. Merritt, a North Carolina-based songwriter, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Album for her 2005 recording "Tambourine."

People magazine said, "With her clear, controlled voice and zestful, sensual delivery, Tift Merritt deserves to move from the fringes of stardom onto the A-list of country rockers thanks to this joy of an album."

Tickets for Nickel Creek with special guest Tift Merritt are $33. Tickets are available at the Elliott Hall and Stewart Center box offices at (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster outlets.

Source: Kerry Schutt Nason, Purdue Convocations interim director of marketing, (765) 494-9071, knason@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu