The Blind Boys of Alabama and Shemekia Copeland take the stage at McCain Auditorium

The Blind Boys of Alabama and Shemekia Copeland bring an evening of blues, soul, gospel and roots music to Manhattan at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 7. Tickets are on sale now. | Download this photo.

By K‑State News and Communications Services

 

Monday, March 24, 2025

 

MANHATTAN — The McCain Performance Series presents the Blind Boys of Alabama with special guest Shemekia Copeland at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, at Kansas State University’s McCain Auditorium.

The Blind Boys of Alabama are internationally recognized as living legends of gospel music. They have received numerous accolades, including Lifetime Achievement Awards from both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. They have been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and have won five Grammy Awards. With a career that spans over 70 years, they have reached the highest levels of achievement in the music industry.

The Blind Boys of Alabama are celebrated for their ability to cross various musical boundaries with their exceptional interpretations of both traditional gospel classics and contemporary spiritual songs. They have collaborated with numerous artists, including Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, Susan Tedeschi, Patty Griffin and Taj Mahal. The Blind Boys have made appearances on television shows such as “The Tonight Show,” “Late Night,” “The Grammy Awards,” “60 Minutes” and “The Colbert Report.”

Shemekia Copeland is an award-winning singer known for her powerful blues, soul and Americana music. She has one of the most recognizable and soulful voices in roots music today. In 2021, she received the Blues Music Award for B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. NPR Music has stated, "Shemekia Copeland has established herself as one of the leading blues artists of our time."

Tickets are available online at mccain.k-state.edu anytime or at the ticket office in the McCain lobby from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays. Tickets are also available by phone at 785-532-6428 during the same hours. Tickets for youth 17 and younger are half price for this show. Discounted tickets to this show are also available for K-State faculty and staff, individuals 62 and older, and members of the military. Original IDs will be required to obtain discounts — third-party, photocopied or web-based IDs are not accepted.

For more information, email mccain@k-state.edu.

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