Jerry Douglas and Alison Krauss & Union Station to mark 9/11 anniversary in Davenport

Key facts

Event: Alison Krauss & Union Station concert at Adler Theatre, Davenport, Sept. 11, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Occasion: 25th anniversary of 9/11
Jerry Douglas awards: 30 IBMA awards, 16 Grammys, 10 Academy of Country Music awards, 3 CMA Musician of the Year awards, Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award
New album: Arcadia (2025), first studio album since Paper Airplane (2011)
O Brother soundtrack sales: Over 10 million copies
9/11 death toll: 2,996 people, including 19 hijackers

Background

Jerry Douglas, a veteran dobro and lap steel guitar player, is a key member of Alison Krauss & Union Station. The band will return to Davenport's Adler Theatre for a concert on Sept. 11, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., marking the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Douglas, a 70-year-old Ohio native, has earned 30 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards, 16 Grammy awards, 10 Academy of Country Music awards, 3 CMA "Musician of The Year" awards, and a "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Americana Music Association. He has been a member of Alison Krauss & Union Station since 1998 and is credited on over 2,000 songs.

Alison Krauss, now 55, first gained attention as a 14-year-old fiddle prodigy. The band released their new album "Arcadia" in 2025, their first studio album since 2011's "Paper Airplane," which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country, Bluegrass, and Folk Album charts.

Current situation

The band is currently on the Arcadia 2026 Tour, celebrating their new music. Douglas noted in an interview with WVIK on Monday, Aug. 3, that they found 80 more places to play that they didn't play last year, and they plan to return next year as well.

The upcoming Adler Theatre date falls on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Douglas recalled that in 2001, the band was in New York to promote the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack, just four days before hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center, killing 2,996 people including the 19 hijackers.

Douglas said the band will bring up the anniversary in Davenport. He reflected on how the country pulled itself back together after 9/11, but noted that "we've sort of fallen apart again" and expressed hope for unity without another tragedy.

Jerry Douglas awards and honors
Award	Count
IBMA awards	30
Grammy awards	16
Academy of Country Music awards	10
CMA Musician of the Year awards	3

Source: WVIK article

Impacts

The concert is expected to draw fans to the Adler Theatre, a historic venue that originally opened in 1931 as an RKO movie house and was restored in 1986. Krauss and her band last played the Adler in March 2002.

Douglas emphasized the healing power of music, saying, "Music, even in the Depression, was the last thing to go." He believes the concert will provide a space free from politics and division, where people can come together and enjoy themselves.

The "O Brother" soundtrack, which sold over 10 million copies, helped boost the popularity of bluegrass over the past 25 years. Douglas noted that the success elevated everyone involved, saying "It was a nice trickle down."

Future outlook

Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.

If the band continues to find new venues and audiences, they may extend their touring into next year, as Douglas mentioned they plan to go back out next year. The success of "Arcadia" could sustain their momentum.

Douglas, who was inducted into the International Bluegrass Musicians Association Hall of Fame in September 2024, said he feels the same as he did at 40, calling 70 "the new 45." He may continue performing and recording for years to come.

The band's ability to draw crowds to historic theaters like the Adler and Capitol Theatre suggests a continued appreciation for their music. If they maintain their schedule, they could reach even more fans in the coming years.

Source: wvik.org

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