Doctors Gibson

The Gibson Brothers, Eric and Leigh Gibson are to be honoured by the State University of New York (SUNY) with honorary degrees of doctor of fine arts at SUNY Plattsburgh’s spring 2015 commencement, which will take place on 15th May this year.

Both of the Gibsons are graduates of SUNY Plattsburgh: Eric Gibson received a BA in Secondary Education – English in 1993, and Leigh Gibson earned two bachelor’s degrees there: in 1994, he was awarded a Bachelor of Science in communication, and in 1996, he followed up with a BA in English.

The brothers, who grew up on a dairy farm in northern New York, have maintained deep ties to the region. Leigh Gibson reflects, “Attending Plattsburgh State allowed me a chance to experience a world outside of our small farming community. Yet because its close to Ellenburg. I was able to stay close to the roots that make up such large part of my music. I couldn’t have made a better choice.” Eric Gibson echoes his brother’s sentiment, adding, “Receiving this honor is one of the nicest surprises of my life. To be honored at our alma mater makes it even more special. We have many great memories from our days at Plattsburgh State University.”

For more than two decades, they have been among the most admired and sought-after groups in the bluegrass world. Over the course of their career, the International Bluegrass Music Association has bestowed eleven awards on the Gibsons, including two consecutive “Entertainer of the Year” honors in 2012 and 2013.

The Gibson Brothers’ recently released album Brotherhood has garnered high praise from critics. All Music’s Thom Jurek proclaimed “These covers — many iconic, some obscure — offer proof of the Gibson’s own contribution to the bluegrass lineage with glorious harmonies and subtle liberties that carve these songs deeper into the American grain,” while the Boston Globe’s Stuart Munro called the brothers “an exemplar of the brother harmony tradition.”

Country Standard Time declared “But that’s what Eric and Leigh Gibson have been doing for more than two decades now, putting out extraordinary music. It may be mostly in the bluegrass realm, but “Brotherhood” highlights their keen sense for and knowledge of what great country music sounds like.”

The Gibson Brothers Tour Dates 2015:

• April 4, Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield, ME
• April, 10, The Kentucky Opry, Draffenville, KY
• April 11, Dave Finkeman Auditorium, Miami University, Middletown, OH
• April 12, Years of Farming, Flemingsburg, KY
• April 15, City Winery, Chicago, IL
• April 17, Stoughton Opera House, Stoughton, WI
• April 18, Riverside Live, Mayo Civic Center, Presentation Hall, Rochester, MN
• April 25, 2015, Merlefest, Wilkesboro, NC
• May 7, Southeast Old Threshers’ Reunion, Denton, NC
  May 15, Spring Gulch Folk Festival, New Holland, PA
• May 16, Northern Adirondack Central School, Ellenburg Depot, NY
• May 22, DelFest, Cumberland, MD
• May 23 Tri-State Bluegrass, Kendalville, IN
• May 25 – 26, Dollywood’s Celebrity Theater, Pigeon Forge, TN
• May 40, Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival, Preston, CT
• June 13, Wind Gap Bluegrass Festival, Wind Gap, PA
• June 19, Tug Hill Bluegrass Festival, Lowville, NY
• June 20, Blistered Fingers Bluegrass Festival, Litchfield, ME
• June 27, Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival, Turnbridge, VT
• July 4, Bluegrass on the Pawtuxet, Providence, RI
• July 9, The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
• July 11, Mayor’s Cup 2015, McDonough Monument Band Shell, Plattsburgh, NY
• July 16, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Oak Hill, NY
• July 18 -19, Darrington Bluegrass Festival, Darrington, WA
• August 1, Pemi Valley Bluegrass Festival, Thornton, NH
• August 2, Silver Bay YMCA, Silver Bay, NY
• August 5, Pickin’ In Parsons, Parsons, WV
• August 15, The Long Island Bluegrass Festival, Copiague, NY
• August 29, Blistered Fingers Bluegrass Festival, Litchefield, ME
• September 4, 44th Annual Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival, Woodtown, NJ
• September 6, Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Special, Brunswick, ME
• September 12, 4th Annual Plattsburgh Bluegrass Festival, Plattsburgh, NY
• September 18, Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival, Moorehead, KY
• September 19, Bristol Rhythm & Roots, Bristol, TN
• October 9, Southern Soul & Song Series, Augusta, GA
• October 10, Berryville Bluegrass Series, Berryville, VA
• October 11, Tennessee Fall Homecoming, Clinton, TN
• November 14, Palace Theater, Frostburg, MD
• December 4, U of Wisconsin-Washington, Theater on the Hill, West Bend, WI