A few notes from Gary

Hey folks.  I guess a lot of you are wondering why I haven't written very much over the last few months and I'll have to admit I do have, as Ricky Ricardo used to say to Lucy. "got some explainin' to do."  I live in a big old two story farm house.  The walls are not insulated and when the wind blows candles will flicker.  Therefore being a thrifty sort of guy, I simply choose to not heat most of this old house.  I do keep my "apartment" nice and cozy in the winter, but allow the rest of the house to remain unheated.  So what has this got to do with me not writing entries into the blog, you might ask?  A good and fair question and here's the answer.  My computer is a desk top model and I keep it in the unheated part of the house.  Right now my fingers are frozen just typing this much.  We've had an unusually cold winter here in Central Virginia and this house has felt even colder.  I hope this helps explain why my blog entries have been few and far between this winter.

Tonight I am driving out to Appomattox, VA to see Travers Chandler & Avery County at Baines Books & Coffeehouse (Should be warm in there!).  The show starts at 7PM for those of you who might want to come.  Listen to the clip as you go to the Avery County web site.  Travers describes his music and "Baltimore Bar-room Bluegrass."  What an apt description for some really great traditional Bluegrass.

Then tomorrow I'll be driving down to Kenbridge, VA to see Missy Raines & The New Hip at the Kenbridge Community Center on 5th Avenue.  Now, it seems I have some more "explainin'" to do.  Most of you know I am a Bluegrass man through and through and many of you might wonder why I would go see a band called The New Hip.  Doesn't sound too bluegrassy does it?  Well, I must confess I have not been to see Missy with her new band, but I have been a friend of hers for many years and followed her music as she played with Eddie & Martha Adcock and others.  Out of her continuing friendship with me and my deep respect for her, I look forward to seeing her again so close to home.

Well, my fingers are now officially numb from the cold, so, for now, I'll say......

"NUFF SAID!"

The Appomattox County High School Athletic Boosters Club presents the "2011 Appomattox Bluegrass Series"

Happy 2011 everyone!  Here's hoping your year is prosperous and better than the last.  Now, let me tell you about the Bluegrass at Appomattox this winter.

I'll get the preliminaries out of the way first.  All of these shows are presented in the Appomattox County High School auditorium at 2:00 PM on Sunday afternoons.  Admission to each show is $15 ($5 for children between 6 and 12 with kids 5 and under free) whether purchased in advance or at the door.  That being said, I would like to recommend that you purchase your tickets in advance as these shows have been known to sell out.  You may mail in a check in the amount of $60 per person to cover the entire series.  Or, you may order each ticket as the series advances along.  Just don't miss out on something you really wanted to see and hear.  You may also reserve tickets at "will call" to be picked up the day of the show.  Tickets may be purchased in person at several outlets around the Appomattox area; including Carquest, Jamerson Building Supply and Baines Books & Coffeehouse in Appomattox, Taylor-Forbes in Farmville, and at Lynchburg Music Center in Lynchburg.  You may telephone Allen or Kelly Smith @ 434-248-6105 or email then at kellyandallen@yahoo.com. 

Okay!  Dailey & Vincent will perform on January 23rd to get the series off to a running start.  Last year at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)Bluegrass  Awards show Dailey & Vincent won awards as "Entertainers of the Year," Album of the Year" and 'Vocal Group of the Year."  In addition to the awards they have been nominated for Grammys, Dove and SPBGMA awards of which they have garnered many wins.  If you enjoy great harmony and a fast paced and entertaining Bluegrass show then you will not want to miss Dailey & Vincent at Appomattox.

Then coming up on February 13th (Just in time for Valentines day!) Russell Moore and 111rd Tyme Out will grace the stage at Appomattox.  Here again you will be treated to an IBMA award winner as Russell Moore won the 2010 "Male Vocalist of the Year."  If you know the music of IIIrd Tyme Out I really didn't have to tell you of Russell's award to convince you to attend the show as you are fully aware of his fantastic vocals.  But, there is a lot more to IIIrd Tyme Out than Russell's vocals as the band is a 'super group' all of which have great talent and singing abilities.  Take your Valentine out for a great Bluegrass performance.

Two short weeks later on February 27th, the "daddy" of Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out and one half of Dailey & Vincent takes the stage at Appomattox, namely Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.  I, more correctly, should have spoken of Doyle as the 'teacher' of these other performers as they both played in Doyle's band Quicksilver at one time or another. Doyle is a demanding boss and I, as a fan, am glad he is.  When attending a Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver show you'll see and hear his latest "crop" or performers and you can be assured of top notch talent and great singing.  Doyle will accept no less.

 

Just a few short days before the start of spring on March 13th, Appomattox High School will reverberate with the great traditional sounds of Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice.  While the three previous shows at Appomattox will have exhibited the influence of Doyle Lawson (And, I can assure you there's nothing wrong with that!), Junior Sisk approaches Bluegrass from and entirely different angle.  He grew up listening to the traditional sounds of Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs and many of the other 1st generation of Bluegrass performers.  This influence can be heard in his singing and choice of material.  Junior sings new songs, but with an earthiness that makes them seem old and eternal.  His most recent CD, "Heartaches & Dreams" went to number 1 on the Bluegrass Unlimited Bluegrass charts.  Junior is humbled by this acclaim as can be attested to this quote from his web site: "[Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice] is celebrating 'Heartaches and Dreams' reaching the #1 Album spot on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass Survey Chart and the Bluegrass Music Profiles Chart!  "Train Without a Track" (#9 BU & #1 BMP) and "Workin' Hard Ain't Hardly Workin' Anymore" (#19 BU) continue to move up the single charts as well.  Thank you to all of the fans, promoters and broadcasters who have supported us and contributed to the success of this album."  Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice wrap up the all too short winter  of music at the Appomattox Bluegrass Series.

Don't forget to get those tickets early and I look forward to seeing all of you at Appomattox this winter.

"NUFF
SAID!"