Yes, another very long headline , but I gotta get it all in there! I don't know how many of you have been to the amphitheater at Pocahontas State Park, but I must tell you it is an under-utilized and wonderful concert location. Take a lawn chair or a blanket or sit in the provided bleachers; any way you choose this is a great place to hear live music. From reading Penny Parsons press release, which I shall provide, I know that the Dark Star Orchestra was formed after the death of Jerry Garcia and presents Grateful Dead music as nearly as possible as it was originally done. As an added treat Bluegrass Great Jesse McReynolds will guest star, performing songs form his Grateful Dead project. Hey, don't listen to me, read Penny Parsons email representing the VMRE as Media Contact and member of the Board of Directors.
"On Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 6:30 PM the Virginia Museum of Radio
Entertainment is pleased to present Grateful Dead tribute band DARK
STAR ORCHESTRA at Pocahontas State Park, 10301 State Park Rd,
Chesterfield, VA. Bluegrass legend JESSE McREYNOLDS will make a
special guest appearance with DSO, performing several songs from his
"Songs of the Grateful Dead" CD, released in 2010. Pocahontas State
Park is just a few miles southeast of Richmond, and is easily
accessible from Highway 360 or Interstate 95. Tickets are $16.50
advance/$20.00 at the door, available through www.ticketstobuy.com.
For more information, visit: www.pocahontaslive.com
For eleven years Dark Star Orchestra has presented its critically
acclaimed live show at esteemed venues all over the world. Dark Star
Orchestra's concerts are built off the extensive catalog of the
Grateful Dead. On any given night the band will perform a show based on
a set list from the Dead's 30 years of extensive touring, or use the
Dead's catalog of songs to create a unique set list for that show.
Grateful Dead classics are performed in the same way that an orchestra
interprets music of classical composers. Precision is king with DSO;
the band members adapt their stage positioning, vocal arrangements,
specific musical equipment and instruments to fit the era of the show
they are performing. Following each performance the band announces the
date and venue of the original Grateful Dead performance.
The band's determined commitment to "raising the Dead" has drawn
national media attention. Rolling Stone praised their "fanatical
attention to detail." The Washington Post called them "...the hottest
Grateful Dead tribute act. A cover band for people who don't like cover
bands." Critics aren't the only ones singing Dark Star Orchestra's
praises. Five original members of the Grateful Dead have played
alongside DSO. Vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux-McKay, a frequent guest,
says, "Playing with Dark Star Orchestra feels just exactly like it felt
when I was playing with the Grateful Dead!"
Bluegrass legend Jesse McReynolds began his career in the late 1940s,
alongside his brother Jim. Jim & Jesse made their first recordings in
1952, and became members of the Grand Ole Opry in 1964. They were
inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 1993
and received a National Heritage Award at the White House in 1997.
Though Jim passed away in 2002, Jesse has continued to perform, and
this year he celebrates 65 years in music. He has always been known as
an innovator, having created his own unique and intricate style of
mandolin playing now referred to as "the McReynolds style."
Jim & Jesse frequently pushed the boundaries of bluegrass and country
music by incorporating material from other genres into their
repertoire. Now Jesse has gone a step further, by recording an entire
album of Grateful Dead covers, with a group of musical friends
including David Nelson and Stu Allen! "Songs of the Grateful Dead"
was released in 2010, and in November of that year Jesse made a
surprise guest appearance with Dark Star Orchestra at a concert in
Nashville. Over the last two years he has performed at numerous Jerry
Garcia tributes, alongside such artists as David Nelson and New Riders
of the Purple Sage. The May 17 concert at Pocahontas State Park will
be Jesse's second guest appearance with Dark Star Orchestra, and is
sure to be a special event, for the musicians as well as the audience!
The Virginia Museum of Radio Entertainment (VMRE) is a non-profit
501(c)3 organization based in Crewe, Virginia. The mission of the VMRE
is to archive, sustain, and perpetuate roots-based American music, and
to enhance public awareness of central Virginia's rich musical
heritage. In addition, the VMRE partners with school systems in
several counties, presenting special programs to educate students about
music business. Since its formation in 2010, the VMRE has hosted
concerts with some of the top names in acoustic music, including Riders
in the Sky, Sierra Hull, Curly Seckler with The Steep Canyon Rangers,
and The Quebe Sisters. This year the VMRE has expanded its concert
series to include several new and bigger venues! Visit: www.vmre.org
to see a list of venues and upcoming events.
The Virginia Museum of Radio Entertainment welcomes donations, which
are tax deductible, and may be made on our web site or sent to: VMRE,
PO Box 607, Crewe, VA 23930. For more information about the VMRE or
for concert information, call: 434-645-7734.
Like us on Facebook at: The Virginia Museum of Radio Entertainment"
"NUFF SAID!"
No comments:
Post a Comment