Wednesday, January 22, 2003
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Wednesday, January 22, 2003 |
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Have a blast with bluegrass bands at annual fundraising concert By MICHAEL
BOYLAN Fans of bluegrass music take note. The fourth annual Bluegrass Blast returns to Sams Auditorium in Fayetteville this Saturday night, giving fans a sampling of classic and modern bluegrass in a fundraising concert for the Fayette County High School Select Chorus. The event has grown each year and raises money for the Select Chorus's bi-annual concert tour of New York City. This year's concert promises to be very entertaining. Cedar Hill, which was an audience favorite at last year's show, returns this year. The other acts, Brushfire and The Dappled Grays, are well known around the southeast and have both performed in the area in recent years. Brushfire features Jeff Partridge, a former Fayette County High School graduate and member of the music program. Partridge's late uncle Joe was a founding member of Brushfire. Partridge has played with the Bullsboro Bluegrass Band as well as the Bluegrass Engineers. The Fayetteville resident plays banjo and mandolin for Brushfire. Other members include Kerry Warbington, banjo; Doyle "Red" Yates, bass and Mike Fleming on guitar. Fleming is the only original member remaining in the band. The Dappled Grays are a relatively young band though they have lots of experience. Casey Cook, 21, is the frontman and he is joined by childhood friend Michael Smith on mandolin, Andy Martin on banjo, Mike Thornburgh on violin and Jeremy Bowman on bass. Cook was inducted into the North Florida Bluegrass Hall of Fame with his brother as the youngest brothers performing professional bluegrass in 1984. In 2001, Creative Loafing named The Dappled Grays the Best Bluegrass/Traditional Band in Atlanta. Cedar Hill has been entertaining audiences for decades, including a recent performance at Governor Sonny Perdue's inaugural party. The band, which once performed at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, was one of the highlights at last year's Bluegrass Blast. The band features founding members Jim "Duck" Adkins on banjo, "Wild Bob" MacIsaac on guitar, and "Ready Freddy" MacIsaac on bass. "Ranger" Brad Laird joined the band in 1983 and added his mandolin to the mix and "Okefenokee Pete" Lussier joined in 2001. Lussier, a violinist, has a long resume with bands such as Lost Angels, Zen Dixie and Redneck Greece Deluxe. The idea for a bluegrass concert to raise money for the select chorus came about when Lisa Masters, a FCHS grad and friend of Janice Folsom, director of the Select Chorus, asked her uncle, Jack Masters to put together a fundraising concert. Jack Masters is the President of the Southeastern Bluegrass Association and has contacts in bluegrass all over the region. The fourth annual Bluegrass Blast will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25 at Sams Auditorium in Fayetteville. Admission is $8 and tickets can be purchased at the door, through the Fayette County High School at 770-460-3540 or through any Select Chorus Member. For more information on the show, contact Jack masters at 770-961-5974 or visit www.sebabluegrass.com.
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