The eighth annual Bluegrass Blast fund raiser is coming up, and organizers are busy putting the finishing touches on the much anticipated event.

Scheduled for Jan. 27 at 7 p.m., the annual concert will raise funds for the Fayette County High School Select Chorus’ upcoming trip to New York. The event will feature three top bluegrass bands and will be held at the F. A. Sam’s Auditorium in Fayetteville, Ga.

Under the leadership team of Director Richard Prouty and Associate Director Keena Redding-Hunt, the Select Chorus will be returning to New York Feb.14-18 to continue a time old tradition.

Founded at Fayette County High School in 1978, the Select Chorus is an auditioned group of junior and senior class students. A versatile group, the chorus regularly performs both formal choral literature and show tunes. The chorus consistently receives superior ratings at Georgia Music Educators Association’s district performance evaluations for performance and sight-reading.

The group has been recognized as an outstanding ensemble with many invitations to perform at special events. In addition to their regular performance schedule, the chorus has sung at the 1998 Feast of Carol; 1985, 1993, 1999 and 2002 GMEA Conference; the 1988 Democratic Convention; the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Coca-Cola in 1996; the American Choral Directors Conference; the lighting of Macy’s Great Tree on several occasions and the 2006 Fayette Festival of Carols.

Performances outside the state have included a variety of domestic and international appearances. The chorus has performed biennial concerts at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York for 25 years as well as touring Washington D.C., Nashville, Walt Disney World, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and Nassau, Bahamas. The Select Chorus toured England and France in 2000; Germany, Austria and Hungry in 2002; Ireland in 2004 and Italy in 2006.

The Jan. 27 concert lineup includes Walnut Grove, Bullsboro and the Dappled Grays.

The Walnut Grove Bluegrass Band started on the road to success playing their first gig at the Newborn Opry in 1999. In the short span of six years, the Covington, Ga. based band has played in front of 60,000-plus fans at Stone Mountain Park, played live on the radio, appeared on local cable as well as national TV and visited venues ranging from the small Music Barns, Opry Houses to the biggest bluegrass festivals in the south. Walnut Grove Bluegrass Band is a proud member of the Southeastern Bluegrass Association since 2001.

In 1971 Donnie Lee and the late Joe Partridge along with Tommy McKoon and Junior Bundy formed a bluegrass band in Newnan, Ga., which was to become Bullsboro. Bullsboro has played many festivals, concerts and private engagements over the years. Some notable performances include three dates for former President Jimmy Carter, two during his presidency, numerous television and radio appearances, and once at the old Atlanta Stadium.

The Dappled Grays is an Atlanta-based bluegrass band which has picked up many accomplishments over the past five years. They were named best bluegrass band in Atlanta by Creative Loafing Magazine and have had several original songs played on MTV. The Dappled Grays are focused on creating an original, distinctive sound fueled by their exceptional songwriting and musical ability.

Tickets for the Bluegrass Blast can be purchsed for $8 each and children under age six get in free. Tickets will be available at the door. All proceeds will benefit the Fayette County High School Select Chorus for their upcoming trip to New York. For more information call 770-460-3540.

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