Fountain Express

"We'll need some extra seats for Friday night," said Fountain General Store proprietor Alex Albright, "and Saturday night, we'll clear some of them out for dancing room."

Although the Grass Cats are often called a "Triangle-based band," Albright pointed out that most of the members live in eastern North Carolina, including their recently added bass player, Lloyd Herring, of Clinton.

Tim Woodall, a Cary resident who also co-hosts WQDR's long-running Sunday night radio show "Pinecone Bluegrass," teamed up with Russell Johnson to form the Grass Cats six years ago. Woodall has been playing banjo for over 30 years; he also plays pedal steel, bass, and guitar as a session musician.

Johnson, of Four Oaks, sings lead in the classic high-lonesome tenor that for many defines the genre. Bluegrass Unlimited has called him among the "first ranks of contemporary bluegrass singers." His composition "Bluegrass Man" was the number one bluegrass song in the country for the Grass Cats in April and May of 2003. From 1989-2000, he was lead singer for New Vintage.

Snow Hill's Chris Hill is the band's fiddler. He played with Al Batten and Bluegrass Reunion for six years, and has also performed with Ralph Stanley, Mac Wiseman, and the Lewis Family.

Steven Martin, guitarist and vocalist, lives in Burlington. He performed with Carolina Drive and the Churchmen for six years. He sings lead and harmony, and also writes songs.

Two of the Grass Cats' five CDs have made Bluegrass Unlimited's top ten charts. "They put on a great show," said Albright. "They're one of the biggest acts to come through Fountain. It's especially nice to see local people doing so well on a national level and still playing venues like ours, where we can't guarantee them anything like what they're used to being paid."

The Grass Cats March 3 show and concert begins at 7:30. General admission is $8.

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The Unknown Tongues have been playing their hard-driving eastern Carolina Cajun swamp music since 1989. Formed by the husband-wife duo of Bryan and Barbara Blake and based out of the Down East fishing village of Gloucester, the Tongues also include Todd Humphreys, bass, guitar, vocals; and Tom Parker, drums.

The multi-talented Bryan Blake, who makes wooden boats in his day job, plays accordion, fiddle, guitar, pedal steel, and sings. Barbara Blake, who plays guitar, bass, rub board and sings, is an occasional academic who has taught anthropology at East Carolina University. She is the author of "The Fish Factory," a study of coastal Carolina's menhaden fishing industry, published by the University of Tennessee Press in 1994.

"I hope we'll have plenty of dance room," said Albright.

The Unknown Tongues' March 4 concert and dance begins at 8:00. General admission is $5.

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The weekend of music kicks off on Thursday with an eclectic show of old time blues, folk, country, and American roots performed by the Revelators, organized by Raleigh native and occasional Greenvile/Maury resident David Turner.

"This is a one-time show for a one-time band," said Turner, who uses the Revelators name for a loose aggregation of musicians he performs with in New York. "Completely organic, completely down home."

The Revelators will include the Reverend Bob Clyde, recently retired ECU minister at the Baptist Student Union, on harmonica and vocals; Mike Hamer, ECU English professor and long-time veteran of the Greenville music scene, on hammer dulcimer and vocals; Jim Watson, a Maury resident and technician with ECU's Geology department, on accordion and piano; and Bill Redding, the Greenville-based health-care professional who has in recent years established his own reputation as a solo artist, on guitar and vocals.

Turner, like Clyde, is a former member of the Greenville-based Zen Pimps. He has performed roots music across the eastern seaboard, from Miami to Montreal.

"These are all old friends who have played together off and on for years," said Albright. "They have a great time when they play together, but they just don't often get to play for a public audience. This should be a lot of fun."

The Revelators' March 2 concert begins at 7:30; general admission is $3.

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No music will be offered on Sunday, March 3, but Fountain General Store will be open from 1 to 5 p.m.

R.A. Fountain, General Store and Internet Cafe, is located in historic downtown Fountain, at the intersection of US 258 and NC 222. Its family atmosphere is smoke- and alcohol-free.

Reserved seats are available for most shows at an additional charge. Prices are always posted on our up-coming events page. For further information, phone 252-749-3228.

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COMING SOON

Thursday, March 9 -- 7:30 p.m. -- FREE
Bluegrass jam w/ Jack Wrzesinski

Fri Mar 10 7:30 $5
J.R. Stafford & the Mountain Boys

Sat Mar 11 8:00 $5
Lightnin' Wells

Sun Mar 12 3:00 FREE
Marlboro Boys

Thu Mar 16 7:30 $3
Bill Hicks

Fri Mar 17 7:30 $5
String Poppers

Sat Mar 18 7:30 $5
the Boohers

Sun Mar 19 3:00 FREE
Bill Redding & Friends' 7th annual St. Patrick's in Fountain