Fountain Express

Tennessee Bluegrass Plays Fountain Saturday Night; Carolina Still, Steve Creech Added to March Lineup

The Boohers, one of the most popular family bluegrass bands in the southeastern U.S., make their Fountain debut on Saturday night.

This quintet from Johnson City, Tennessee is a popular act at festivals throughout the region. The latest of their five CDs, Grandma's Songs, was released by Lonesome Day Records. It features four songs penned by Tom T. and Dixie Hall as well as several original songs by Gary Booher; it was recorded at the Halls' studio in Franklin, Tenn.

Formed in 2000, the Boohers specialize in classic and original bluegrass and bluegrass gospel. They also perform oldtime and country with a bluegrass twist. The band includes Gary and Lora Booher and their sons Jamey on bass and Joseph on mandolin. Gary Booher plays guitar and banjo; he also builds guitars, banjos, and mandolins. Lora sings and plays rhythm guitar. Thomas Wywrot also plays lead guitar in the band.

"Everybody in the band shares vocals," said Lora Booher, who added, "We have heard many great things through the bluegrass grapevine about Fountain General Store, and this makes us anxious to visit and share our family and our music with the folks of eastern North Carolina."

Tim Stafford, lead singer and guitarist for Blue Highway, says the Boohers are "one of the strongest family bands around."

R.L. Rouse has compared them to the original Carter family: "No one does bluegrass gospel better."

"We're delighted to have a band of this stature playing here," Alex Albright, Fountain General Store proprietor said. "Everybody says they put on a great show, in addition to being excellent musicians and fine folks."

The Boohers' concert begins at 7:30. General admission is $5.

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Also on Saturday night, Tom and Debbie Albritton of Grifton will showcase their fresh-roasted coffees. Fountain General Store sells their Coffee Cabin Coffees, and the Albrittons will be offering free samples of a variety of their flavored coffees. "It's really excellent coffee, imported into Grifton, where it's roasted," said Albright. "It goes great with our Lewis Farm coffee cakes and pies."

The Albrittons will set up their coffee tasting at about 6 p.m. and it will be complemented by an expanded dessert menu from Fountain General Store.

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This upcoming four days of music in Fountain begin with Bill Hicks' Thursday night concert of folk and oldtime music. Hicks, one of the original members of the Red Clay Ramblers, writes many of the songs he performs. Like his old friend Lightnin' Wells, he is also a collector of obscure ballads, which he enjoys presenting to contemporary audiences.

Hicks has recorded two solo CDs and one with his wife, Libby. He placed second in "oldtime fiddle" at last year's Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention.

Bill Hicks' March 16 concert begins at 7:30; admission is $3.

Click to hear Bill Hicks perform "La Senorita de la Launderia," a song he wrote based "on a sign near Siler City."

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The String Poppers, a trio of excellent oldtime musicians, returns to Fountain for the second time on Friday night.

"They were here last August, and folks have been asking when they'd be back ever since," said Albright. "They play a mix of oldtime, bluegrass, and blues, and they play it all really well."

Bath residents Dennis and Karen Modlin are joined in the String Poppers by fiddler Jeff Winegar of Charlotte. Dennis plays guitar and Karen banjo. The String Poppers' March 17 concert begins at 7:30; admission is $3.

Click to hear the String Poppers perform "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore" from their CD Live at Possum Hill.

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On Sunday afternoon, Bill Redding returns to Fountain for his 7th annual celebration of St. Patrick's day.

"We've been bringing Bill out here long before we opened our venue," said Albright. "He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Irish folk music, and he has a great voice with which to present the many, many verses he remembers. He usually brings along some fine guest musicians, too."

Bill Redding's March 19 free concert begins at 3:00.

R.A. Fountain, General Store and Internet Café, 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 all shows at an additional cost. For further information, phone 252-749-3228 or visit our up-coming events page.

Two Late March Dates Filled with Bluegrass, Jazz

Two sudden openings in March were quickly filled by Carolina Still on March 24 and the Steve Creech Sextet with Carol-Ann Tucker on March 31.

Carolina Still, from Washington, NC, has released three CDs. They come highly recommended. "We'd been working on a date for them to get here," said Albright, "but it was looking like it would be August before it worked out." Carolina Still replaces Big Medicine, which wound up with a day job-related conflict. "We're working on re-scheduling Big Medicine later in the summer," Albright added.

The last time Creech and crew brought Carol-Ann Tucker to Fountain, they had a standing room only crowd on a Thursday night. "This is a big city show," said Albright.

George Higgs Ill

Tarboro bluesman and Fountain favorite George Higgs is in serious condition at Nash General Hospital in Rocky Mount. He was admitted early last week, and at last report was still not receiving visitors. Get well wishes can go to him at his home, 199 Bogey St., Tarboro, NC 27886. Enclosing a small check with your card would be a nice gesture; Higgs has already had to cancel a European tour.

Upcoming at Fountain General Store

Thursday, March 23 -- Bluegrass Jam -- 7:30 p.m. -- FREE

Friday, March 24 -- Carolina Still -- 7:30 p.m. -- $5 [REPLACEMENT ON PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED SCHEDULE FOR BIG MEDICINE]

Saturday, March 25 -- Marshall Stephenson & SuperPickers -- 7:30 -- $7
Tim Smith brings his prize-winning fiddle back to town to play with Marshall, Clyde Mattocks, Kelly Tew, and some other special guests.

Sunday, March 26 -- Poetry Reading with Marty Silverthorne and Shelby Stephenson -- 4:00 p.m. -- FREE
GET A JUMP ON POETRY MONTH!

Thursday, March 30 -- Farm & Home -- 7:30 p.m. -- $3

Friday, March 31 -- Steve Creech Sextet with Carol-Ann Tucker -- 8:00 p.m. -- $5

Saturday, April Fool's Day -- Watermelon Sugar -- 7:30 p.m. -- $5

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