Fountain Express

[Fountain, NC] The return of Roby Huffman and the Bluegrass Cutups on Saturday night headlines the upcoming weekend of bluegrass concerts at Fountain General Store.

Huffman, from Smithfield, formed his Blluegrass Cutups in the 1960s. In several incarnations since, he and the band have maintained a busy recording and touring career that's taken them across the U.S. and Europe.

The current version of the Cutups features Huffman on rhythm guitar and lead vocals; Travis Johnson, lead guitar; Daniel Casey, banjo; Mike Rose, mandolin; and Ray Bridgers, bass.

"Roby's got that beautiful high, lonesome voice that so many people associate with bluegrass," said Marshall Stephenson, the bluegrass impressario and host of The Bluegrass Train syndicated radio and television shows.

Huffman and the Cutups have released three CDs, Almost Level, Old Blue, and One More Time. His early bluegrass LPs such as Bacco Barn Pickin, Bluegrass in Carolina, and Colorado River are now collectibles.

"He's the godfather of bluegrass in eastern Carolina," said Alex Albright, Fountain General proprietor. "He's a regional treasure."

Listen to Roby Huffman & the Bluegrass Cutups perform "Listening to the Rain" (2.7 MB) from the CD One More Time.

Roby Huffman and the Bluegrass Cutups' July 1 concert begins at 8 p.m. Admission is $7.

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Dymond City Express, a bluegrass band out of Williamston, makes its Fountain debut on Thursday night. The band consists of Bobby Cherry on banjo and dobro; Simon Perry on mandolin; Calvin Woolard on bass; and David "Skippy" Gurganus on guitar. All in the band share vocals.

Dymond City Express performs at 7:30 on June 29. Admission is $3.

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The Bridges Family of Sharpsburg makes its Fountain debut on Friday night. This multi-generational family band features Wilma Bridges, Lois Bridges Moore, Elaine Bridges Spivey, Alan Wayne Bridges, and Donald Bridges.

"We always had music around the house," said Lois Moore during a recent visit to R.A. Fountain. "That's what we did: sit around and play music with Daddy." Their father, Pete Bridges, no longer performs, but he attends most of their shows. "He'll be with us in Fountain," Moore noted. "He's looking forward to it. He can't play any more but he still loves to hear it."

The Bridges' debut CD Little Country Preacher pays homage to Pete Bridges by incorporating his mandolin work from a 1978 8-track on five of the songs, a recording trick engineered by Mike Rose at Audio Farm Recording in Goldsboro. Rose often accompanies the band on mandolin at its performances. Hear the band perform the title track (2.8 MB).

The Bridges Family June 30 bluegrass and bluegrass gospel concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5.

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

Three Fountain Favorites Return for Concerts on July 7, 8, and 9

Jennifer Shelton Licko returns to Fountain on Friday night, Greenville native Alice Zincone is back in town with her bluegrass band Haywire on Saturday night, and the Marlboro Boys kick off a month of Free-at-3 Sunday afternoon concerts during the weekend after July 4.

Licko, a native of Swansboro, lived for several years in Ireland and Scotland, where she studied the folk heritage and music of the region. She has released four CDs of Irish and Celtic music and one of beach music. Hear her perform "An Irish Lullaby" (3.0 MB) from her CD Celtic Moonsongs for Sydney.

She is a graduate of East Carolina University with a music degree. She first traveled to Scotland to study abroad as part of a Rotary International and St. Andrews Society scholarship. After falling in love with the landscape, the people, and their music and culture, she returned for summers for several years before taking up a more permanent residence.

Licko is back living in eastern North Carolina now, and she maintains an active touring schedule throughout the southeast.

Jennifer Licko's July 7 concert begins at 8 p.m. Admission is $5.

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Alice Zincone grew up in Greenville where she was often exposed to the bluegrass music played by her father, Buddy Zincone, and his picking buddies. She now lives in the Triangle, where Haywire is based.

Zincone sings lead, plays bass, and writes many of the band's original songs. Rick Lafleur, a native of Canada who settled in North Carolina to be closer to the roots of bluegrass music, plays banjo and also composes songs.

"Alice always brings some excellent musicians with her," said Alex Albright, Fountain General Store proprietor. "Exactly who depends on their various performing schedules."

Hear Haywire perform "Big Black Train" (1.6 MB) from the CD Moma's Voice.

Alice Zincone and Haywire's July 8 concert begins at 8 p.m. Admission is $5.

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The Marlboro Boys are one of the region's most popular bluegrass gospel bands, and their Sunday afternoon shows are often near standing-room only. Their much anticipated summer concert will also feature a two-for-one ice cream special.

Based out of their home church, Marlboro Free Will Baptist in Farmville, where the bandsmen are members of the church choir, the Marlboro Boys have released two CDs, First Time Around and God's Only Son.

Band members include Steve Sutton, banjo; Bobby Harper and Joseph Sutton, guitars; Reed Kennedy, bass; Tim Shelton, mandolin; and Tim tyner, dobro. Sound is produced by Randy Blalock.

Hear the Marlboro Boys perform "Farside Banks of Jordan" (2.4 MB) from the CD First Time Around.

July Hours, July Specials, No Fountain Express Next Week

Fountain General Store is open during the week of July 4 only on Friday and Saturday evenings for these two concerts. Regular store hours will resume on July 12. For the remaining 4 weeks of July, music will be presented every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. During the week of July 4, Fountain General Store will open only on Friday and Saturday evening at 6:30 for the performances by Jennifer Shelton Licko and Haywire, and on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 for the Marlboro Boys concert at 3 p.m.

No Fountain Express will be published during the July 4 week.

During July, three subsequent Free-at-3 concerts will also be presented, and at each of these Sunday concerts, 2-for-1 homemade ice cream specials will also be offered.

Fountain General Store serves ice cream made fresh at Jones Fruit Farm in Greene County. In addition to fresh ice cream made with peaches, strawberries, and blueberries grown on the farm, Ashley Jones also makes vanilla, banana, and chocolate. With seasonal exceptions, most are in stock at Fountain General.

In addition to the Marlboro Boys' July 9 concert, other free-at-3 concerts include Christian folk singer Melody Brown on July 16, Take "2" Ramblin' Rose Bluegrass Band on July 23, and the Flat Mountain Dulcimers on July 30.

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