Fountain Express

[Fountain, NC] Russ Varnell and his Too Country Band return this week to Fountain General Store for a Friday night concert of classic country music.

Varnell, a Black Creek native, styles his concerts after such legendary country musicians as Buck Owens, George Jones, Hank Williams, Sr., and Ernest Tubb. "I'm 100% a traditional real country singer," says Varnell. "Nothing makes me more upset than singers in our industry who claim to be country but then sound like a rock n roll band."

For several years, Varnell worked with Owens on a regular basis, recording with him and also performing at his Bakersfield, California venue the Crystal Palace. At Owens' recent funeral, Varnell was seated with the Owens family, and he participated again this year in the Buck Owens Birthday Memorial Bash in Austin, Texas, where he performed with the Hagers of "Hee-Haw" fame and the Derailers.

To read the very strange story of how Russ came to meet Buck Owens, by first finding Buck's long-lost Nudie suit at the Raleigh flea market, click here. To hear Russ perform "Whoop De Doo" from his CD Playin' Every Honky Tonk in Town, just click here. (2.5 MB)

Russ Varnell and his Too Country Band perform at 8 p.m. on August 18. Admission is $8.

---

Shorty Mooring and Farm and Home have cancelled their Thursday night concert due to illness. Fountain General Store will be open Thursday night, till 8:30 or 9, with its sound system set up in case any one wishes to try out a number or two: an open mic without a host.

---

Bridgewater, a bluegrass band from New Bern, makes its Fountain debut on Saturday night. Formed in 2000 out of some regular jam sessions at the Eastern NC Bluegrass Association meetings in Kinston, Bridgewater was named for the many bridges that cross the waters in and around New Bern.

Two of the original founding members of this quartet, Lester Butts on guitar and lead vocals, and Eugene Clayborne on lead and harmony vocals and upright bass, have been joined by newcomers Eugene Clayborne on mandolin and Marvin Walker on banjo. Butts is from New Bern; the Clayborne brothers are from Morehead City; and Walker lives in Kinston.

Bridgewater specializes in playing traditional bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, and a few classic country songs in a bluegrass style. "We're a good bluegrass band," says Butts, "with some real pretty harmonies. We think the folks in Fountain will be impressed with what we do, and we're looking forward to our first time playing there."

Bridgewater's August 19 concert begins at 8 p.m.; admission is $5.

Advanced 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.

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.

George Higgs' Rainy Day Released

Local blues legend George Higgs has released his latest CD, Rainy Day, and copies are now available for $15 at Fountain General Store and via RAF's secure e.store.

Recorded at George and Bettye Higgs' Tarboro home, the new disc includes 19 songs, including two numbers written by Bettye and three by George as well as Higgs' original interpretations of classic blues songs by Brownie McGhee, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Big Bill Broonzy, and Josh White.

Like Tarboro Blues, his first CD, the new record is produced by Tim Duffy and released on his Music Maker Relief Foundation label.

Click to listen to George Higgs perform "Diddy Wa Diddy" (2.9 MB) from his new CD.

Bettye Higgs reports that her husband is doing much better, since suffering renal failure and several resultant small strokes this past spring. He was not in good shape for a long time, she says. He is on dialysis three times a week, but he is in good spirits and has started playing guitar and harmonica again.

"The doctor prescribed it," Mrs. Higgs says. "He said it was good for his hands and for his wind." She adds that George suffers no speech impediments or problems with his hands, and that he's anxious to get out again. "To hear him talk, you wouldn't know anything had happened."

Higgs has had to cancel several gigs, and Mrs. Higgs' surgery two weeks ago has also slowed the family somewhat. She is now back at home and is able to get around the house.

"We hope to get over to Fountain for Lightnin's show," Mrs. Higgs says. [Higgs' longtime playing partner Lightnin' Wells returns to Fountain General Store for a concert on September 23.] "We miss seeing the folks over there, but Myrtle [Wooten] calls and lets us know how everybody's doing."

Cards will reach George and Bettye Higgs at 199 Bogey Street, Tarboro, NC 27886.

---

Fingers for Brittany Cookbook Closeout

The fundraising cookbook Fingers for Brittany has been reduced from $12 to $8, with all proceeds still going to help with expenses for Brittany Apgar, the three-year-old Farmville girl who was born without fingers on her right hand.

Farmville Presbyterian Church published the cookbook to help the Apgars afford the series of surgeries Brittany has undergone to help with her condition, known as hypoplasia. Recipes were collected from throughout the Farmville community.

Fountain General Store has six cookbooks remaining. Donations for Brittany may also be sent to Farmville Presbyterian Church Crisis Fund, 4138 Grimmersburg St., Farmville, NC 27828.

What You're Reading:
Each week, we send out a news release to 17 area newspapers. The primary contents of each issue of the Fountain Express is that news release. The Express is distributed via an e.mail list in a version that contains no attachments.

To add friends to our e.mail subscription list, send their e.mail address to fountainexpress@rafountain.com. To remove yourself from the list, send an e.mail to the same address with "unsubscribe" as either text or subject.

Our e.mail list is not sold or traded or otherwise shared with anyone.