Fountain Express

Four bluegrass shows highlight the upcoming weekend of live music at Fountain General Store...
...starting with Thursday night and the store's monthly bluegrass jam, hosted by Marshall Stephenson.

"We're moving to twice-monthly jams in 2006," said Alex Albright, proprietor. "This is going to be Marshall's last time with us on a formal basis, and I hope we can get a good crowd out to thank him for a year's worth of jams in Fountain."

Stephenson, who has been promoting bluegrass in eastern North Carolina for 40 years, is the host of the Bluegrass Train radio program, which began on 98.5 radio in Rocky Mount as a Sunday night feature but is now syndicated throughout the southeast and available worldwide through the show's website: thebluegrasstrain.com.

Stephenson has played and recorded with a long list of bluegrass stars. "We've been fortunate to have someone like Marshall get us started with the jam," said Albright. "We've got a lot of fine players around here, though, and they're anxious for us to get going on a twice-a-month format."

Greenville's Jack Wryezinski will be co-ordinating the new jam formats, which are scheduled in 2006 for Jan. 19, Feb. 6 and 23, March 9 and 23, and April 6 and 20.

The Dec. 8 bluegrass jam begins at 7:00; admission is free.

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Bluegrass Redemption returns to Fountain on Friday night for a bluegrass and bluegrass gospel concert. "They've been a popular attraction here," said Albright, "but the members' work schedules have made it hard to get them back."

Because of an arm injury suffered recently by Lindsay Batchelor, the teenage picking sensation whose father Johnny plays guitar and sings for the group, Frankie Harrison will be sitting in on mandolin.

Others in the band include Skylar Smith from Rocky Mount on upright bass and Keith Gaster of Bailey on banjo. "Lindsay broke her arm," said Albright, "so she'll be out of action for a while. She's doing okay. But Frankie, of course, is as good a mandolin picker as you can find in eastern Carolina."

Both Harrison and Johnny Batchelor were selected by bluegrass legend Les Sandy to perform on his recently released CD Bluegrass Legend.

Bluegrass Redemption's Dec. 9 concert begins at 7:30; admission is $3. "This is probably the best $3 entertainment you'll find for a long, long time," said Albright.

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Ted and the Tar Heel Boys return to Fountain on Saturday night for a concert of classic and original bluegrass and bluegrass gospel music. Ted Jones is an exceptional mandolin player who performs in the cross-picking style made famous by Jim McReynolds. Also in his band are his father, Ronnie, who plays guitar; Mike Langdon, who plays bass; Frank Avery, banjo; and Les Sandy, who plays fiddle.

"Getting Les in the band was a great move," said Albright. "Here's a true legend, someone who learned fiddle from Vassar Clements in the 1940s and has played and recorded with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys as well as Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys. Ted's still a teenager, but this connects him up with his bluegrass heritage nicely, and his programs are very respectful of that heritage."

Ted and the Tar Heel Boys' Dec. 10 concert begins at 7:30; general admission is $5.

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The 4-day run of bluegrass shows winds up on Sunday afternoon with the monthly concert by the Marlboro Boys, from Farmville. "This is one of our most popular events," said Albright, "and we keep getting some folks out every month who've not seen these guys."

Based out of their home church, Marlboro Free Will Baptist in Farmville, the Marlboro Boys specialize in old-time bluegrass gospel. "We do a lot of the old hymns in a bluegrass style," said mandolin player Tim Shelton.

Others in the band include Steve Sutton, banjo; Bobby Harper and Joseph Sutton, guitars; Reed Kennedy, bass; Tim Tyner, dobro; and Jason Tyson, vocals. Randy Blalock is sound engineer.

The Marlboro Boys' Dec. 11 concert begins at 3:00; admission is free.

R.A. Fountain, General Store and Internet Café, is located in downtown Fountain, at the intersection of US 258 and NC 222. Its family atmosphere does not permit smoking; alcohol is not served.

For further information, phone 252-749-3228 or visit our home page.

One more week of music in Fountain in 2005:

Dec 14 -- 7:00 -- FREE
open mic hosted by Jessica Gardner
Last open mic of 2005

Dec 16 -- 7:30 -- $5
Stephenson Brothers & Linda
Marshall, Paul, Shelby and wife Linda and their friends are planning a special Christmas program.

Dec 17 -- 7:30 -- $5
Farm & Home
Shorty Mooring with the Gaddis Brothers and Paul Copeland, for another outstanding night of bluegrass.

Dec 18 -- 3:00 -- FREE
Mike Hamer & Sue Luddeke & Friends
Mike & Sue's second annual Christmas show in Fountain, full of standards, secular and seasonal, sung in their own inimitable ways.

In January, R.A. Fountain General Store will be presenting music Thursday though Sunday, with an occasional Wednesday, such as our first night back, Jan. 4, with a great bluegrass duo from upstate New York, Staber & Chasnoff. Dick Staber played mandolin with Del MeCoury from 1969-75. His wife, Judith, studied voice at the High School of Music in New York and also plays guitar.

Listen to Marshall Stephenson & Friends play "Katie Hill."

High Resolution photo of Marshall Stephenson leading the bluegrass jam at R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe.

Listen to Ted & the Tar Heel Boys perform "Mansion on the Hill."

High resolution photo of Ted & the Tar Heel Boys at R.A. Fountain.

Listen the Marlboro Boys perform "Light at the River."

High resolution photo of Marlboro boys at R.A. Fountain.

What You're Reading:
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Area Christmas Parades
Falkland -- Dec 10 -- 10 a.m.
Farmville -- Dec 10 -- 10 a.m. (Breakfast at Sue's, downtown, before the parade.)
Bear Grass -- Dec 10 -- 10 a.m.
Winterville -- Dec 10 -- 2 p.m.
Robersonville -- Dec 14 -- 4 p.m.
Oak City -- Dec 17 -- 1 p.m.

Bring Us Your Toys for Tots
Fountain General Store is the local spot to drop off your new toys, to be distributed to children in the area by the Toys for Tots program, sponsored this year by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Toys should be unwrapped. They will be picked up from here on December 9 for inclusion on a float in the Farmville Christmas Parade on Dec. 10, and they'll be distributed soon afterwards. Special emphasis is on toys for children up to 3 years old. No used toys, please.