Fountain Express

Two big bluegrass concerts and R.A. Fountain's second annual Christmas show close out this year's musical entertainment in Fountain.

The Stephenson Brothers and Linda's Friday night concert will feature a program of bluegrass and bluegrass gospel standards as well as several Christmas favorites. The brothers, Paul, Marshall and Shelby, and Shelby's wife, Linda, are the nucleus of this group, which always includes several other musicians. The Stephenson Brothers grew up in rural Johnston County, where they all played music, but only Marshall has pursued his musical interests fulltime.

Marshall Stephenson has been promoting bluegrass in eastern North Carolina for five decades. He has played and recorded with a long list of bluegrass and country music notables, and has released several CDs of his own. Paul Stephenson is the founder and proprietor of Stephenson's Barbecue, outside of Benson, and Shelby Stephenson, an English professor at Pembroke State University, is one of the state's best known poets.

The family band has released one CD; Shelby and Linda have also released a Hank Williams tribute CD.

The Stephenson Brothers and Linda's Dec. 16 concert begins at 7:30. General admission is $5; reserved seats are $8.

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Farm and Home, fronted by local legend Shorty Mooring of Stantonsburg and led by Bob and Jim Gaddis, is one of the region's best-kept blulegrass secrets. "They're one of the most original bands you'll see around here," said Alex Albright, Fountain General Store proprietor. "Shorty is an excellent showman and entertainer, and the band works beautifully with him."

Farm and Home plays a mix of Mooring's original tunes and an eclectic selection of classic bluegrass.

Rounding out the band are Paul Copeland on dobro, H.C. Croome on rhythm guitar, and Jeff Haddock on bass.

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The week of entertainment begins with the last open mic of the year on Wednesday night, with Goldsboro's Jessica Gardner hosting. "Jessica sang a couple of songs with the Malpass Family and Don Helms when they were here," said Albright, "and we're delighted to have her back to perform on her own."

Gardner sings classic and contemporary country songs and accompanies herself on guitar.

Signups for open mic begin at 7 p.m.; Gardner will begin the show at 7:30. Admission is free.

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The year's entertainment wraps up with Mike Hamer and Sue Luddeke and Friends' second annual Christmas show, Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. "This is one of the highlights of our year," said Albright. "These two sing beautifully together, and they always bring with them an outstanding collection of musicians." Expect a variety of Christmas and holiday music presented in jazz, folk, r&b, and original styles.

Hamer plays hammer dulcimer and Luddeke plays guitar. They are familiar to area audiences as a part of the popular dance band the Lemon Sisters and Rutabaga Brothers.

Hamer has recently released the CD Love Dust, and copies will be available at this Dec. 18 performance, which begins at 3 p.m. Admission is free.

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No music is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 15. "We'll be open that evening, in case anyone wants to play some carols on our old piano," said Albright.

Although R.A. Fountain will be open throughout the holidays, no live music will be presented after Dec. 18 until Jan. 4, when the bluegrass duo of Staber and Chasnoff from upstate New York will inaugurate the 2006 musical season. "This was a show we couldn't pass up," said Albright, who added that it will be one of the few Wednesdays this winter on which the store will be open. "We'll generally be presenting music Thursday through Sunday for the winter."

Dick Staber played mandolin in Del McCoury's band from 1969-75; his wife, Judith Chasnoff, plays guitar and sings. Their act is influenced by and largely based on the "brother duets" such as that of the Monroe brothers, popular in the 1930s.

"They travel from New York to Florida every January," said Albright, who hopes that a good crowd will get Fountain General Store a regular stop on the couple's annual migration.

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.

High resolution photo of STEPHENSON BROS. & LINDA at R.A. Fountain

Listen to STEPHENSON BROS. & LINDA sing "Sittin' on Top of the World."

High-resolution photo of FARM & HOME at R.A. Fountain

More photos of FARM & HOME at R.A. Fountain here and here.

Listen to SHORTY MOORING sing "Ballad of Bobby Hobbs."

Listen to MIKE HAMER perform the title song from his new CD, "Love Dust."

POT-LUCK SUPPER & CHRISTMAS PARTY AFTER MIKE & SUE'S SHOW! Bring your own music-maker.

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Music returns in 2006
This weekend's programming concludes our 2005 year. We'll be open Dec. 19-24 and 26-31 with abbreviated hours, noon to 5 most of those days. For winter 2006, we'll be open Thursday 6-10; Friday and Saturday 1-10; Sunday 1-5. Live music every Thursday-Sunday, with occasional special events, such as our first musical program of 2006, the concert with Staber and Chasnoff.

January 2006 Music Schedule
Jan 4 Staber & Chasnoff
Jan 5 Rick Brockner POSTPONED. Back trouble is forcing Rick to postpone his early 2006 performances.
Jan 6 Russ Varnell & the Too Country Band
Jan 7 George Higgs
Jan 8 Marlboro Boys
Jan 12 Steve Creech Sextette
Jan 13 Chet Nichols
Jan 14 GrassStreet
Jan 15 Melody Brown
Jan 19 Bluegrass jam
Jan 20 Highway 58
Jan 21 In the Tradition
Jan 22 OPEN
Jan 26 Dan Frechette
Jan 27 Jon Durham & the Forlorn Hope
Jan 28 Nancy & Tammy Dail and the Country Roads Band
Jan 29 Black Creek Bluegrass Gospel