Fountain AfterDark vol 4, no 6 February 7, 2008 published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe Greenville Grass Plays Bluegrass Friday, Steve Creech Septet Jazzes Saturday in Fountain [Greenville, NC] Buddy Zincone and Greenville Grass, boasting over 125 years of bluegrass picking experience, returns to Fountain General Store for a Friday night concert. The Steve Creech Septet on Saturday night features sensational keyboardist Jimmy Aycock, vocalist Jerry Jolley, and trombonist George Broussard. Zincone, who plays banjo, fronts the Grass, who will also feature fiddler Lane Hollis's 11-year-old daughter, Sara, on fiddle. Tom Scott plays mandolin in the band, Rockabilly Willie Nelms plays bass, and Bill Poplin plays guitar. All share in vocals. Greenville Grass plays traditional bluegrass and several country and rock standards done up in bluegrass style. Their February 8 concert begins at 7:30 p.m.; general admission is $5. Guitarist Steve Creech brings a couple of Fountain favorites to town for a big jazz show on Saturday night. Jerry Jolley, featured vocalist, and keyboardist Jimmy Aycock both have large local followings. Broussard, the ECU jazz prof, is making his Fountain debut in this incarnation of Creech's ensemble, which also includes familiar favorites Dennis McGaughey on saxophone, Keith Dobbins on bass, and Randy Davis on drums. The Steve Creech Septet's February 9 concert begins at 7:30 p.m.. General admission is $7.50; reserved seats are $10. R.A. Fountain, General Store and Internet Cafe, is located in downtown Fountain, at the intersection of US 258 and NC 222. Its family atmosphere is smoke- and alcohol-free. For further information, visit www.rafountain.com or phone 252-749-3228. - - - What You're Reading Each week, RAF sends out a news release to 26 area newspapers and¾radio stations. The primary contents of each issue of Fountain AfterDark is that news release. The FAD distributed via e.mail¾never contains¾attachments. To add friends to our e.mail subscription list, send their e.mail address to fountainexpress@rafountain.com. To remove yourself from this list, reply to this e.mail with "unsubscribe" as either text or subject of your e.mail. Our e.mail list is not sold or traded or otherwise shared with anyone. Please let us know of any suspected abuses of the Fountain AfterDark/Fountain Express distribution list. -30- Fountain AfterDark vol 4, no 7 February 14, 2008 published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe Smith Brothers Host Return of Bluegrass Jam Friday Night - RAF Dark on Saturday - Down East Mardi Gras with Unknown Tongues Friday & All Day Saturday [Greenville, NC] The Smith Brothers Bluegrass Band, from Rocky Mount, hosts the return of R.A. Fountain's bluegrass jam this coming Friday night. Fountain favorites since their first performance here in September 2006, the band is led by three brothers, Troy Smith on guitar, Shelton Smith on dobro, and Grady Smith on banjo. The Smiths grew up on a farm in Nash County, where Troy first started picking and singing bluegrass over 40 years ago. "Shelton and Grady started out on rock and roll," he said, "but they finally realized what real music was." The Smith Brothers perform live regularly on Rocky Mount televsion station WHIG 17. They play bluegrass classics in traditional style and are looking for jammers of any age and talent level to join them. Anyone wanting to bring a band to perform should contact the store before hand. Pickers get in free for this February 15 bluegrass jam, which begins at 7:30. General admission is $5. R.A. Fountain, General Store and Internet Cafe, is located in downtown Fountain, at the intersection of US 258 and NC 222. Its family atmosphere is smoke- and alcohol-free. For further information, visit www.rafountain.com or call 252-749-3228. - - - 16th Annual Gloucester Mardi Gras Hosted by Unknown Tongues this Friday and Saturday [Gloucester, NC] The Community Club in Gloucester is the place to be for the Unknown Tongues' annual Mardi Gras celebration upcoming this weekend. Friday night preparations include vegetable chopping and a music jam. But the main festivities kick off on Saturday morning about 11 a.m. Gumbo, deep fried turkeys, boiled crawfish and side dishes, served early afternoon, are preceded by a Fools Parade. Mask-making supplies are provided. Costumes are encouraged but not required. All events, including lunch, are free. The Unknown Tongues perform about 3:00 p.m. The children's King and Queen coronation will be accompanied by a grand march and bead toss. Gloucester's Mardi Gras is modeled after the rural Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana--without the horses, whips, and stealing of chickens For further information, and directions, visit the Tongues' webpage What You're Reading Each week, RAF sends out a news release to 26 area newspapers and radio stations. The primary contents of each issue of Fountain AfterDark is that news release. The FAD distributed via e.mail never contains attachments. To add friends to our e.mail subscription list, send their e.mail address to fountainexpress@rafountain.com. To remove yourself from this list, reply to this e.mail with "unsubscribe" as either text or subject of your e.mail. Our e.mail list is not sold or traded or otherwise shared with anyone. Please let us know of any suspected abuses of the Fountain AfterDark/Fountain Express distribution list. -30- Fountain AfterDark vol 4, no 8 February 21, 2008 published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe Nancy and Tammy Dail and Country Roads Performs Country Music Show on Friday Night, Marlboro Boys Play Bluegrass Gospel on Saturday - March Schedule Announced - Robbins Jewelry Closing, Two Fridays Left to Catch their Classic Country Music Jam - Barton College Prof Jim Clark Celebrates New Book of Poems, CD at Free Tuesday Event [Fountain, NC] Nancy and Tammy Dail and Country Roads bring their high energy country music showcase to Fountain General Store on Friday night. Farmville's the Marlboro Boys return for a concert of classic and original bluegrass gospel on Saturday. The mother-daughter duo of Nancy and Tammy Dail front the tightest country music band in eastern North Carolina . Led by founder and pedal steel guitarist Bowie Martin, Country Roads plays classic country as well as a few pop and rock classics done up country style. "They've always been one of our most popular acts," said Alex Albright, Fountain General Store proprietor. "The band is as tight as they come, and with Nancy and Tammy they put on a Branson or Myrtle Beach kind of show." Joining Martin in the band are Ken Dawson on drums; Billy Bass on bass; John Ackerman on keyboards; and Ronnie King on lead guitar. "Ronnie's one of the best guitarists we get in Fountain," added Albright. The Rocky Mount Telegram will have a reporter and photographer at this show, as they prepare a feature on the band. Nancy and Tammy Dail and Country Roads have released two CDs, "Country Music Bill Ellis Style" and "The Train Stops Here." Bowie Martin has also released a solo CD on which he covers his favorite songs for pedal steel guitar. Country Roads' February 22 show beginsÊat 8 p.m. General admission is $8; reserved seats, which are recommended for this act, are $10. Named for their home church in Farmville, Marlboro Free Will Baptist, where most of the band also sings in the choir, the Marlboro Boys are one of the most popular bluegrass gospel bands in the region. Brothers Steve Sutton on banjo and Joseph Sutton on guitar are joined in the band by Reed Kennedy on bass, Tim Shelton on mandolin, Bobby Harper on guitar, and Jason Tyson on tenor vocals. The Marlboro Boys' February 23 concert begins at 7:30. General 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. For further information, visit www.rafountain.com or phone 252-749-7974. PHOTOS High resolution photo of Marlboro Boys performing at Fountain General Store http://rafountain.com/pictures/MarlboroBoys/Marlboro_lg1.jpg - - - March Live Music Schedule Features NC Folklore Society's Free Music Jam on 28th Sat 1 Russ Varnell and Too Country 7:30 $8 http://russvarnell.com/ Classic honky-tonk country from Black Creek's own Buckaroo, with a rockin' band to boot. Sat 8 Steve Creech Sextet with guest vocalist Carolyn Green Myers 7:30 $8 gen admission, $10 reserved http://home.earthlink.net/~cscreech/ Creech and crew bring big city jazz to our little crossroads community every second Saturday. Featured vocalist for tonight's show is a Greenville favorite making her Fountain debut. Sat 15 Bill Redding and Friends St. Patrick's Concert 7:30 $5 Biill's encyclopedic knowledge of classic Irish ballads is near-legendary in these parts. He's adding a considerable helping of Scottish ballads to this year's program, his 8th annual in Fountain. In addition to knowing all the words, he's also got a gorgeous tenor with which to sign 'em. Fri 21 Jennifer Shelton Licko CD Release Party 7:30 $5 http://www.jenniferlicko.com/ Shelton's back home from ÊBrazil for a brief visit and we're lucky to have snagged one of her free night's for a return engagement. She'll make this old general store sound like an ancient cathedral. Tonight, she'll also be celebrating her 5th CD, "A Thousand ÊCurses Upon Love," officially released on March 12. Sat 22 Wood and Steel 7:30 $5 http://www.woodandsteelband.com/ This PIedmont-based bluegrass quartet recently released their first CD, "Poor Boy." Tonight's their first show in Fountain. Fri 28 Old-time & bluegrass music jam Time TBA FREE Founded in 1913, the NC Folklore Society is 3 year's older than our building, where they'll hold their annual meeting this year. Part of their tradition is a Friday night jam prior to their Saturday meeting. Both events are free and open to the public. http://www.ecu.edu/ncfolk/ Sat 29 the Cricket Band 7:30 $7.50 Fountain favorites Shelby and Linda Stephenson front an all-star band that includes Bill Monroe protege Les Sandy on fiddle. They'll be playing classic country from the likes of Hank Williams, Red Foley, Webb Pierce, Marty Robbins, Mel Gibson and more. You won't find it sung with more passion, more soul, than what Shelby puts into every song. - - - Wilson Music Institution Closing February 29 - Two Fridays Left to Catch the Robbins Music Jam [Wilson, NC] Friday afternoons for nearly a decade, Robbins Jewelry in downtown Wilson has been the place to be for live country music, homemade goodies, and good friends to gather. But after tomorrow's jam, locals have only one more date, February 29, to enjoy this outstanding tradition. Tommy Lamb, co-owner with his wife Elizabeth, has been coming to work at Robbins in downtown Wide-Awake since 1949, when he graduated from watchmaking school. "It's about time I took a break," he said recently. All fixtures and merchandise in the store, including about 30 Martin guitars and nearly 2,000 45 r.p.m. records, must go, and prices will be reduced progressively until it's all gone, said Lamb. "This has been a tremendous resource for local musicians," said ÊAlex Albright, who added that he tries to get by for at least a few songs on a Friday whenever he can. "I shop in Wilson on Fridays whenever I can, just so I can get by and see what's going on at Robbins. It was really sad to hear they're closing, but you can't help but wish folks as sweet as the Lambs a lot of good relaxing time. "The scene there is really incredible--I'm sorry no one's gotten it captured on film. The store's more like a museum than your typical mall music store, and the whole region is going to miss their presence. Robbins and that jam is what we've always called the number one reason Wilson has been the country music capital of eastern North Carolina. If you haven't been, it's worth taking a day off from work to experience it, because once this one's gone, there won't be anything like it again." The walls at Robbins are covered with framed, autographed photographs from the hundreds of musicians who have shopped and played there. The Lambs are taking those and a few other items home with them as souvenirs. But everything else, they say, will be sold. Music on Fridays is performed by a varying collection of locals--sometimes as many as three pedal steel guitarists!--who back a dozen or more singers who sign in and then sing 3 songs a piece till they've all gotten to perform. ÊThere's always a table of light lunch food and another of classic Southern desserts, free for the taking. Music starts about noon and runs until about 3 p.m. After February 29, the jams will continue at the Wilson Senior Citizens Center. And after retirement for the Lambs? "We might just take a vacation out to Branson and hear some country music," Elizabeth Lamb said. - - - Barton College English Prof Celebrates Book and CD Releases Tuesday with Free Reading, Performance, Reception [WIlson, NC] Barton College English professor Jim Clark celebrates the publication of his latest book and the release of his band's latest CD this coming Tuesday at a reception from 5-7 p.m. on the Barton campus. Clark, the Elizabeth H. Jordan Professor of Southern Literature and Writer-in-Residence at Barton, has performed at RAF several times with his band, the Near Myths, whose latest CD, "Words to Burn," has just been released. The CD's release coincides with the publication, too, of Barton's latest book, "Notions: A Jim Clark Miscellany." He has previously published two collections of poetry. The February 23 reception for Clark, which will also include a reading and performance at about 6 p.m., will be in the Willis N. Hackney Library. It is free and open to the public. For further information, phone 252-399-6503. - - - What You're Reading Each week, RAF sends out a news release to 26 area newspapers and radio stations. The primary contents of each issue of Fountain AfterDark is that news release. The FAD distributed via e.mail never contains attachments. To add friends to our e.mail subscription list, send their e.mail address to fountainexpress@rafountain.com. To remove yourself from this list, reply to this e.mail with "unsubscribe" as either text or subject of your e.mail. Our e.mail list is not sold or traded or otherwise shared with anyone. Please let us know of any suspected abuses of the Fountain AfterDark/Fountain Express distribution list. - 30 - Fountain AfterDark vol 4, no 9  February 28, 2008 published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe                     Jonathan Byrd Performs Alt-Country Friday Night, Russ Varnell and Too Country Saturday in Fountain - Robbins Jewelry Country Music Jam Last Time's Tomorrow [Fountain, NC] Jonathan Byrd and the McMaken Brothers return to Fountain General Store on Friday night for a concert of Austin City Limits-style country music.  Russ Varnell and Too Country play classic honky tonk country music on Saturday night. Byrd  based out of Chapel Hill, performs original alt-country and contemporary folk music: "The Ballad of Velma Barfield," for example, is the story of his notorious aunt, the infamous North Carolina murderer.  For this evening's show, Byrd will be accompanied by his two good friends, Rob and Ryan McMaken, who will travel from Athens, Georgia for this special concert.  Byrd won the 2003 Kerrville, Texas "New Folk Artist" competition, which boasts as previous winners Nancy Griffith, Lyle Lovett, and Steve Earle. He has released three critically acclaimed CDs, including his latest, "This Is the New That." Folk legend Tom Paxton has been a promoter of Byrd's work and has said of him, "What a treat to hear someone so rooted in tradition, yet growing in his own beautiful way." The Boston Globe says "this rootsy North Carolinian may be the most buzzed-about new songwriter in folkdom." "This was one of our top ten shows of 2007," said Fountain General proprietor Alex Albright. "Lightnin' Wells was the only person I knew who'd heard Jon Byrd. He said we'd have a terrific show, and he was right." Byrd and the Carolina Chocolate Drops share agents, Albright added, "and both are Triangle-based acts that are breaking out nationally." The McMaken Brothers have been mainstays on the Athens, Georgia music scene for over a decade. Rob McMaken, one of the founders of the world music group Dromedary  is an accomplished mandolinist who also performs on a variety of stringed instruments from various ethnic cultures. His brother Bryan plays bass. Jonathan Byrd and the McMaken Brothers' February 29 concert begins at 7:30 p.m. General admission is $7.50. Russ Varnell  and Too Country are one of the most popular country music bands in eastern North Carolina. Fronted by Black Creek's Varnell, they perform Texas- and Bakersfield-style honky tonk music. "Russ has a great wardrobe, too," said Albright. "You never know what kind of classic country attire he'll show up in, because he shops for shirts and jackets where the stars of country music shop. A few of his pieces are formerly owned by country legends. His whole act is an homage to the stars he admires, like Buck Owens, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Ernest Tubb, and Hank Williams, Sr." Varnell and crew have released one CD, "Playin' Every Honky Tonk in Town." Russ Varnell and Too Country's March 1 concert begins at 7:30. General admission is $8. 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. For further information, visit www.rafountain.com or phone 252-749-3228.   - - - March Live Music Schedule Features NC Folklore Society's Free Music Jam on 28th Sat 1 Russ Varnell and Too Country 7:30  $8 http://russvarnell.com/ Classic honky-tonk country from Black Creek's own Buckaroo, with a rockin' band to boot. Sat 8 Steve Creech Sextet with guest vocalist Carolyn Green Myers 7:30 $8 gen admission, $10 reserved http://home.earthlink.net/~cscreech/ Creech and crew bring big city jazz to our little crossroads community every second Saturday. Featured vocalist for tonight's show is a Greenville favorite making her Fountain debut. Sat 15 Bill Redding and Friends St. Patrick's Concert 7:30 $5 Biill's encyclopedic knowledge of classic Irish ballads is near-legendary in these parts. He's adding a considerable helping of Scottish ballads to this year's program, his 8th annual in Fountain. In addition to knowing all the words, he's also got a gorgeous tenor with which to sign 'em. Fri 21 Jennifer Shelton Licko CD Release Party  7:30 $5 http://www.jenniferlicko.com/ Shelton's back home from  Brazil for a brief visit and we're lucky to have snagged one of her free night's for a return engagement. She'll make this old general store sound like an ancient cathedral. Tonight, she'll also be celebrating her 5th CD, "A Thousand  Curses Upon Love," officially released on March 12. Sat 22 Wood and Steel 7:30 $5 http://www.woodandsteelband.com/ This PIedmont-based bluegrass quartet recently released their first CD, "Poor Boy." Tonight's their first show in Fountain. Fri 28 Old-time & bluegrass music jam  Time TBA FREE Founded in 1913, the NC Folklore Society is 3 year's older than our building, where they'll hold their annual meeting this year. Part of their tradition is a Friday night jam prior to their Saturday meeting. Both events are free and open to the public. http://www.ecu.edu/ncfolk/ Sat 29 the Cricket Band 7:30 $7.50 Fountain favorites Shelby and Linda Stephenson front an all-star band that includes Bill Monroe protege Les Sandy on fiddle. They'll be playing classic country from the likes of Hank Williams, Red Foley, Webb Pierce, Marty Robbins, Don Gibson and more. You won't find it sung with more passion, more soul, than what Shelby puts into every song. - - - Wilson Music Institution Closes Tomorrow: Last Chance to Catch the Robbins Music Jam in Historic Setting [Wilson, NC] Friday afternoons for nearly a decade, Robbins Jewelry in downtown Wilson has been the place to be for live country music, homemade goodies, and good friends to gather. But folks have only tomorrow to enjoy this remarkable tradition in this historic setting. Tommy Lamb, co-owner with his wife Elizabeth, has been coming to work at Robbins in downtown Wide-Awake since 1949, when he graduated from watchmaking school. "It's about time I took a break," he said recently.  All fixtures and merchandise in the store, including about 30 Martin guitars and nearly 2,000 45 r.p.m. records, must go, and prices will be reduced progressively until it's all gone, said Lamb. "This has been a tremendous resource for local musicians," said  Alex Albright, who added that he tries to get by for at least a few songs on a Friday whenever he can. "I shop in Wilson on Fridays whenever I can, just so I can get by and see what's going on at Robbins. It was really sad to hear they're closing, but you can't help but wish folks as sweet as the Lambs a lot of good relaxing time." "The scene there is really incredible--I'm sorry no one's gotten it captured on film. The store's more like a museum than your typical mall music store, and the whole region is going to miss their presence. Robbins and that jam is what we've always called the number one reason Wilson has been the country music capital of eastern North Carolina. If you haven't been, it's worth taking a day off from work to experience it, because once this one's gone, there won't be anything like it again--and take your camera." The walls at Robbins are covered with framed, autographed photographs from the hundreds of musicians who have shopped and played there. The Lambs are taking those and a few other items home with them as souvenirs. But everything else, they say, will be sold. Music on Fridays is performed by a varying collection of locals--sometimes as many as three pedal steel guitarists!--who back a dozen or more singers who sign in and then sing 3 songs a piece till they've all gotten to perform.  There's always a table of light lunch food and another of classic Southern desserts, free for the taking. Music starts about noon and runs until about 3 p.m. After tomorrow, the jams will continue at the Wilson Senior Citizens Center. And after retirement for the Lambs? "We might just take a vacation out to Branson and hear some country music," Elizabeth Lamb said. - - - What You're Reading Each week, RAF sends out a news release to 26 area newspapers and radio stations. The primary contents of each issue of Fountain AfterDark is that news release. The FAD distributed via e.mail never contains attachments. To add friends to our e.mail subscription list, send their e.mail address to fountainexpress@rafountain.com. To remove yourself from this list, reply to this e.mail with "unsubscribe" as either text or subject of your e.mail. Our e.mail list is not sold or traded or otherwise shared with anyone. Please let us know of any suspected abuses of the Fountain AfterDark/Fountain Express distribution list. - 30 -