March 2007 Fountain AFTERDARK, with most recent first: Fountain AfterDark vol. 3, no. 13 € March 28, 2007 published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe Grass Cats--NC's Best Hit-Making Bluegrass Band--Saturday Night€ Greenville Grass Friday € Flat Mountain Dulcimers Play Free at 3:00 on Sunday [Fountain, NC] The Grass Cats headline two nights of bluegrass this coming weekend in Fountain, and the return on Sunday afternoon of the Flat Mountain Dulcimers inaugurates a new season of the popular "free at 3:00" concert series. With their recent CD "Home to Carolina" a current top ten bluegrass hit, the Grass Cats -- http://www.grasscats.com/ -- come to Fountain on Saturday night for a concert of "bluegrass with drive." Their hit CD has also produced two singles that are currently in Bluegrass Unlimited's top 30. Both songs, "Pill or Potion" and the title track, were written by lead singer and mandolin picker Russell Johnson. "Russ has that classic high lonesome voice that defines bluegrass for a lot of folks," said Alex Albright, Fountain General Store proprietor. "This is an excellent band with a high-energy show." "Home to Carolina" the band's sixth CD, is #7 on the March best-seller charts in Bluegrass Unlimited -- http://www.bluegrassmusic.com/index.php?issue=117982&page=survey. In giving it a 4-star rating, Jack Bernhardt of the News & Observer noted that it is "steeped in the Cats' trademark blend of soaring vocals, lush harmonies and innovative musicianship." It's an album, he concludes, that "merits national attention and could well enhance the state's reputation as home to some of the world's best bluegrass." Performing in Fountain annually is like a homecoming for Snow Hill's Chris Hill, who plays fiddle. Also in the band are Tim Woodall on banjo and vocals and a couple of newcomers: Lloyd Herring on bass and vocals and Steven Martin of Burlington on guitar and lead vocals. Hill was a member of Al Batten's Bluegrass Reunion for 6 years and has performed on stage with Ralph Stanley, Mac Wiseman, and the Lewis Family. Woodall, who lives in Cary, is co-host of WQDR's Pinecone Bluegrass Show. Herring, of Clinton, is the band's newest and youngest member. Martin was for 6 years a member of the award-winning Churchmen, for whom he wrote "Get Onboard," which hit #1 on bluegrass gospel charts. The Grass Cats' March 31 concert begins at 7:30. General admission is $10, and reserved seats--highly recommended--are $12. Friday night's bluegrass show brings Buddy Zincone and Greenville Grass -- http://home.earthlink.net/~wnelms/mondaynightbluegrassband/ -- back to town. Boasting over 100 years of bluegrass picking experience, the band is led by banjo picker Zincone, who also plays dobro. Lane Hollis, one of the best fiddlers in the region, joins in on vocals, banjo, and guitar. Tom Scott plays mandolin and sings tenor harmonies, Bill Poplin plays rhythm guitar and sings lead, and Willie Nelms plays bass and sings lead. Greenville Grass concerts feature a mix of classic and contemporary bluegrass standards, as well as a variety of popular tunes performed bluegrass-style. Their March 30 concert begins at 7:30. General admission is $5. The Flat Mountain Dulcimers -- http://www.flatmountaindulcimers.com/ -- are whimsically named for the "low-lying" mountains of eastern North Carolina that its three members call home. "This has always been one of our most popular Sunday afternoon shows," said Albright. "Collectively, they produce a beautiful sound that's very relaxing." Band members include Dave and Margit Roberson and Nancy Galambush, whose husband, J.C. Bradshaw, makes all of their dulcimers. Dave Roberson also plays guitar. The band has released one CD, "Live at RA Fountain," which was recorded by Fountain General's operations manager Cliff Nelson and engineered at Mike Rose's AudioFarm Studio in Goldsboro. They perform old-time mountain music of the style popularized in the Appalachian mountains, and their shows also include a considerable educational element as band members recount histories of both their instruments and the songs they perform. The Flat Mountain Dulcimers' April 1 show begins at 3:00; admission is free. Subsequent "free-at-3:00" concerts will be held every Sunday throughout the summer except for Easter, April 8, and Memorial Day weekend. 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 call 252-749-3228. € € € photos Grass Cats performing at Fountain General Store: http://rafountain.com/pictures/GrassCats/GCats_RussellSings.jpg Greenville Grass performing at Fountain General Store: http://rafountain.com/pictures/GGGrass_RAF2.jpg Flat Mountain Dulcimers at Fountain General Store http://rafountain.com/pictures/FlatMountain/FlatMountain.jpg Flat Mountain Dulcimers Open New Season of Free-at-3:00 Family Concerts on Sundays in Fountain [Fountain, NC] The Flat Mountain Dulcimers, a trio of old-time musicians from Goldsboro and Snow Hill, inaugurate the new season of free-at-3:00 Sunday afternoon concerts at Fountain General Store. Named whimsically for the "low-lying" mountains of easatern North Carolina that the band members call home, the band has been one of Fountain General's most popular Sunday afternoon shows, said proprietor Alex Albright. "In fact, it's the positive responses we've had to shows by them and bands like the Marlboro Boys that we've continued the free Sunday shows." Flatmountain has released one CD, "Live at RA Fountain." Dave and Margit Roberson and Nancy Galambush all play duclimers handmade by Galambush's husband, J.C. Bradshaw. Dave Roberson also plays guitar. This season's family fare will still be predominately bluegrass gospel, added Albright. "But we've also got a fine Southern gospel group coming in, and a piano virtuoso." The free-at-3:00 series will run through the summer, with shows weekly except for Easter Sunday and Memorial Day weekend. Free-at-3:00 Schedule, thru mid-June Free Family Concerts on Sunday afternoons at Fountain General Store April 1: Flat Mountain Dulcimers April 8: closed for Easter April 15: Called Out. Southern gospel April 22: Jimmy Aycock, piano virtuoso April 29: Brien Barbour: Original acoustic music May 6: Adam Stone, original and gospel music May 13: Donald Underwood Thompson, classic blues, folk, and vaudeville May 20: Take "2" and Ramblin' Rose, bluegrass gospel May 27: closed for Memorial Day June 3: Whitewater Junction, bluegrass gospel June 10: Unshackled, bluegrass gospel -30- 14 Nights of Live Music in April: Free-at-3 and Bluegrass Jam Return [Fountain, NC] Free-at-three concerts on Sundays and the return of Fountain General's bluegrass jam highlight the little-venue-that-might's April schedule of live music. The popular Sunday afternoon shows return on April 1 with Fountain favorite the Flat Mountain Dulcimers and will run on most Sundays through summer. Also of note in the April schedule is the addition of Charlie Flowers & International Harvesters, who replace Haywire after its cancellation. Sun 1 Flat Mountain Dulcimers Free 3 p.m. Fri 6 Unknown Tongues $7.50 8 p.m. Cajun dance music from eastern NC Sat 7 Jon Crocker FREE 4 p.m. Another MySpace-cadet stops by for a set to see why so many traveling troubadours find Fountain a cool place to play. Sat 7 Veazey Ridge Boys $5 7:30 p.m. Fri 13 Harrison, Hollis & Gastor $5 7:30 p.m. Power pickers playing classic bluegrass Sat 14 Charlie Flowers & International Harvesters $5 7:30 p.m. Elm City's Hootin' Cowboy brings his all-star country music band back to town Sun 15 Called Out Free 3 p.m. Southern gospel Thu 19 Bluegrass jam Free 7:30 p.m. Fri 20 Steve Creech Sextet $5 7:30 p.m. Sat 21 Hickory Hill Bluegrass $5 7:30 p.m. Sun 22 Jimmy Aycock Free 3 p.m. Piano virtuoso from Fremont, Aycock has dazzled us with his keyboard performances several times with Steve Creech. Thu 26 Dan Frechette $5 7:30 p.m. From Winnipeg, Frechette put on one of the best original shows we've seen when he passed thru last year. We've finally gotten him nailed down for a return engagement. Highly original and entertaining. Fri 27 Martin & Johnson Stringband $5 7:30 p.m. This Triangle-based old-time band is tuning up in Fountain for the festival season. Sat 28 Cricket Band $5 7:30 p.m. Shelby & Linda Stephenson have assembled an all-star band that includes fiddler Les Sandy. They'll be playing mostly classic country in the Hank Williams vein. Sun 29 Brien Barber Free 3 p.m. Original Americana folk music What You¹re Reading Each week, we send 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 contains no attachments. To add friends to our e.mail subscription list, send their e.mail address to ²fountainexpress@rafountain.com.³ To remove yourself from this list, reply to this e.mail with ²unsubscribe³ 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. 3, no. 12 € March 20, 2007 published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe Country Music, College Comedy This Weekend in Fountain € April Schedule Announced [Fountain, NC] Russ Varnell and his Too Country Band return to Fountain General store for a honky-tonk concert of country music classics on Friday night, and SWASH Improv, a comedy troupe of ECU students, presents a free show on Saturday. Varnell -- http://russvarnell.com/ -- from the Wilson County community of Black Creek, is a proponent of classic country music in the vein of Del Reeves, Merle Haggard, and Buck Owens. He has added vocalist Joy McCallister to his band, and his CD, "Playin' Every Honky Tonk in Town," is getting airplay on country music radio stations in Australia, Canada, and Belgium. "Russ always puts on an excellent show," said Alex Albright, store proprietor. "Over two hours of classic country music sung with great passion and respect for the original artists." Varnell had become friends with Buck Owens and visited him in Bakersfield, California often in the years before Owens' death last year. He has performed several times at Owens' legendary Crystal Palace venue. Russ Varnell and Too Country's March 23 show begins at 8:00. General admission is $8. SWASH Improv -- http://clubhouse.ecu.edu/the_swash/index.htm -- has gone through several generations of ECU students now since its founding in 2002. The current 8-person troupe is led by Katlyn Wyllie, T. J. Walker, and Matt White. SWASH specializes in what's known as the short form in improvisational theatre. "This is the type of comedy you'd see at a Comedy Sportz venue or on ŒWhose Line is it Anyway?¹" said Albright. The players play game after game, some as short as a minute, others closer to five minutes long, each with its own guidelines from which scene work and plot develop. Action is quick, and the players have to be quick-witted, too. Audiences also add an important element to improv comedy, as they are asked frequently to provide prompts and suggestions and sometimes to join in on the games. SWASH Improv's March 24 free show is the troupe's annual Parents Night performance. Showtime is 7 p.m. 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, phone 252-749-3228 or visit www. rafountain.com. -30- 14 Nights of Live Music in April: Free-at-3 and Bluegrass Jam Return Free-at-three concerts on Sundays and the return of Fountain General's bluegrass jam highlight the little-venue-that-might's April schedule of live music. The popular Sunday afternoon shows return on April 1 with Fountain favorite the Flat Mountain Dulcimers and will run on most Sundays through summer. Sun 1 Flat Mountain Dulcimers Free 3 p.m. Fri 6 Unknown Tongues $7.50 8 p.m. Sat 7 Jon Crocker FREE 4 p.m. Sat 7 Veazey Ridge Boys $5 7:30 p.m. Fri 13 Harrison, Hollis & Gastor $5 7:30 p.m. Sat 14 Charlie Flowers & International Harvesters $5 7:30 p.m. Sun 15 Called Out Free 3 p.m. Thu 19 Bluegrass jam Free 7:30 p.m. Fri 20 Steve Creech Sextet $5 7:30 p.m. Sat 21 Hickory Hill Bluegrass $5 7:30 p.m. Sun 22 Jimmy Aycock Free 3 p.m. Thu 26 Dan Frechette $5 7:30 p.m. Fri 27 Martin & Johnson Stringband $5 7:30 p.m. Sat 28 Cricket Band $5 7:30 p.m. Sun 29 Brien Barber Free 3 p.m. What You¹re Reading Each week, we send 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 contains no attachments. To add friends to our e.mail subscription list, send their e.mail address to ²fountainexpress@rafountain.com.³ To remove yourself from this list, reply to this e.mail with ²unsubscribe³ 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. 3, no. 11 € March 15, 2007 published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe Irish Music for St. Pat's, Bluegrass Friday Night in Fountain € NCAA Games on "RetroVision" [Fountain, NC] Bill Redding and Mike Hamer return to Fountain for their annual concert of Irish music in celebration of St. Patrick's day this Saturday evening. Angela Easterling, a mandolin and guitar player and songwriter based out of Los Angeles, is this evening's opening act. The Lounge Abouts, a bluegrass band of college students formed in Chapel Hill, makes their Fountain debut on Friday night. Redding, who plays guitar, and Hamer were presenting their night of classic Irish music in Fountain for several years before Fountain General Store opened in October 2004. "We hosted them for a private party out here for three years before we moved to town in 2001," said proprietor Alex Albright, "and they've played here again at least every year since. They've always been one of our most popular acts." Redding, he added, has an "encyclopedic knowledge" of classic Irish ballads and drinking songs. "He's also got that pure Irish tenor voice." Hamer, who plays hammered dulcimer, has performed in Fountain with several musical ensembles, and as a solo artist he has released 3 CDs of original songs. Easterling -- http://www.angelaeasterling.com/ -- the daughter of a Baptist minister, was raised in Taylors, S.C., in the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains. She began playing guitar and writing songs while studying at Emerson College in Boston. She subsequently moved to Los Angeles, where she recorded and released her debut CD, "Earning Her Wings" in 2006. Bill Redding and Mike Hamer with Angela Easterling opening begins at 7:30 on March 17. General admission is $5. The Lounge Abouts are former Chapel Hill high school students Alex Ball, Lee Moltvie, and Mark Voller. Ball, who plays guitar and fiddle, is an ECU freshman. Moltvie plays guitar and mandolin and Voller plays upright bass and banjo. "They're very serious about their bluegrass," said Albright, "and very talented. They'll do a lot of classics, with a lot of respect and style." The Lounge Abouts are a replacement act for the previously scheduled Roby Huffman and the Bluegrass Cutups. Admission for their March 16 show is $3. 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, phone 252-749-3228 or visit www.rafountain.com. NCAA Tournament Games on RetroVision at Fountain General Store For those basketball fans who can't leave their game at home, Fountain General Store has installed RetroVision. "We're ready for all the evening games," said Alex Albright, proprietor. RetroVision employs an archaic black & white 10" video displaying instrument, with a receiver that secures its signal by twin "rabbit ears" attached at its back. WIthout volume added, the result, Albright pointed out, is much like BroadVision, the original broadcasting medium for UNC-Chapel Hill basketball games. "So it will be especially appropriate to employ during Saturday night's St. Patrick's show," Albright added, "so long as Carolina cooperates and wins." What You¹re Reading Each week, we send 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 contains no attachments. To add friends to our e.mail subscription list, send their e.mail address to ²fountainexpress@rafountain.com.³ To remove yourself from this list, reply to this e.mail with ²unsubscribe³ 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. 3, no. 10 € March 8, 2007 published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe Singing the Gospel Bluegrass Style: Revonda Roberts and Harvest Wind Bring Award-winning Bluegrass Gospel to Fountain Saturday Night € Dixieland Jazz on Friday [Fountain, NC] Lamon Recording artists Harvest Wind returns to Fountain General Store on Saturday for a night of original and classic bluegrass gospel music. Friday night features a first for this crossroads entertainment venue: Dixieland jazz, with the Chocowinity Bay-based Original Cypress Landing Jazz Band. From the foothills of North Carolina, Harvest Wind -- http://www.harvestwindband.com -- uses music for its mission and has as its motto "Singing the Gospel, Bluegrass Style. They are popular performers at churches and bluegrass festivals throughout the United States and will be featured at this year's upcoming Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival in Branson, Mo., and at the City Festival in New York City. Harvest Wind features lead singer Revonda Roberts, who plays fiddle and writes many of the quintet's original songs. One of Roberts' songs, "Daughter of a Gamblin' Man," was nominated for a Dove Music Award last year as best gospel song of the year. "They sing a lot of original bluegrass gospel," said Alex Albright, store proprietor. "It's not your typical bluegrass gospel show, though. 'Daughter of a Gamblin' Man,' for example, is a hard-driving ballad of sin and redemption that sounds more like contemporary 'new grass' than the old church hymn done up in bluegrass style." That doesn't mean, of course, that Harvest Wind doesn't include a number of classic bluegrass gospel tunes in its shows. The band has picked up two more nominations in this year's Doves - www.doveawards.com/categories . Their latest recording, "Ancient of Days," is nominated for best bluegrass album of the year and the Lamon -- http://www.lamonrecords.com/ -- compilation "Bluegrass Gospel Time," on which they are featured, is nominated for special event album of the year. The 38th annual Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards will be presented at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on April 25. Also in Harvest Wind are mandolin picker Lonnie Roberts; Justin Bowles on guitar and banjo; Robert McIntosh on upright bass; and Chuck Harris on guitar. All share vocal harmonies. Revonda Roberts and Harvest Wind's March 10 concert begins at 7:30; general admission is $5; reserved seats are $7. The Original Cypress Landing Jazz Band, specializing in Dixieland jazz, was formed in 1998 by residents at the Chocowinity Bay retirement community for whom the band is named. Its 6 members represent a variety of musical experiences over their careers, during which they each nurtured passions for Dixieland-style jazz. "Despite our different careers and paths that got us to being neighbors, we discovered we all had this great interest in playing Dixieland," said Les Sutorious, one of the band's founders. "We have a lot of fun, and it's really remarkable that so many fine musicians wound up living in the same place." Drummer Wayne Place played professionally in his native Canada with several bands and recording artists. Ralph Stephenson, bassist, is a retired Air Force Lt. Col, B-52 pilot, and West Point grad. He performed in jazz bands throughout California before retirement and has recently begun to play bassoon. Buck Rish, banjo picker, is a retired neurosurgeon who performed with many Dixieland bands on Mississippi River boats. Art Schram, on clarinet, is originally from New Jersey. He retired from Western Electric in Winston-Salem before moving to Cypress Landing. He played in jazz bands in high school and college and was also in the US Coast Guard Band. Tom Smith, trombonist, was a professional music educator in New Orleans, where he also played in Dixieland bands. Trumpeter Sutorious has performed professionally since his high school days on Long Island, NY. He paid his way through college at UNC-CH playing in bands. "We played the Tin Can a lot," he recalled. "Lots of student dances." He returned to New York for most of his career as a print/packaging salesman. Sutorious said patrons should expect a set list that will include such classics of the genre as "Up a Lazy River," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "St. james Infirmary," "Jada," "Basin Street Blues," "Amazing Grace," "Washington and Lee Swing." "We love to play requests, too," he added. The Original Cypress Landing Jazz Band's March 9 concert begins at 7:30. General admission is $5; reserved seats are $8. 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, phone 252-749-3228 or visit www.rafountain.com. € € € photo of Revonda Roberts and Harvest Wind http://rafountain.com/pictures/Harvest_wind/Harvest_Wind.jpg Marlboro Boys Play for Free Monday Night at Fountain Wellness Center Farmville's Marlboro Boys, the premier bluegrass gospel band in this region, return to town on Monday night for a free show at the Fountain Wellness Center at 116 E. Wilson Street, across the street and at the other end of the block from Fountain General Store. The Boys 7:00 p.m. concert will be preceded by a community dinner, for which a $4 donation is suggested. Monday's menu features barbecued chicken. Food is served at 5:30 p.m. Center coordinator Jim Ellis pointed out that folks were welcome to come just for the music, for which there is no charge. This event is part of a regular series of Monday night concerts and community dinners sponsored by the Wellness Center. More March Music Fri 16 Lounge Abouts 7:30 $3.00 A trio formed by high school buddies in Chapel Hill, these youngsters add a high level of enthusiasm to considerable picking skills. Their act is original but also respectful of the masters of bluegrass. Sat 17 Bill Redding & Mike Hamer's 7th annual St. Patrick's Concert, with Angela Easterling opening 7:30 $5 Before Fountain General Store ever opened, Redding and Hamer were putting on this special night of St Pat's ballads and drinking songs for friends in the area. Easterling, from Taylors, SC, plays mandolin. She is making her first Fountain visit. Fri 23 Russ Varnell & the Too Country Band 7:30 $8 Classic honky tonk country--and a few originals--from Wilson's Buck Owens protege, and a really tight band. Sat 24 SWASH Improv Parents Night 7:00 FREE ECU's improv comedy troupe loves the challenge of doing "family style" comedy in Fountain so much that they've invited their parents to come out tonight. Fri 30 Greenville Grass 7:30 $5 Buddy Zincone and pals have been picking classic bluegrass in living rooms for decades. Our "listening room" environment is a perfect place to hear these fellows play. Sat 31 the Grass Cats 7:30 $10 gen ad/ $12 reserved North Carolina's premier bluegrass band returns to town for what promises to be another SRO night of classic and highly original bluegrass. Reservations recommended. € € € What You¹re Reading Each week, we send 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 contains no attachments. To add friends to our e.mail subscription list, send their e.mail address to ²fountainexpress@rafountain.com.³ To remove yourself from this list, reply to this e.mail with ²unsubscribe³ 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. 3, no. 9 € March 1, 2007 published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe Boys from Carolina Headline Twin Bluegrass Shows This Weekend in Fountain [Fountain, NC] The Boys from Carolina return to Fountain General Store on Friday for a concert of original and classic bluegrass. The Smith Brothers on Saturday perform bluegrass standards. The Boys from Carolina, based out of the Triangle, feature some of the best vocal harmonies heard in town, said Alex Albright, Fountain General Store proprietor. "They bring the same classic bluegrass feel to their original songs, too," he added. The Boys are Chuck Schutte on dobro, Wright Young on mandolin, Lindy Brown on bass, Bob Wilkerson on banjo, and Larry Nunnery on guitar. They all share vocals. Their debut CD, "Train Ride Home," was released late in 2006; it features four original tunes. The Boys from Carolina's March 2 concert begins at 7:30 p.m.; general admission is $5. The Smith Brothers Bluegrass Band is based in Nash County and led by the brothers Troy, Shelton, and Grady on guitar, dobro, and banjo respectively. They perform classic bluegrass because, founder Troy says, "That's the only kind of music there is." Troy often chides his brothers for having gotten off on the wrong foot, musically, by playing rock and roll in their younger years. But Shelton and Grady found the bluegrass way long enough ago to have been performing bluegrass barn-pickin' style for over 40 years. They are joined in their band by Jimmy Collins on guitar, Ricky Privett on mandolin, and Frank Davis on guitar. Bassist for tonight's show will be Troy Smith's son, Skylar Smith, who has performed in Fountain previously with Bluegrass Redemption. The Smith Brothers Bluegrass Band's March 3 performance 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, phone 252-749-3228 or visit www.rafountain.com. € € € Photo of Boys from Carolina outside Fountain General Store http://rafountain.com/pictures/BoysFromCarolina/Boys_at_RAf.jpg € € € Lounge Abouts Replace Roby Huffman in March Schedule We went from the dean of eastern Carolina bluegrass to the opposite extreme in booking a trio of youngsters with the unlikely bluegrass name of the Lounge Abouts to replace the legendary Roby Huffman. The March 16 show will now feature Alex Ball, Lee Moltvie, and Mark Voller, whose band traces its roots to their high school days in Chapel Hill. Currently, all three are college students. Ball, who plays guitar and fiddle, has performed in Fountain on several occasions. He's bringing with him his friends Moltvie, who plays guitar and mandolin, and Voller, who plays upright bass and banjo. Ball, an ECU freshman, promises an evening of high-energy, traditional bluegrass and says he's looking forward to showing Fountain General off to his buddies. Admission for this show will be $3; showtime is 7:30. € € € [Corrected] March Music Schedule Fri 2 Boys from Carolina 7:30 $5 Original & traditional bluegrass, from the Triangle--excellent pickers, fine harmonies. Sat 3 Smith Brothers 7:30 $5 Classic bluegrass, from Rocky Mount: this is the kind of local band that's kept bluegrass alive in pickin' parlors throughout the region. They play for the love of the music, and they have a lot of fun doing it. Fri 9 Cypress Landing Dixieland Jazz Band 7:30 $5 Trumpeter Les Sutorious brings his band to Fountain for the first time--they may be "retired," but there's nothing tired about this collection of excellent musicians who all happened to meet at the retirement community where they live. Sat 10 Revonda Roberts and Harvest Wind 7:30 $7.50 Outstanding bluegrass from Lamon Recording artists under consideration for two Dove Awards, including best bluegrass gospel CD for their latest, "Ancient of Days." They were big hits their first time through Fountain, when they put on a great show of classic and original bluegrass gospel. Fri 16 Lounge Abouts 7:30 $3.00 A trio formed by high school buddies in Chapel Hill, these youngsters add a high level of enthusiasm to considerable picking skills. Their act is original but also respectful of the masters of bluegrass. Sat 17 Bill Redding & Mike Hamer's 7th annual St. Patrick's Concert, with Angela Easterling opening 7:30 $5 Before Fountain General Store ever opened, Redding and Hamer were putting on this special night of St Pat's ballads and drinking songs for friends in the area. Easterling, from Taylors, SC, plays mandolin. She is making her first Fountain visit. Fri 23 Russ Varnell & the Too Country Band 7:30 $8 Classic honky tonk country--and a few originals--from Wilson's Buck Owens protege, and a really tight band. Sat 24 SWASH Improv Parents Night 7:00 FREE ECU's improv comedy troupe loves the challenge of doing "family style" comedy in Fountain so much that they've invited their parents to come out tonight. Fri 30 Greenville Grass 7:30 $5 Buddy Zincone and pals have been picking classic bluegrass in living rooms for decades. Our "listening room" environment is a perfect place to hear these fellows play. Sat 31 the Grass Cats 7:30 $10 gen ad/ $12 reserved North Carolina's premier bluegrass band returns to town for what promises to be another SRO night of classic and highly original bluegrass. Reservations recommended. € € € What You¹re Reading Each week, we send 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 contains no attachments. To add friends to our e.mail subscription list, send their e.mail address to ²fountainexpress@rafountain.com.³ To remove yourself from this list, reply to this e.mail with ²unsubscribe³ 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-