Fountain AfterDark vol 4, no 18 May Day, 2008 published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe Smith Brothers Host Bluegrass Jam Saturday, Three Generations of Pickers in Wilberville Free on Sunday [Fountain, NC] The Smith Brothers Bluegrass Band hosts a bluegrass jam at Fountain General Store this Saturday night. Wil Ball, with son Mike and grandson Alex--collectively known as Wilberville--perform a concert of bluegrass, old-time, and country music free at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Troy, Shelton and Grady Smith grew up on a farm outside of Rocky Mount. Together--and respectively on guitar, banjo, and dobro--they have over a century's worth of bluegrass picking experience. Rickey Privett, of Dortches, plays mandolin and sings lead tenor. Paul Winstead of Sandy Cross plays bull bass, and Wayne Melvin of Rocky Mount plays guitar. Winstead and Melvin are performing with the Smiths for the first time in Fountain. "We've been picking with them at the B & B," said Troy Smith. B & B Stables, north of Nashville off of NC 58, hosts a bluegrass jam every first Friday. General admission to R.A. Fountain's May 3 jam is $5. Pickers are admitted free. Showtime is 7:30; doors open about 6 p.m. Wilberville's second show at RAF will feature more original songs penned by granddaddy Wil Ball, who retired several years ago as director of counseling services at ECU. A West Virginia native, he settled in Greenville in 1964. He played in country music bands while growing up but put aside his musical interests for career and family. He reports that retirement has been fruitful for his song-writing especially. Wil Ball's son Mike plays bass and guitar. He is a Rose High and ECU graduate who earned his law degree from Wake Forest. Mike Ball is a partner in the Greenville law firm of Colombo, Kitchen, Dunn, Ball and Porter. Mike's son, Alex Ball, is a sophomore at ECU. He plays fiddle, mandolin, and guitar. Tom Scott, mandolin picker with Buddy Zincone and Greenville Grass, will also be playing with Wilberville. Sunday's free show is part of a Free-at-3:00 series that runs for two months on Sundays at Fountain General Store. 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. -30- Three Generations of Greenville's Ball Family Perform Country and Bluegrass Sunday in Fountain [reprinted from November 15, 2007 Fountain AfterDark] [Fountain, NC] Greenville's Wil Ball brings son Mike and grandson Alex to Fountain General Store on Sunday afternoon for a free concert of country and bluegrass music. Wilberville, as the group is known, features Wil Ball on guitar, Mike Ball on bass and guitar, and Alex Ball on fiddle, guitar, and mandolin. Tom Scott, borrowed from Greenville Grass, will be playing mandolin and banjo. Wil Ball was director of counseling at ECU for 15 years prior to his retirement in 1997. He began playing country music in his hometown of Phillippi, West Virginia, where he fronted his own band during high school, from 1949-53. He and wife Doris were living in Phoenix, Arizona, where Wil was teaching high school, prior to moving to Greenville, "to be closer to family," he explained. "Arizona's a long ways off." "I didn't play much, though, after we started raising our family," he said. "When Mike was in high school [at J.H. Rose in the mid-1970s, where he also played football], he got interested in playing, and that's when I started picking it back up." After graduating from ECU, Mike Ball then studied law at Wake Forest. He is a partner in the Greenville law firm of Colombo, Kitchin, Dunn, Ball and Porter. Alex Ball, a Broughton High grad, is a sophomore at ECU. "He's one of the best young musicians we've had play out here," said Alex Albright, Fountain General Store proprietor. He performs with two bluegrass bands, Carolina Still and the Lounge Abouts. Wil Ball was hired to teach technology at East Carolina College in 1964. "But pretty soon I found out I was more interested in people than things," he said. "So when the college was becoming a university, and we were going to have to get a doctorate if we wanted to keep our jobs, I decided to get mine in counseling." Ball earned his PhD from Indiana University in 1971 and immediately returned to ECU, where he worked in counseling for 30 years. As he neared retirement, his interest in music also heightened. "I've always written songs," he said, "but a couple of years before I retired, I started writing a lot more." Sunday's show will feature classic country and bluegrass tunes and several originals by each of the Balls. - - - What You're Reading Each week, RAF sends out a news release to 28 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 19May 8, 2008 published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe Bluegrass Legend Roby Huffman Headlines Upcoming 3-Day Weekend of Live Music at Fountain General Store - Steve Creech Septet Features Eva Cortens, All-Star Band on Saturday - Mother's Day Special: Two Great Vocalists, Free Homemade Ice Cream for Moms, Free-at-3:00 on Sunday Afternoon - From Broadway to Fountain via Old Sparta Saturday Night [Fountain, NC] Bluegrass legend Roby Huffman returns to Fountain General Store with his all-star band the Bluegrass Cutups for a concert of classic and original music on Friday night. Steve Creech and his Septet features jazz and blues vocalist Eva Cortens on Saturday night. And two Fountain favorites, Melody Brown and Brien Barbour, present a special Mother's Day concert Sunday afternoon. Huffman, who lives in Smithfield, has taken several generations of his Cutups to bluegrass festivals and concerts throughout the United States and Europe since beginning his professional career in the early 1960s. Currently performing with him are Travis Johnson on lead guitar and vocals; Daniel Casey on banjo; Mike Rose on mandolin; and Ray Bridgers on bass. "Roby's got that high, lonesome tenor that a lot of folks say really defines the bluegrass vocal style and sound," said Alex Albright, Fountain General Store proprietor. "He's the godfather of eastern Carolina bluegrass, and it's always a great honor to have him back in town." Several former Cutups have gone on to distinguished careers in bluegrass with their own bands, including Wayne Benson Hershel Sizemore and Al Batten . Huffman's vinyl lps are highly prized collector's items. He has also released 3 CDs. Roby Huffman and the Bluegrass Cutups' May 9 concert begins at 7:30; general admission is $8. Steve Creech's all-star band on Saturday night also features ECU jazzmen Jon Wacker on drums and George Broussard on trombone. Fremont's Jimmy Aycock is back on keyboards, Les Sutorious on trumpet, Dennis McGaughey on tenor sax and clarinet, and Keith Dobbins on bass. "This'll be the hottest horn section Steve's brought to Fountain," said Albright. Cortens is a recent transplant to Greenville from British Columbia, where she was the featured vocalist for the Swingsations. "She's a terrific singer," said Creech. Cortens graduated from Capilano College, Vancouver, in 2000 with a degree in jazz studies. She has been singing and teaching professionally for 13 years, in both the U.S. and Canada and has performed with such notable artists as Shari Ulrich, Linton Garner, and the Laudate Singers. Special guests will include vocalists Lily James and Sarah Lang, who will also play violin, and Dirk Lumbard, singing and tap-dancing. Lumbard, who has recently re-located to the Old Sparta area, is a Broadway veteran and renowned dance instructor. "From Broadway to Fountain isn't that great a leap," said Albright, "when you consider the talent with which Steve surrounds himself." The Steve Creech Septet's May 10 show begins at 7:30; general admission is $8. Reserved seats to both the Huffman and Creech shows are available for $10. Sunday's Free-at-3:00 is a special Mother's Day concert starring Melody Brown and Brien Barbour. "They both have really big and beautiful voices," said Albright. Brown, from Zebulon, and Barbour, from Raleigh, will perform solo sets and a few gospel tunes together. All mothers in attendance will receive free homemade ice cream. Sunday's free show is part of a Free-at-3:00 series that runs for on Sundays through June at Fountain General Store. - - - PHOTOS publicity photo of Roby Huffman and the Bluegrass Cutups http://rafountain.com/pictures/HuffmanCut-ups.jpg George Broussard on trombone and Jimmy Aycock on piano return to Fountain General Store on Saturday night with the Steve Creech Septet http://rafountain.com/pictures/Creech/broussard&aycock.jpg Jazz guitarist Steve Creech fronts an all-star band at Fountain General Store on Friday night http://rafountain.com/pictures/Creech/creechjpeg.jpeg - - - New Area Resident, Broadway Veteran Dirk Lumbard Guests at RAF Saturday Night with Steve Creech Septet [Fountain, NC] New area resident Dirk Lumbard, who has sung and danced in five Broadway musicals, will be one of several featured artists performing with the Steve Creech Septet at Fountain General Store on Saturday night. Lumbard, who has re-located to the Edgecombe County community of Old Sparta, has most recently worked on Broadway in Nora Ephron's "Invisible Friends" as Frankie Fact. He also has numerous off-Broadway and national touring company credits, and has made several film and television appearances. He maintains a faculty position teaching Broadway tap at the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU as well as an active role teaching at other national dance academies. "Dirk's been out here a couple of times when Steve played," said Alex Albright, Fountain General Store proprietor. "He's really something. He makes these old wooden floors sing. He said he was bringing his mama out this time." - - - PHOTO High resolution photo of Dirk Lumbard tap dancing at Fountain General Store: http://rafountain.com/pictures/Creech/DirkLumbardHiRez.jpg A very cool video of Dirk as the Tin Man (with Mickey Rooney and Eartha Kitt) in an award-winning performance of the Wizard of Oz at Madison Square Garden: http://youtube.com/watch?v=eb2bNqAnbec&feature=related - - - What You're Reading Each week, RAF sends out a news release to 28 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 20 May 15, 2008 published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe Five-Time National Fiddling Champion Curtis Lee Friday Night, Bluegrass Gospel Saturday and Sunday in Fountain [Fountain, NC] Fiddling sensation Curtis Lee and his wife Ruth present a bluegrass and clogging show on Friday night at Fountain General Store. Unshackled on Saturday night and Take 2 and the Ramblin' Rose Band perform concerts of bluegrass gospel on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon respectively. Curtis Lee, a native of Carson, Virginia, is a member of the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame. He has won the Virginia state fiddling competition four times and has earned the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Trophy at the NC Folk Festival at the annual state fair. He traveled with Mac Wiseman and his band and has over his long career backed up Patsy Cline, Don Gibson and the Stonemans, among many others. Lee is accompanied by his wife, Ruth. Originally from Decatur, Indiana, she is the band leader for the NC State Fair Folk Festival, where she has also won the Bascom Lamar Lunsford trophy. Ruth Lee is a former president of the National Clogging and Hoedown Council and has danced and taught clogging and judged clogging competitions throughout the United States and England. The Lees are currently based out of Myrtle Beach but are in the process of re-locating to eastern North Carolina. Curtis Lee has appeared at RAF twice before as part of Marshall Stephenson's all-star Bluegrass Train band. "This is a made-to-order show for clogging," said Alex Albright, Fountain General Store proprietor. "It'll be a fine concert for sitting, too." Among the many videos from the NC State Fair clogging competitions, at least three feature Curtis Lee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4GlOlG6Rac&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGqkR8eceN0&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIjjJDzxoxc That's wife Ruth on his right, playing bass. Curtis Lee's May 16 concert begins at 7:30; general admission is $7.50. Unshackled, based out of Chocowinity, is one of the most popular bluegrass gospel bands in the region. They perform primarily at churches but are also a popular festival act. They have upcoming shows at the 28th Patrick County Music Association festival in Stuart, Virginia; the Eastern Carolina Bluegrass Association's monthly concert in Kinston; and at the Gospel Chicken House in Montpelier, Virginia. Band members include Warren Blackard on bass; Marvin Walker on banjo; Elton Ipock on mandolin; and Preston Norman on guitar. All share in singing, and they specialize in 3- and 4-part harmonies. Unshackled's May 17 concert begins at 7:30; general admission is $5. Sunday afternoon's Free-at-3:00 concert features the Roanoke Rapids-based Take 2 and the Ramblin' Rose Band, who specialize in original and classic bluegrass gospel music. The band's latest CD is "I Love You (in Red)," which is their fourth. They are led by the singing sisters Jo Reese and Wilma Hamill. Jo Reese also plays autoharp. Glenwood Rose, bandleader, plays lead guitar; J.B. Collins, bass; Eddie Walker, dobro; Jack Hopkins, mandolin; and George Campbell, banjo. "They're a lot of fun," Albright said. "They always bring along a few guests from Roanoke Rapids and a good crowd." 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. -30- High Resolution photo of champion fiddler Curtis Lee performing at R.A. Fountain: http://rafountain.com/pictures/Stephenson/curtisLeeHiRez.jpg - - - What You're Reading Each week, RAF sends out a news release to 28 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 21 May 22, 2008 published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe Coyote Ridge Plays CD-Release Bluegrass Show in Fountain Saturday Night - No Shows Friday, Sunday for Memorial Day Weekend - Four-day Weekend of Live Music Upcoming Kicks off May 29 with Ohio Bluegrass Band, New to Schedule - June Performances Announced Coyote Ridge Plays CD-Release Show Saturday Night [Fountain, NC] The Chatham County-based bluegrass quintet Coyote Ridge celebrates the release of their debut CD at Fountain General Store on Saturday night. "First Time Around" is a collection of classic and original bluegrass that features expert picking and strong vocals driven by the husband and wife duo of Doug and Stacy Stuart. Stacy Stuart began singing Southern gospel as a chilid with her mother and father. She sings lead, tenor and high baritone. Husband Doug, who once played on stage with the legendary Bill Monroe, also plays guitar. Joining them in the band are Greg Henkle on mandolin, Len Camp on banjo, and Eddie Ingram on bass. "This is one of the most versatile bands we've booked," said Alex Albright, Fountain General Store proprietor. "They're all multi-instrumentalists and very talented." Oklahoma native Greg Henkle started out as a flat picker; as a teenager, he placed third in a national flat picking guitar competition staged in Winfield, Kansas. Camp and Ingram also play guitar and mandolin; Doug Stuart also plays bass, banjo, mandolin, and piano. Coyote Ridge's May 24 concert begins at 7:30. General admission is $7.50. No shows Friday and Sunday over Memorial Day weekend. A four-day weekend of live music kicks off Thursday, May 29 with the Licking County Hot Lix, from Dennison University in Ohio. 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. -30- Four-day Music Weekend Closes out May at RAF, Ohio Bluegrassers Added to Schedule The Licking County Hot Lix, featuring banjo picker Richard Hood, kick off a 4-day weekend of live music in Fountain on Thursday, May 29. The Hot Lix are all students in the Denison University (located in Licking County, Ohio) bluegrass music program, which is co-directed by Hood. Part of their education, Hood teaches, is a tour through the heart of bluegrass country. This will be the second time he has brought his number one bluegrass band to Fountain. "They've got three bluegrass bands in their program," said Alex Albright, RAF proprietor. "These kids are their best--every traditional, very good." Two solo guitar bluesmen perform Friday and Saturday night--local favorite Lightin' Wells and Frenchman Claude Bourbon. Wells, a Fountain resident, recently returned from a series of gigs in Germany and last weekend was performing in Charleston, SC. Bourbon, who lives in England, is returning to RAF for his third concert in as many years. Sunday's Free-at-3:00 features Wilson native Eric Thomas on guitar and Helen Wolfson on hammered dulcimer, in a concert of folk, Celtic, country, gospel, and pop. -30- June Live Music at Fountain General Store Sun 1 Eric Thomas and Helen Wolfson Free-at-3:00 Wilson native Thomas, on guitar, combines with hammered dulcimer artist Wolfson for a lovely and eclectic afternoon of folk, Celtic, pop, and gospel music. Fri 6 @ Risk 8:00 $5 Classic rock n roll from a garage band comprised of history profs at ECU http://www.gigmasters.com/coverband/@Risk/ Sat 7 Boys from Carolina 8:00 $7.50 Classic and original bluegrass from a Fountain favorite http://www.boysfromcarolina.com/ Sun 8 Linda Ripke with Ronnie King;http://www.lightninwells.com/ Barefoot Movement Free-at-3:00 Two shows. Ripke plays plays gospel and country with guitarist king; Barefoot Movement is a quartet of young bluegrassers from Raleigh. Fri 13 Carolina Yellowhammers 8:00 $7.50 Classic bluegrass from a power-picking quartet of eastern Carolina's finest: Lightnin' Wells on guitar, Lane Hollis on fiddle and banjo, Frankie Harrison on mandolin, and John Booker on bass. Sat 14 Steve Creech Septet, with Pat Tutino 7:30 $8 Classic jazz and show tunes from Creech and crew, who always bring out a crowd. http://home.earthlink.net/~cscreech/ Sun 15 Jimmy Aycock Free-at-3:00 Jazz and great early Americana from Fremont's famed pianist, and a Fountain favorite, too. Fri 20 Donald Thompson Band 8:00 $5 Kinston's Thompson, a Fountain favorite as a solo artist, debuts his blues band tonight. http://donthompsonmusic.com/ Sat 21 Travers Chandler & Avery County 8:00 $7.50 Chandler and crew are masters of the rough and eclectic Baltimore barroom bluegrass style of songs. http://www.averycountybluegrass.com/ Fri 27 Reno Station 8:00 $5 Honky-tonkin' country music band from Clayton makes their first appearance at RAF. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=289027025 Sat 28 Mac and Tammy McRoy Bluegrass Band 8:00 $5 Classic and original bluegrass from these favorite veterans of the eastern Carolina bluegrass scene. http://macandtammy.com/bios.html -30- What You're Reading Each week, RAF sends out a news release to 28 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 22 May 29, 2008 published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe Bluegrass Tonight with Ohio-based Licking County Hot Lix - Lightnin' Wells Friday Night - Claude Bourbon Plays Medieval Blues Saturday - Free-at-3:00 on Sunday with Eric Thomas, Helen Wolfson - June Performances Listed [[Fountain, NC] The Ohio-based Licking County Hot Lix kicks off a 4-day weekend of live music tonight at Fountain General store with a concert of traditional bluegrass. The internationally renowned local artist Lightnin' Wells presents a solo concert of blues, country, gospel, folk, pop and hokum songs from the 1910s-'30s on Friday night. Claude Bourbon, the French virtuoso guitarist, performs a concert of medieval blues on Saturday night. And the Triangle-based duo Eric Thomas and Helen Wolfson return for a Free-at-3:00 concert on Sunday afternoon. The Hot Lix are students in the bluegrass studies program at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Frontman, chaperone, and banjo picker Richard Hood is co-director of the Bluegrass Studies program. He was half of the popular old time and bluegrass duo the Bristol Brothers and is also a prolific songwriter whose works have been recorded by Jim Eanes , the Bass Mountain Boys, and Chesnut Ridge , among others. Student members of the band include Hayes Griffin, 20, who plays guitar and sings; Jacob Hawkins, 19, on mandolin; Kyle Adamcik, who sings and plays fiddle; Jimmy Sheppard on bass; and vocalist Brynne Lewallen. The band takes its name from its home county, Licking County , Ohio. This is the number one band from the Denison bluegrass studies program, which has two other bluegrass bands that also perform in their home area. The Hot Lix have recently released their debut CD, "Bluegrass Instrumentals." This, their third Southern tour, has them performing in Virginia, at the Carter Family Fold ; Tennessee; and Asheville before hitting Fountain. The Licking County Hot Lix perform on May 29 at 7:30; general admission is $7.50. Lightnin' Wells a Pitt County resident for over 20 years, is an internationally renowned bluesman who recently returned from a successful 5-engagement tour of Germany. Wells, who lives in Fountain, has worked with every major Piedmont blues artist from the generation that includes only a couple of still-active participants, like Tarboro's George Higgs. "Lightnin's primary reputation is for his Piedmont blues playing," said Alex Albright, Fountain General Store proprietor, "and for the major work he's done in getting recognition, as well as work, for the pioneers of this style of playing. But he's first and foremost an entertainer. His shows run the gamut of just about every kind of popular song from the early twentieth century, and he performs them all with historical authenticity." Wells is also an talented multi-instrumentalist whose concerts feature him on acoustic and resonator guitars, ukelele, harmonica, jaw harp, and banjo. Lightnin' Wells' May 30 concert begins at 8:00; general admission is $5. Claude Bourbon is a master guitarist who is making Fountain a stop on his U.S. tour for the third consecutive year. Born in France, musically educated in Switzerland, and residing in England, Bourbon plays what he calls "medieval blues," an original fusion of jazz and blues, classical, and flamenco. His version of "Bolero," recorded at RAF by Cliff Nelson, is a popular hit on YouTube. "Claude's fingerpicking is the fastest and finest we've ever seen in Fountain," said Albright. "It often seems like he's over-ddubbing or there's a secret guitarist hidden behind him somewhere, it's so fast and complex, yet so really smooth." Cluade Bourbon's May 31 concert begins at 8 p.m.; general admission is $5. Eric Thomas and Helen Wolfson's Free-at 3:00 concert on Sunday afternoon will feature an eclectic mix of Celtic, folk, country, pop, gospel, and rock, as well as some original songs. Based in the Triangle, the duo has recently released their first CD. Thomas plays guitar and sings; Wolfson plays hammered dulcimer and also sings. She has released two CDs of her solo work. 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. -30- PHOTOS High Rez of Lightnin' Wells playing harmonica at RAF http://rafountain.com/pictures/Lightnin/LightHarmHiRz.jpg Low rez of Lightnin Wells playing uke at RAF http://rafountain.com/pictures/Lightnin/lightnin_uke_sm.jpg - - - Claude Bourbon publicity photo http://rafountain.com/pictures/ClaudeBourbon1.jpg Four-day Music Weekend Closes out May at RAF, Ohio Bluegrassers Added to Schedule The Licking County Hot Lix, featuring banjo picker Richard Hood, kick off a 4-day weekend of live music in Fountain on Thursday, May 29. The Hot Lix are all students in the Denison University (located in Licking County, Ohio) bluegrass music program, which is co-directed by Hood. Part of their education, Hood teaches, is a tour through the heart of bluegrass country. This will be the second time he has brought his number one bluegrass band to Fountain. "They've got three bluegrass bands in their program," said Alex Albright, RAF proprietor. "These kids are their best--every traditional, very good." Two solo guitar bluesmen perform Friday and Saturday night--local favorite Lightin' Wells and Frenchman Claude Bourbon. Wells, a Fountain resident, recently returned from a series of gigs in Germany and last weekend was performing in Charleston, SC. Bourbon, who lives in England, is returning to RAF for his third concert in as many years. Sunday's Free-at-3:00 features Wilson native Eric Thomas on guitar and Helen Wolfson on hammered dulcimer, in a concert of folk, Celtic, country, gospel, and pop. -30- June Live Music at Fountain General Store Sun 1 Eric Thomas and Helen Wolfson Free-at-3:00 Wilson native Thomas, on guitar, combines with hammered dulcimer artist Wolfson for a lovely and eclectic afternoon of folk, Celtic, pop, and gospel music. Fri 6 @ Risk 8:00 $5 Classic rock n roll from a garage band comprised of history profs at ECU http://www.gigmasters.com/coverband/@Risk/ Sat 7 Boys from Carolina 8:00 $7.50 Classic and original bluegrass from a Fountain favorite http://www.boysfromcarolina.com/ Sun 8 Linda Ripke with Ronnie King; Barefoot Movement Free-at-3:00 Two shows. Ripke plays plays gospel and country with guitarist king; Barefoot Movement is a quartet of young bluegrassers from Raleigh. Fri 13 Carolina Yellowhammers 8:00 $7.50 Classic bluegrass from a power-picking quartet of eastern Carolina's finest: Lightnin' Wells on guitar, Lane Hollis on fiddle and banjo, Frankie Harrison on mandolin, and John Booker on bass. Sat 14 Steve Creech Septet, with Pat Tutino 7:30 $8 Classic jazz and show tunes from Creech and crew, who always bring out a crowd. http://home.earthlink.net/~cscreech/ Sun 15 Jimmy Aycock Free-at-3:00 Jazz and great early Americana from Fremont's famed pianist, and a Fountain favorite, too. Fri 20 Donald Thompson Band 8:00 $5 Kinston's Thompson, a Fountain favorite as a solo artist, debuts his blues band tonight. http://donthompsonmusic.com/ Sat 21 Travers Chandler & Avery County 8:00 $7.50 Chandler and crew are masters of the rough and eclectic Baltimore barroom style of bluegrass. http://www.averycountybluegrass.com/ Fri 27 Reno Station 8:00 $5 Honky-tonkin' country music band from Clayton makes their first appearance at RAF. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=289027025 Sat 28 Mac and Tammy McRoy Bluegrass Band 8:00 $5 Classic and original bluegrass from these favorite veterans of the eastern Carolina bluegrass scene. http://macandtammy.com/bios.html -30- What You're Reading Each week, RAF sends out a news release to 28 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-