Fountain AfterDark
vol 3, no 42 November 1, 2007
published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe
Lightnin' Wells Saturday, Bluegrass Friday, Rhode Island Folk Singer Tonight for Free
[Fountain, NC] Lightnin' Wells' Saturday night concert headlines the upcoming 3-day weekend of live music at Fountain General Store.
The Wilson-based bluegrass band Whitewater Run makes its Fountain debut on Friday night.
And Becky Chace, named best singer-songwriter in the Providence, Rhode Island area in 2006, performs for free tonight at 7:30.
Lightnin' Wells performs Piedmont blues and a variety of early 20th century music at venues throughout the United States and Europe. "He's our most famous neighbor," said proprietor Alex Albright, "and we're always happy to have him showcasing his internationally renowned talents for his newly adopted home folks."
A Goldsboro native, Wells moved to Fountain last year after spending twenty years living outside Farmville. Although most widely acclaimed as a bluesman, specializing in both Piedmont and delta styles, he also performs classic folk, vaudeville, gospel, country and pop music from the early twentieth century. He has recently added banjo picking to his already considerable talents on guitar, Dobro, ukelele, and harmonica.
Wells is a "consummate entertainer," Albright added, "his shows a lively mix of music styles expertly and professionally presented. No wonder such world-class events as the Port Townsend Blues Festival bring him back every year. He's a legitimate star in the indy music world, and we're fortunate to have him living so close by."
Wells has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe with a veritable who's who of second generation Piedmont blues musicians: Big Boy Henry, Algia Mae Hinton, Etta Baker, John Dee Holeman, Fris Holloway, Drink Small, and Tarboro's George Higgs, among them. "But he's a star in his own right," said Albright, "and tonight is his night to shine: in a listening room setting that always feels right with his acoustic sounds filling it up."
Lightnin' Wells' November 3 concert begins at 7:30; general admission is $5.
Whitewater Run is comprised of four Wilson men who have been picking in Ray Willeford's Wilson garage for over twenty years. Willeford plays guitar and sings lead, Ricky Creech plays bass, Kim Lamm plays mandolin, and Marshall Nutter plays banjo.
The band performs classic bluegrass and bluegrass gospel in traditional style.
Their November 2 concert begins at 7:30; general admission is $5.
Becky Chace performs free tonight as part of a month-long tour to promote her eighth CD, "A River Under Me."
In addition to being named "best singer-songwriter" in the Providence, Rhode Island area in 2006, she also earned "best local roots act" and "best female singer" from Motif magazine. The Phoenix magazine has named her "best female vocalist" five times since 2000.
The Phoenix reviewer said that as a singer she is "as versatile as any woman you'll hear on the ratio today," and she sings with a "bluesy enthusiasm that continues to win new fans far outside her native city of Warwick."
Chace's free show begins at 7:30 tonight.
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Grass Cats, Malpass Brothers Headlne November Live Music at Fountain General Store
1 Th 7:30 Free
Becky Chace
Named in 2006 Best Singer/songwriter in the Providence, R.I., Phoenix Best Music Poll.
2 Fr 7:30 $5
Whitewater Run
Four fellows from Wilson who've been picking trad bluegrass in Ray Willeford's garage for 20 years.
3 Sa 7:30 $5
Lightnin' Wells
Fountain's own blues recording artist is also a consummate performer, as easily at home playing folk, gospel, old-time pop, and vaudeville hokum as the traditional Piedmont and Delta blues he's most noted for. He's added banjo to his already considerable musical talents on guitar, steel resonator guitar, harmonica, and ukelele.
9 Fr 8 p.m. $8
Nancy & Tammy Dail & the Country Roads Band
Eastern Carolina's premier classic country band: excellent musicians and a Branson or Myrtle Beach-style show fronted by the dynamic mother-daughter duo, who share lead singing.
10 Sa 7:30 $7.50
Marshall Stephenson & the Bluegrass Train
Bluegrass impresario and local legend Stephenson always packs the house when his Bluegrass Train appears.
16 Fr 7:30 $7.50
Steve Creech Sextet with Pat Tutino
Greenville's Creech always assembles an excellent band to back up his featured singer. This will be another outstanding night of classic jazz, show tunes, gospel and pop.
17 Sa 7:30 $10, $12.50 reserved
the Grass Cats
NC's premier bluegrass band: their latest CD "Home to Carolina" is in its 9th month on Bluegrass Unlimited's Top 15. Reserved seats highly recommended.
18 Su 3:00 Free
Wilberville
Three generations of bluegrass from the Ball family, with graand-daddy Wil on guitar, sons Mike on bass and guitar and Tom on banjo and mandolin, and grandson Alex on fiddle, guitar, and mandolin.
23 Fr 7:30 $7.50
the Malpass Brothers
RAF may be the best place to see these fellows, for when they're here, they mix in a lot of classic country with their brilliant takes on bluegrass gospel classics. Reserved seats highly recommended.
24 Sa 7:30 $8 general admission, $10,50 reserved
Alvin Smith Tribute to Elvis
Our local Elvis--he's from Elm City --is one of the best on the road today.
25 Su 3:00 Free
Andy Blyth
Original and classic old-time music from this Puget Sound-based traveling veteran who plays banjo, mandolin, guitar and harmonica.
30 Fr 7:30 $8
Russ Varnell & His Too Country Band
Classic honky-tonk country from Elm City's Varnell.
- - -
What You're 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 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 3, no 43 November 8, 2007
published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe
Nancy & Tammy Dail & Country Roads Friday Night - Marshall Stephenson, Bluegrass Train All-Star Band with Les Sandy on Fiddle Saturday - Old-fashioned Fish Fry Precedes Saturday Show
[Fountain, NC] Nancy and Tammy Dail and the Country Roads Band present their Branson-style country music show on Friday night.
Marshall Stephenson and his Bluegrass Train band of all-star pickers return on Saturday night, with an old-fashioned fish fry preceding the concert.
Nancy and Tammy Dail and the Country Roads Band features the dynamic mother-daughter duo who does most of the singing: classic and contemporary country, and classic rock with a country twist. They have also begun to incorporate some originals into their act.
The ladies are backed by one of the tightest bands in eastern NC, with bandleader Bowie Martin on steel guitar, John Ackerman on keyboards, Ken Dawson on drums, Billy Bass on bass, and Ronnie King on lead guitar.
Nancy and Tammy Dail and the Country Roads Band have released two CDs. Their November 9 concert begins at 8 p.m. General admission is $8; reserved seats are $10.
Marshall Stephenson has been playing and promoting bluegrass in eastern NC for over 40 years, and he's been one of our most popular performers since we opened, sometimes with his family band, the Stephenson Brothers and Linda, sometimes with one of his all-star bluegrass bands, which tonight includes another Fountain favorite, Les Sandy, on fiddle; Kenneth Glover on bass; J.K. Godbolt on banjo; and Joe Pessolano on mandolin and tenor vocals.
Tonight marks Joe Pessolano's first time playing RAF; he is a West Virginian now living in Clayton, where Kenneth Glover also resides. Glover has played here with Ted Jones and the Tar Heel Boys, and J.K. Godbolt with Hickory Hill Bluegrass.
Les Sandy learned to play fiddle from Vassar Clements back in 1949, when they were traveling together in a band playing the Tamiami Trail in Florida. After he and Vassar got fired from that band, they parted company. Les headed to Key West, with his brother. Together they became the house band at Sloppy Joe's--where Les often played backgammon with that bar's most famous customer, Ernest Hemingway. But once he'd saved enough money to head back to North Carolina, Les came home, where he soon joined up with Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys.
With Monroe, Sandy played bass on tours and recordings during the mid-1950s, when he was also the hayseed comic Uncle Puny. He's toured and recorded with Jim and Jesse, and as host of a live music t.v. show in Wilmington, he gave young Charlie Daniels one of his first performance dates.
After recording over the years with most of the legends of bluegrass music, Sandy finally put out his own CD, in 2005, with an RAF all-star band that included Frankie Harrison on mandolin and the late Johnnny Batchelor on guitar.
Stephenson has also recently released a 2-CD set and DVD, both taken from a live all-star performance he hosted in Selma earlier this year.
Saturday night's bluegrass show will be preceded by an old-fashioned fish fry prepared by Nelson King. King, who caught all the stripers he'll be cooking, will prepare 50 plates, and they will be ready about 6 p.m. "Be sure to tell folks they'll have bones in," he cautioned. Plates are $6, and include fish, potatoes, slaw, hush puppies (also fried on site by King), and iced tea. Proceeds will benefit the Fountain Presbyterian Church.
Marshall Stephenson and the Bluegrass Train Band perform at 7:30 on November 10. 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 call 252-749-3228.
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- - -
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 3, no 44 November 15, 2007
published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe
The Grass Cats Play Original Chart-Topping Bluegrass Saturday Night - Steve Creech Septet Features Pat Tutino, Les Sutorious Friday - Three Generations of Ball Family from Greenville Perform Free-at-3 on Sunday - December Schedule Announced
{Fountain, NC] The Grass Cats, North Carolina's premier bluegrass band, play Fountain General Store this Saturday night with their hit single "Pill or Potion" still charting--in its 11th month--at number 2 nationally.
But chart-topping success is nothing new for this quintet of pickers led by singer-songwriter Russell Johnson, who has penned most of the band's top 10 singles, including "Bluegrass Man," which hit number 1 in 2003.
"Pill or Potion" is the third song from last year's hit CD "Home to Carolina" to make Bluegrass Unlimited's top ten monthly charts.
"Home" includes a mix of originals and some surprising bluegrass takes on songs such as Pete Townsend's "Let My Love Open the Door" and Robert Cray's "Right Next Door (Such a Strong Persuader)."
Johnson, of Four Oaks, founded the Cats in 1997. Twice nominated as songwriter of the year, he is best known in concert for his stellar mandolin picking and his high lonesome vocals.
Co-founder and banjo picker Tim Woodall is also known in the region as co-host of WQDR's Pinecone Bluegrass Show on Sunday nights. The band's "elder statesman," he has been picking for over 30 years.
Steven Martin, of Burlington, plays lead guitar. As a member of the Churchmen, he also had chart-topping success with "Get on Board," a number one song on the national bluegrass gospel charts.
Snow Hill's Chris Hill plays fiddle. A former member of Al Batten's band, he has also appeared on stage with Mac Wiseman, Ralph Stanley, and the Lewis Family. Lloyd Herring, a student at NC State, plays bass.
The July issue of Bluegrass Unlimited lauded the Cats' latest record--as well as their live performances. "By and large," the reviewer noted, "if you want to see the Grass Cats, you go to North Carolina. Judging by "Home to Carolina," as well as their five previous albums, it's well worth the trip."
"It's our good fortune," added Fountain General proprietor Alex Albright, "that they like playing Fountain--they're eastern Carolina folks, and this always feels like home to them. So we don't have to travel very far to see them at all."
The Grass Cats' November 17 concert begins at 7:30. General admission is $10; reserved seats, which are highly recommended, are $12.50.
The Steve Creech Septet performance on Friday night features vocalist Pat Tution and trumpeter Les Sutorious.
"Steve's been bringing a different featured artist or two out here every six weeks," said Albright. "It's always an excellent show, full of surprises. And it's quite something to see such a sophisticated show in our little crossroads venue."
Joining guitarist Creech will be Dennis McGaughey on tenor sax, Keith Dobbins on bass, Earle Abernethy on drums, and Jim Gilliam on keyboards.
The Steve Creech Septet performs pop standards, jazz classics, gospel and show tunes. Their November 16 concert begins at 7:30 p.m. General admission is $7.50.
Wilberville, three generations of the Ball family, performs bluegrass and country music free at 3:00 on Sunday, November 18. [See accompanying story below.]
The band is centered around granddaddy Wil, retired from ECU's counseling office, on guitar. He is a native West Virginian who brought his love for country, mountain, and bluegrass music with him to Greenville. He is joined in the band by sons Mike on bass and guitar and Tom on banjo and mandolin. Grandson Alex, an ECU sophomore, joins in on fiddle, guitar, and mandolin.
"This will be one of the most fun shows we've ever hosted," said Albright. "Alex is an exciting young talent on fiddle and mandolin especially, he can sing like he's a real old man, and he really loves this material. To see the family he's grown up around, playing with him, will be special."
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.
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PHOTO of the Grass Cats
http://www.grasscats.com/GrassCats_b&w_pic.jpg
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Three Generations of Greenville's Ball Family Perform Country and Bluegrass Sunday in Fountain
[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.
Wilberville's November 18 concert begins at 3:00.
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December Live Music Schedule Announced
Sat 1 7:30 $5 Unshackled
Excellent bluegrass gospel, from Chocowinity
http://www.unshackled.us/index.html
Sun 2 3:00 FREE Melody Brown
Zebulon-based Christian folk singer is a Fountain favorite
http://www.avoice4him.com/
Fri 7 7:30 $5 Farm and Home Bluegrass Band
The Gaddis Brothers, Banjo Bob and and Jim on mandolin, with John Booker on bass: outstanding local pickers.
Sat 8 7:30 $5 Grant Haze Trio
Haze and company perform r&b and jazz, with ECU writing prof Bob Siegel on saxophone
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=10593416
Sun 9 3:00 FREE Our Best to You
Country and gospel classics from a trio of locals making their Fountain debut
Fri 14 7:30 $5 Mike Baker and the Drop Top Cadillacs
Baker covers classic and contemporary hits that showcase his considerable vocal talents--and charm. He's also got an awesome all star band of some of the Wilson area's finest country musicians.
Sun 16 3:00 FREE Mike Hamer, Sue Luddeke and Friends 4th Annual Christmas Concert
One of our favorite--and most popular--shows. Bring a covered dish for after the show.
Thu 20 7:00 FREE Sam Harris and Family's 2nd Annual Fountain Community Christmas Concert
Harris is musical director at Parker's Free WIll Baptist Church, and he's got a very talented family; they moved to town last year, and this show was a big hit in our community. Look for carols played on glasses and a saw, among other musical and comedic treats.
Fri 21 7:30 $7.50 Steve Creech Sextet's Jazzy Christmas Concert, with Jerry Jolley
Greenville guitarist always assembles a fine cast of jazz players and brings along at least a couple of guest singers, too.
http://home.earthlink.net/~cscreech/
Fri 28 7:30 $7.50 Marshall Stephenson and the Bluegrass Train's New Year's Celebration
Our second annual (very) early New Year's celebration with Marshall and his all-star band.
- - -
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 3, no 45 November 20, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe
Malpass Brothers, Elvis Tribute, Old-time Banjo Upcoming at Fountain this Weekend
[Fountain, NC] The Malpass Brothers' Friday night concert headlines the upcoming three-day weekend of live music at Fountain General Store.
Eastern NC's own Elvis tribute artist, Alvin Smith, presents his popular show on Saturday, and Andy Blyth, the Puget Sound-based old-time troubadour, performs free-at-3:00 on Sunday.
From Goldsboro, Chris and Taylor Malpass are one the region's most popular acts. With their father, Chris, on bass, they perform classic bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, and classic country music.
"You can't find a better mix of talent and folksy charm than with these boys," said Alex Albright, Fountain General Store proprietor. "Everybody that's seen them knows that it's just a matter of time before they move on to the next level."
The Malpasses have released 5 CDs, including one with Don Helms, the legendary pedal steel guitarist who performed on most of Hank Williams' hits.
"We sell their CDs from our internet store all over the world," added Albright. "They make great records, but their live performances are really something else. The last time they were here, it was just the three of them, the two boys and their daddy, a sort of un-plugged show, and it was as fine a show as we've had the pleasure of hosting."
The Malpass Brothers' November 23 concert begins at 7:30. General admission is $7.50; reserved seats are $10.
Alvin Smith of Elm City, performs his Elvis tribute show throughout the southeast. His November 24 concert begins at 7:30. General admission is $8.
Banjo Andy as Blyth is known in Seattle, has been performing at festivals in the Northwest for over 30 years. He is a founding member of the nationally award-winning children's music group Tickle Tune Typhoon .
In addition to banjo, Blyth plays guitar, mandolin and harmonica. "This will be a really special show," said Albright. "Andy's playing Fountain because he loved seeing a show here last year when he was visiting family in Tarboro. It's holiday time again, and he's back visiting family, so we're lucky for that local family advantage."
Andy Blyth's free November 25 concert begins at 3 p.m.
- - -
for a high resolution photo of
the Malpass Brothers performing at Fountain General Store:
http://rafountain.com/pictures/Malpass/Malpass2_lg.jpg
- - -
December Live Music Schedule Announced
Sat 1 7:30 $5 Unshackled
Excellent bluegrass gospel, from Chocowinity
http://www.unshackled.us/index.html
Sun 2 3:00 FREE Melody Brown
Zebulon-based Christian folk singer is a Fountain favorite
http://www.avoice4him.com/
Fri 7 7:30 $5 Farm and Home Bluegrass Band
The Gaddis Brothers, Banjo Bob and and Jim on mandolin, with John Booker on bass: outstanding local pickers.
Sat 8 7:30 $5 Grant Haze Trio
Haze and company perform r&b and jazz, with ECU writing prof Bob Siegel on saxophone
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=10593416
Sun 9 3:00 FREE Our Best to You
Country and gospel classics from a trio of locals making their Fountain debut
Fri 14 7:30 $5 Mike Baker and the Drop Top Cadillacs
Baker covers classic and contemporary hits that showcase his considerable vocal talents--and charm. He's also got an awesome all star band of some of the Wilson area's finest country musicians.
Sun 16 3:00 FREE Mike Hamer, Sue Luddeke and Friends 4th Annual Christmas Concert
One of our favorite--and most popular--shows. Bring a covered dish for after the show.
Thu 20 7:00 FREE Sam Harris and Family's 2nd Annual Fountain Community Christmas Concert
Harris is musical director at Parker's Free WIll Baptist Church, and he's got a very talented family; they moved to town last year, and this show was a big hit in our community. Look for carols played on glasses and a saw, among other musical and comedic treats.
Fri 21 7:30 $7.50 Steve Creech Sextet's Jazzy Christmas Concert, with Jerry Jolley
Greenville guitarist always assembles a fine cast of jazz players and brings along at least a couple of guest singers, too.
http://home.earthlink.net/~cscreech/
Fri 28 7:30 $7.50 Marshall Stephenson and the Bluegrass Train's New Year's Celebration
Our second annual (very) early New Year's celebration with Marshall and his all-star band.
- - -
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 3, no 46 November 29, 2007
Christmas Parade Issue
published weekly by R.A. Fountain, General Store & Internet Cafe
Find Out If Russ Varnell Is Too Country Friday, Unshackled Plays Bluegrass Gospel Saturday, Christian Folk Music by Melody Brown Sunday - Fountain Hosts Last Christmas Parade of Year December 15, Free Bluegrass Concert Afterwards - Artists, Craftsmakers Needed - Area Parades Schedule
[Fountain, NC] Russ Varnell and his Too Country Band kick off the upcoming 3-day weekend of live music at Fountain General Store.
Unshackled plays bluegrass gospel on Saturday night, and Melody Brown sings gospel and original Christian-themed ballads on Sunday afternoon.
Varnell, of Black Creek, fronts an all-star band that on Friday includes Tim Tyner on pedal steel guitar and Carroll Wade on bass, as well as regulars Chris Hagen on guitar and Roger Gilmore on drums.
Tyner also plays dobro with the Marlboro Boys, and Wade plays bass with the Super Grit Cowboy Band. Joy Williams will sing several songs, both solos and in duets with Varnell.
Varnell and crew play traditional and honky tonk country music, covering artists such as Buck Owens, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Hank William, Sr., and Ernest Tubb.
Russ Varnell and the Too Country Band's November 30 concert begins at 8 p.m. General admission is $8.
Unshackled has been performing traditional and original bluegrass gospel throughout eastern North Carolina since 2002.
Bassist Warren Blackard, a Mt. Airy native, lives in Chocowinity.
Marvin Walker, from Hiddenite, has lived in Kinston since 1988. He makes the banjos that he plays, and has also made mini-banjos for Ricky Skaggs, Little Roy Lewis, Al Batten, and the Grass Cats' Chris Hill.
Elton Ipock, from Washington, plays mandolin, and Preston Norman of Blounts Creek plays rhythm guitar. Everybody in the band takes a turn at lead singing and joins in on harmony.
Unshackled's December 1 concert begins at 7:30 p.m. General admission is $5.
Melody Brown from Zebulon, performs original and classic folk and traditional gospel songs. She has released two CDs.
Brown's December 2 concert is part of Fountain General's Free-at-3 series that runs on Sundays through December 16. Our Best to You plays country and gospel music on December 9. Mike Hamer and Sue Luddeke and Friends present their fourth annual Christmas concert on December 16.
- - -
Photos
photo of Russ Varnell performing at Fountain General Store
http://rafountain.com/pictures/Varnell/RussVarnell_Jan06.jpg
High resolution photo of Melody Brown performing at Fountain General Store:
http://rafountain.com/pictures/MelodyBrown/MelodyBrown2_lg.jpg
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Last Christmas Parade of Year in Fountain Dec. 15 at 3:00 - Artists, Craftsmakers Needed - Area Parades Schedule
[Fountain, NC] The Town of Fountain will host its first Christmas parade since 1989 on Saturday, December 15, at 3 p.m.
Over 30 units are scheduled to appear in the parade, with a route that takes it through the middle of town's 1-block business district.
Parade organizer Benji Holloman reports that two high school band--Farmville Central and Southwest Edgecombe--and two Shriner units will participate. Fountain General Store's float will feature a bluegrass pickers Alex Ball and friends, who will also perform for free immediately after the parade.
Space is still available in the parade. Interested participants should contact Holliman, proprietor of Fountain Variety Store, at 252-7491003 or by e.mail at "ben_holloman@yahoo.com", by November 30. There is no charge for parade participants.
Artists and craftsmakers are also welcome to set up shop for the day at the old Smith-Yelverton building at the corner of US 258 and NC 222: inside, in front, beside and behind it underneath its picnic shelter. Only locally made arts and crafts will be allowed. Interested craftsmakers should reserve space by contacting Alex Albright, proprietor of Fountain General Store, at 749-3228 or via e.mail at "alex@rafountain.com".
Fountain's will be the last Christmas parade in the area until 2008.
Area (and beyond) Christmas Parade Schedule
Nov 30
Atlantic Beach 7 p.m.
Dec 1
Currituck 10 a.m.
Roper 1 p.m.
Bailey 2 p.m.
Hertford 2 p.m.
Goldsboro 4 p.m.
Wilson 4 p.m.
Nashville 4 p.m.
Morehead City to Beaufort Christmas flotilla 5:30
Dec 2
Bethel 2 p.m.
Rocky Mount 3 p.m.
Murrell's Inlet, SC 4 p.m.
Topsail Beach 4 p.m.
New Bern 5:30
Dec 3
Charleston, SC 2 p.m.
Newport 3 p.m.
Snow Hill 7 p.m.
Dec 7
Creswell 4 p.m.
Oriental 5:30 p.m.
Dec 8
Kinston 10 a.m.
Bethel 11 a.m.
Edenton 11 a.m.
Morehead City 11 a.m.
Farmville 10:30 a.m.
Winterville 2 p.m.
Lagrange 4 p.m.
Grifton 4 p.m.
Dec 9
Tarboro 2 p.m.
Dec 15
Ayden 11 a.m.
Fountain 3 p.m.
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December Live Music Schedule
Sat 1 7:30 $5 Unshackled
Excellent bluegrass gospel, from Chocowinity
http://www.unshackled.us/index.html
Sun 2 3:00 FREE Melody Brown
Zebulon-based Christian folk singer is a Fountain favorite
http://www.avoice4him.com/
Fri 7 7:30 $5 Farm and Home Bluegrass Band
The Gaddis Brothers, Banjo Bob and and Jim on mandolin, with John Booker on bass: outstanding local pickers.
Sat 8 7:30 $5 Grant Haze Trio
Haze and company perform r&b and jazz, with ECU writing prof Bob Siegel on saxophone
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=10593416
Sun 9 3:00 FREE Our Best to You
Country and gospel classics from a trio of locals making their Fountain debut
Fri 14 7:30 $5 Mike Baker and the Drop Top Cadillacs
Baker covers classic and contemporary hits that showcase his considerable vocal talents--and charm. He's also got an awesome all star band of some of the Wilson area's finest country musicians.
Sat 15 3:30 FREE Alex Ball's bringing a banjo picking buddy to town with him for a free show that'll start as soon as we can get them picking after our town's Christmas parade, which begins at 3 p.m.
Sun 16 3:00 FREE Mike Hamer, Sue Luddeke and Friends 4th Annual Christmas Concert
One of our favorite--and most popular--shows. Bring a covered dish for after the show.
Thu 20 7:00 FREE Sam Harris and Family's 2nd Annual Fountain Community Christmas Concert, with special guests Aileen Higgins and Lightnin' Wells
Harris is musical director at Parker's Free WIll Baptist Church, and he's got a very talented family; they moved to town last year, and this show was a big hit in our community. Look for carols played on glasses and a saw, among other musical and comedic treats. Aileen, pianist for Fountain Presbyterian, teams up with local hero Lightnin' for some sing-alongs as well as a few special Christmas treats.
Fri 21 7:30 $7.50 Steve Creech Sextet's Jazzy Christmas Concert, with Jerry Jolley
Greenville guitarist always assembles a fine cast of jazz players and brings along at least a couple of guest singers, too.
http://home.earthlink.net/~cscreech/
Fri 28 7:30 $7.50 Marshall Stephenson and the Bluegrass Train's New Year's Celebration
Our second annual (very) early New Year's celebration with Marshall and his all-star band.
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