Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
February 21, 2008 issue
Nashville’s Rising Star—Justin David—Comes to Ashe March 6
Story by Celeste von Mangan
Musician Justin David is one of Nashville’s rising country music stars, a singer-songwriter who plays alternative country with acoustic overtones on the guitar, mandolin and fiddle. On Thursday, March 6, David will perform at the Ashe Civic Center beginning at 7:30 p.m.
“The Ashe County Arts Council is pleased to have Justin David in concert at the Ashe Civic Center,” said Jane Lonon, executive director of the council. “This concert promises to be fun, fast-paced, with great vocals and music. Justin is a rising star on the Nashville music scene and we are excited he is making a stop in Ashe County on his North Carolina tour.”
Growing up in southwest Missouri without a record or cassette player, David learned to play the mandolin at age four by listening to his father whistle melodies. In fact, one of his earliest memories is listening to his father whistle a tune in the kitchen, over and over, and then picking out the melody on the mandolin his grandparents gave to him.
After forming the Bertoldie Family Band with his brother, sister and a friend, David toured throughout the Midwest for six years, prior to performing full-time in Branson Missouri with the Braschler Music Show and spending four years on the road with Roy Clark. Clark called David on the phone one day, after the music legend saw David perform. Since that time, David has put together his own tour, acting as manager, producer, agent, artist and caterer.
“That alone gave me the experience in parts of the business I have only dreamed about,” said David.
Having built a solid fan base around the country through performing at numerous gigs and fiddle contests—he twice placed second in the Walnut Valley Mandolin Championship, an event considered to be the national championship of traditional stringed instrument competition—David has played some prestigious venues, including the Grand Ole Opry and Nashville Star where he finished fourth during the 2005 season. People may remember his appearances on the television show when he performed Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” in the first episode and then lasted into the seventh episode, when he was eliminated. The show, however, helped him gain invaluable experience, make contacts and advance his career.
When he isn’t performing select dates with Roy Clark, David tours 200 plus days of the year with his own band. Popular songs in his repertoire are “I’ll Know When I Get There,” “Where Would I Be,” “Don’t Forget About Maggie,” “Finding A Way Back To You,” “Timberlake,” “Don’t Try To Find Me,” “It’s Just Me,” “Get A Life,” “If I Even Say I’m Over You” and “The Journey of Shamus O’Brien.”
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available at the Ashe Arts Center or by calling 336-846-ARTS.
Want To Go?
Date: Thursday, March 6
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Ashe Civic Center
Cost: $10 adults/$5 students