Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
May 8, 2008 issue
Hayes Center Hosts Bluegrass Legends Lonesome River Band May 17
Winners of the HayesGrass Competition Will Open Show
Story by David Brewer
For more than 25 years, the Lonesome River Band has been a driving force in the bluegrass world on the strength of their tight, powerful harmonies, top-notch instrumental prowess and steady stream of stellar releases. On Saturday, May 17, the band will be back by popular demand at Blowing Rock’s Hayes Performing Arts Center. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.
Formed in 1982, the Lonesome River Band has been a revolving door of incredible bluegrass talent. Well-known alums include Kenny Smith, Don Rigsby, Ron Stewart, Rickie Simpkins, Dan Tyminski, Ronnie Bowman and Lonesome River Band founder, Tim Austin.
The Lonesome River Band currently consists of longtime banjo player Sammy Shelor, Mike Hartgrove on fiddle, Brandon Rickman on lead guitar and vocals, Andy Ball on mandolin and lead vocals, Mike Anglin on bass.
Since 1990, Shelor’s five-string banjo has been one of the band’s key elements. While other members have come and gone, the Virginia native’s playing and leadership have been constants. His peers in the International Bluegrass Music Association have voted him Banjo Player of the Year on four separate occasions. Banjo pickers all over the world have studied Shelor’s tab books and instructional DVD.
According to Shelor, the Lonesome River Band recently completed a new CD and is hoping to release it this summer. The disc will be the ninth since his joining the band and thirteenth overall. Shelor said each infusion of new material into the band helps keep things fresh both on the road and in the studio.
“Any time you learn a new melody, you learn a new way to play your instrument,” said Shelor.
Shelor got an early start with the banjo, when his grandfather fashioned him a banjo from an old pressure cooker lid when Sam was only four years old. By age ten, he was performing in local bands and became a full-time professional musician when he graduated from high school, joining The Heights Of Grass at age 19. That band eventually morphed into The Virginia Squires, and brought Shelor into contact with banjo legend Sonny Osborne, who helped shape the young picker’s approach to working as a pro banjo player.
Shelor had nothing but praise for the Lonesome River Band’s current crop of players. Songs posted on the band’s MySpace page attest to their prowess as one of the best bands in bluegrass.
“We’re having a whole lot of fun,” said Shelor. “We’ve always had great vocalists in the band. The energy is what we’ve tried to sell. It’s traditional bluegrass with a rock n’ roll downbeat.
The winner of the HayesGrass competition will be the opening act for the show. The final round of the competition will be held on Friday, May 16.
Tickets for the Lonesome River Band are $20 for adults and $14 for students, and are available now by calling the Hayes Center box office at 828-295-9627. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.hayescenter.org. Special group rates are also available. Season and Flex Passes can be purchased and used throughout the entire ‘08 season.
Want To Go?
Date: Saturday, May 17
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Hayes Performing Arts Center
Cost: $20 for adults/$14 for students