May 29, 2008 issue
Mountainhome Music Mountain Voices and Strings Concert Saturday
Like spring water flowing from a rocky mountainside, the music of the ancient Irish and Scots gently rises up from these Blue Ridge hills. It’s like the music never leaves: from generation to generation, echoes of the past touch the present. So it will be at this week’s edition of the Mountainhome Music concert series that will feature two family groups who are well known purveyors of traditional Appalachian music. The Mountain Voices and Strings concert will be at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium on Saturday, May 31, and will start at 8:00 p.m.
Steve and Ruth Smith sing traditional Scots-Irish ballads. They are also suburb instrumentalists. Ruth plays the mountain and hammer dulcimer, Steve is a fingerpicking-style guitarist. They have been performing together for more than 30 years, throughout the United States and around the world.
Their first CD release, An Appalachian Aire, gained national attention and significant airplay during 2006, most notably being chosen by XM satellite radio as “The Best Music This Week on XM.” Songs from their CD are played daily on Direct TV music channels and on major airlines coast to coast. The title song, written by Ruth, was featured on National Public Radio’s online show All Songs Considered.
Randy and Deborah Jean Sheets sing and play old-time music. These two longtime musicians have been performing together for the past 25 years. They have roots in Grayson County, Va. but now live in the Bethel community of Watauga County. Steeped in the folk and old-time traditions, Deborah Jean plays guitar and sings. Randy, a claw hammer banjo picker, is a devotee of old-time string band music. He is also an award-winning flatfoot dancer and performs regularly at the Blue Ridge Music Center, along with his 85-year-old mother. This husband and wife team played for the inaugural season at the Blue Ridge Music Center at Fishers Peak along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Galax, Va. They were asked in 2004 to appear as part of the Carter Family Band at the National Heritage Awards.
Randy and Deborah Jean Sheets have also represented the Appalachian region at the Kenney Center for the Performing Arts.
The purpose of Mountainhome Music is to honor the music and musicians of the Appalachian region. It is affiliated with the Blue Ridge Music Trails, a project of the North Carolina Arts Council.
Tickets are $12.50 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets for college and high school students are $10 at the door only. Tickets are available at Mast Stores, Rydell Music Center, Pandora’s Mailbox in Blowing Rock, Fred’s Mercantile on Beech Mountain and Blue Moon Guitars in West Jefferson. Tickets are also available online at www.mountainhomemusic.com.
For more information, click to the Mountainhome Music website or call 828-964-3392.
Want To Go?
Date: Saturday, May 31
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Blowing Rock School Auditorium
Cost: $12.50 advance/$15 at the door/$10 for college and high school students
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