Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
July 3, 2008 issue
Mountainhome Music Presents Bluegrass & Brass Saturday
“When I was a kid, one Fourth of July I wanted to see if a cherry bomb would go off in water, so I threw one in our family ice cream churn. It worked,” said Joe Shannon, host of the Mountainhome Music Concert Series. “But my biggest surprise came on a Fourth of July many years later. Ten years ago, my father was in the final stages of Alzheimer’s and we took him to a patriotic program, which included a brass band playing the different service anthems. Veterans were asked to stand when their respective anthem was played. My father didn’t know where he was, who he was with or even his own name, but he stood when the Air Force anthem was played and sat when it was over.”
This experience, according to Shannon, was the catalyst for Mountainhome Music’s annual Bluegrass & Brass concert. This Saturday, July 5, at 8:00 p.m. at the Blowing Rock School auditorium, Mountainhome Music will present its ninth annual Bluegrass & Brass: A Salute to Veterans.
The brass band will feature faculty from the ASU Hayes School of Music, including Harold McKinney on trombone, Bill Jones on trumpet, Sarah Storm on trumpet and bagpipes, Chris Watson on tuba and Joe Brown on trombone. Brass band selections will include “America the Beautiful,” “Grand Old Flag,” “In a Sentimental Mood,” “As Time Goes By,” “The Pink Panther,” “Satin Doll,” “Stars and Strips Forever,” and, of course, the service anthems.
The Mountainhome Bluegrass Boys will provide the bluegrass: Steve Lewis on banjo and guitar, Scott Freeman on mandolin and fiddle, and David Johnson on fiddle, guitar and anything else. Steve Lewis is a former National Banjo Champion and MerleFest Guitar Champion. Scott Freeman is a former Henderson Festival Mandolin Champion, and David Johnson has twice been named National Studio Musician of the Year in the field of gospel music. He was also recently inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame.
“At times the brass band will play. At times the Bluegrass Boys will play, and at other times they will occupy the same musical space,” said Shannon. “And when they team up, it’s magic, kind of like Dixieland, but it’s Bluegrass Dixieland with an Appalachian heart.”
Because fireworks are planned for Saturday night, Shannon said a break in the concert will be coordinated with the fireworks.
Tickets are $12.50 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets for college and high school students are $10 at the door only. Purchase tickets at Mast Stores, Rydell Music Center, Pandora’s Mailbox in Blowing Rock, Fred’s Mercantile on Beech Mountain, Blue Moon Guitars in West Jefferson and online at www.mountainhomemusic.com.
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.
For more information, click to the Mountainhome Music website or call 828-964-3392.
Want To Go?
Date: Saturday, July 5
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Blowing Rock School Auditorium
Cost: $12.50 advance/$15 at the door
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