MAY 21, 2009 ISSUE
Diana & Sarvis Ridge Win HayesGrass II Band Competition
After coming in second place during 2008’s inaugural competition, local bluegrass outfit Diana & Sarvis Ridge emerged victorious during last Friday’s HayesGrass II finals. The band celebrated by returning to the stage the following night to open for the Lonesome River Band.After two hot sets of live bluegrass by High Grass and Diana & Sarvis Ridge, a crowd of more than 100 people and two guest judges were asked to determine the winner of HayesGrass II. As fate would have it, the finals of the Hayes Performing Arts Center’s second annual bluegrass band competition came down to a single audience member’s vote.
With the guest judges split in their decision, officials tallied the audience votes, which couldn’t have been any closer. After three rounds of competition, Diana & Sarvis Ridge emerged victorious, receiving 56 votes; just one more than the 55 received by Lenoir’s High Grass.
The victory was particularly sweet for Diana Wilcox and her bandmates, who finished second in last year’s inaugural HayesGrass competition.
“That was as close as you can get. It was very, very cool,” said Wilcox. “I wasn’t really wanting to be second again.”
Wilcox was extremely complimentary of High Grass following the show.
“They were really, really good,” said Wilcox.
Hayes Center Producing Artistic Director Kenneth Kay was thrilled with HayesGrass II, particularly with the final pairing.
“I personally think the finals featured the two best bands in the competition,” said Kay. “They were both very consistent throughout the contest, playing good sets that featured really fine vocals and some astounding musicianship. Plus, both groups had such distinctly different styles that it gave the audience and the judges a real choice.”
As with last year’s competition, there was no rest for the weary following their Friday night victory. On Saturday night, Diana & Sarvis Ridge took the stage at the Hayes Center for the fourth time in less than a month to open for bluegrass legends the Lonesome River Band. For Wilcox and her longtime bandmates Phil Halbedel, Rick Ramseur, Caleb Jackson and Bob Hagadorn, the coveted opening slot was merely icing on the cake.
“That was a lot of fun to play in front of a full house,” Wilcox said. “It was great. You get to pretend you’re a rock star. It was the most fun I’ve had in forever.”
In addition to a few private shows, Diana & Sarvis Ridge will return to the stage for upcoming shows in Boone, Blowing Rock and Newland, as well as the band’s first ever show in Morganton for the town’s CoMMa Back Porch Music Series. As part of their prize for winning HayesGrass, the band will also perform a headlining concert at the Hayes Center later this year.
With the stage lights barely cool from last weekend’s shows, Kay and HayesGrass organizers are already brainstorming for next year’s group of bluegrass hopefuls.
“With the abundance of fine musical talent in the High Country we are already making plans for HayesGrass III,” said Kay.
To hear music by Diana & Sarvis Ridge, click to www.myspace.com/sarvisridge.
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