We are pleased to announce the lineup for the 2018 Summer Concerts. Some tried and true favorites are returning and we have a few new additions this year. We hope to see you at one or all the concerts. Bring your friends and family and enjoy some great bluegrass music!
The concerts are held May through August on the second and fourth Saturdays. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the music starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $5, children under 12 are free. Hot dog and barbecue sandwich plates, homemade cobbler, ice cream and root beer floats will be available for purchase.
The center is a non-profit, and all proceeds from the concerts and facility rentals are for maintenance and upkeep of the building.
The Brasstown Community Civic Center is proud to be a part of the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina. Visit BlueRidgeMusicNC.com to find festivals, concerts, jam sessions, and plenty of singing and dancing to the Traditional Music of Western North Carolina.
May 12, 2018 – Carolina Bluegrass Boys
The Carolina Bluegrass Boys is a group originating in the mountains of Western North Carolina and North Georgia. The group has been playing music around North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama for about 20 years. The members include Oliver Farley (guitar), Jerry Hensley (fiddle), Jimmy Wilson (mandolin), Daniel Wilson (bass), and Bill Pruett (banjo).
The band plays traditional bluegrass, clogging and square dance music. They consider their music to be “good time”, happy music and of course a few sad songs. The highlight of heir musical careers is he many friends they have made. And after all these years, the band members also remain close friends!
Photo from left to right: Daniel Wilson, Bill Pruett, Oliver Farley, Jimmy Wilson, and Jerry Hensley
May 26, 2018 – Brush Fire
Brush Fire started as a band over 40 years ago. Their strong vocals and instrumental work, enthusiastic performances and varied repertoire keeps creating demand for their brand of bluegrass music. Mike Fleming has played guitar with the group since it’s inception. He also contributes lead and harmony vocals and, by default, serves as emcee for the stage shows.
Eddie “Dumplin” Turner is a founding member and adds to the group with strong lead and tenor vocals as well as his mandolin work. Kerry Warbington joined the group in 1989 on banjo and vocal harmonies. He is well known in the bluegrass community as an exceptional banjo player and has performed with numerous groups over his career. The newest member of the group is Hiawassee resident Robert Brewer who has played bluegrass around North Georgia for the past 26 years. He plays guitar and mandolin as well as upright bass.
Photo from left to right: Scott Ferguson, Eddie “Dumplin” Turner, Kerry Warbington, Robert Brewer and Mike Fleming
June 9, 2018 – Raven & Red
Raven and Red is a Contemporary Folk-Americana group whose music is acclaimed as “very entertaining with warm melodies and even a slight commercial edge,” (Country Music People Magazine). Now based in Nashville, the group is comprised of three classically trained musicians: Brittany Lynn Jones and brothers Mitchell Lane and Cole King. Their vocal harmonies are gorgeous, and so are their melodies and violin-, banjolin-, and mandolin-spiced instrumentation.
Raven and Red creates music “with heart, soul, abandon, and great care”. The group has joined the lineup for the 2018 Dailey & Vincent LandFest in the Mountains, held at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee, GA, but you can hear them here first!
Photo from left to right: Cole King, Brittany Jones, Mitchell Lane
June 23, 2018 – Chuck Nation’s Band
They made their Carnegie Hall debut performance in New York City in 2015. In 2016 they performed in concert at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN and were nominees for 2016 Georgia Music Awards for Americana/Bluegrass artist of the year. They have toured in Canada, Europe and Asia as well. It is always a pleasure to welcome them in Brasstown.
In addition to his singing and songwriting skills, Chuck Nation is equally skilled at playing fiddle, banjo, mandolin and guitar. Susan Nation (vocals/acoustic bass), is an acclaimed singer and songwriter who has performed Bluegrass around the world. Her singing and her solid bass playing skills provide a firm foundation to the band.
Libby Nation (vocals/guitar/mandolin/piano), sings and plays many instruments equally well. She teaches private music lessons to a full schedule of students in Atlanta, Alpharetta, and Gainesville, GA. Jody Hughes (banjo/guitar), is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist from Canton, GA. He has performed bluegrass, solo jazz guitar, and popular music in various ensembles throughout the Southeast.
Photo from left to right: Chuck Nation, Susan Nation, Libby Nation and Jodi Hughes
July 14, 2018 – The Wilsons
We all know and love this local family that have played bluegrass and gospel music for us and countless other groups, festivals, community gatherings and churches.
The group consists of Jimmy Wilson, (guitar/voice), son David (bass/voice), daughters Jessica (mandolin/voice) and Anna (guitar/voice). They are joined on stage by their friend Bill Pruett (banjo) from Robinsville, NC.
Photo from left to right: Anna, Jessica, Daniel and Jimmy Wilson
July 28, 2018 – Jonah Riddle and the Carolina Express
From the hills of Western North Carolina, two brothers set out to show the world their brand of bluegrass music. Jonah and Grayson grew up playing gospel bluegrass in their church services. From the very beginning they clung to the roots of the music, something that many young pickers tend to overlook. The love for the music pushed Jonah to start his own band, Jonah Riddle and Carolina Express.
Jonah plays a style of banjo that is quickly fading away in today’s business. You can easily hear the Stanley, Scruggs, and Osborne influences in his sound, the sounds of the pioneers! Grayson is on guitar and does all of the group’s lead singing. His style of guitar playing has a strong, steady rhythm, full of all the runs that helps make bluegrass what it is! Their father, Benjie, holds down upright bass duties for the band.
Photo from left to right: Jonah, Benjie and Grayson Riddle
Aug 11, 2018 – Third Degree
Third Degree is proud to carry on the bluegrass tradition. The band delivers to the audience a mix of bluegrass, gospel and country music seasoned with some old time fiddle tunes. Band members all have their families, jobs and hobbies but through their love for music share a close friendship that the audience can feel as they perform.
Not to tell anyone’s age, but most of these guys have been picking since they were young lads over forty years ago. They may pick for the fun of it but each member takes their music seriously. If you enjoy the dance floor, you will want to wear your dancing shoes as these guys give the cloggers and dancers a fierce work out!
Band members (from left to right) consist of: Tim Painter (bass), Tyler Ritchie (guitar), Greg Brooks (fiddle), Larry Rapier (mandolin) and Dewayne Smith (banjo).
Aug 25, 2018 – Just Us
Just Us will perform at the last concert of the Summer Series at the Brasstown Community Center on Saturday, August 25th 2018.
Just Us Bluegrass Band is an exciting band based out of East TN. The band was formed in 2006 and features a unique blend of bluegrass, country and contemporary bluegrass. The band prides itself with strong vocals, tight harmonies and solid picking.
Band members (from left to right): Blake Atkins, Stacy Wilson, Teresa Wilson and Brent Womac
Stacy Wilson plays guitar and sings lead. He is also an accomplished banjo, mandolin and bass player. Teresa Wilson plays bass and sings tenor. She is also married to Stacy and has become his finest accomplished bluegrass student. Blake Atkins is Stacy and Teresa’s son and he plays banjo and sings harmony vocals. He started playing bass at 13 and joined the band in 2009 playing rhythm guitar and singing harmony vocals. Brent Womac is the newest member the band and plays lead guitar. Brent comes from a blues background and can play any style of music well.
