Flat Rock Wine Shoppe

	Music The Back Room Please scroll down to see and hear the bands that are coming up in the next few weeks.
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	Thursday, July 2 8:30pm Charles Wood and the Lonesome Road Band "Great acoustic music" is the statement that best describes the music of The Lonesome Road Band. Using the traditional tools of bluegrass in creating their music, to categorize them strictly as bluegrass would be a misrepresentation. Their repertoire consists of everything from Bill Monroe's "My Sweet Blue Eyed Darlin'" to the Moody Blues' "Nights In White Satin". The group's haunting, bluegrass inspired harmonies stir the souls of even the most mundane listeners. Their approach to the music they perform is undeniably top shelf. The vocals are up front with lead and supporting harmonies weaving effortlessly. Their vocals blend so well that it is difficult to tell who is singing each part. www.lonesomeroadband.com www.charleswoodbanjo.com

	Friday, July 3 9:00pm Singer-Songwriter in the Round Dave Desmelik Woody Wood Cary Fridley Dave Desmelik has established himself as an accomplished and rising singer/songwriter whose music might best be described as Americana or Alt/Country. Drawing upon influences from country to bluegrass to blues to rock n’ roll, Desmelik writes and performs a unique blend of songs. Dave has released five independent CDs, “Move On” (1998), “Have Another” (2001), “Afterthoughts” (2003), “When Your Eyes Are Closed” (2005), and “Unheard Of” (2007). Dave returned to his southeastern roots in 2003, and is currently living in western North Carolina, where he has been performing regionally as a solo artist and with his band. At the present time, Dave Desmelik continues to write songs and play music that is consistent and identifiable to his growing fan base. Some Career Highlights and Awards -“Unheard Of” voted #16 best new regional release of 2007 by the listeners of WNCW. -“Unheard Of” reached #16 on the EuroAmericana chart for June 2007. “An unpretentious approach to songwriting and performance, gritty and generic without being predictable, Desmelik’s songs show an excellent range.” –americana-uk.com www.davedesmelik.com Woody Wood: Aaron “Woody” Wood may be a legend. The skinny white boy from the mountains of Western North Carolina carries around more soul in his restless bones and battered guitar than most of us ever dream of. With a background as diverse as his music, Woody converges elements from all walks of life to present music that contains a sense of familiarity like no other. His songs are stories that are delivered as if he was giving his first account and confession of the subject matter. When he sings he SPEAKS to you,not at you. “I think the most important thing is that you have to be completely honest in your music,” Wood says.And he bears it evidently and without shame. As he got older his appreciation of music grew to much wider horizons. Soul, R&B, blues, folk, rock, jazz and world music now started to blend with the sounds of his childhood. "...most likely to single-handedly tear down what seems to be like a hundred years of accumulated rock pomposity." Woody delivers his music with all the soul, power, and energy that have made him renowned as a musician’s musician, sets the stage and then proceeds to burn it down with original material that breathes a new fire of of passion and honesty." www.woodywoodmusic.com Cary Fridley: Cary Fridley’s powerful vocals soar on an all-star group featuring honky-tonk guitar, bluesy pedal-steel and hot Appalachian fiddle stylings. The music shows true love for Southern music – black and white, rural and urban, mountain and Mississippi delta – and the notable ability to tie it all together. Cary's singing evokes centuries of Southern voices from Memphis Minnie to Maybelle Carter, breathing new life into the music of her Southern background. www.myspace.com/caryfridley

	Saturday, July 4 9:00pm The Pond Brothers Imagine if Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs had been blood brothers and traveled around the world together. The Pond Brothers, George and Andy, are drawing on the taproots of bluegrass and adding elements of world music to create a fresh sound self-dubbed ‘Bluegrasstafari’ in 2002. Strumming love songs, traditional Americana, originals and unexpected covers like 'Jah Is Always There' by dancehall star Warrior Mystic, The Pond Bros stand firm in their commitment to world peace through art and music. The Pond Brothers hail from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Ashevile, NC. It's the same town where Robert Moog developed and manufactured his industry changing synthesizers. George and Andy are proudly sponsored by Moog Music and deftly utilize the spectrum analysis and frequency modulation to put a little science up in their folk music. The Pond Brothers have been playing all around the United States and Internationally for the past twelve years. They make up a core of the groups Snake Oil Medicine Show and CX-1, and are in numerous groups across the southeast. They have shared the stage with such heros as Roy ‘Futureman’ Wooten, Joe Craven, Vassar Clements, Yonder Mountain String Band, Little Feat, Peter Rowan, Tony Rice, The Overtakers, Baby Gramps, The Everyone Orchestra and Larry Keel...to name a few. Oh, What sweet harmonies come from a lifetime of musical communication! Powerful vocal harmonies and firey-fast finger picking, The Pond Brothers shine brotherly love on their mesmerized listeners. It's hard to imagine how anyone could sing with such big smiles! www.thepondbrothers.com

	Tuesday, July 7 6:30pm Jeff Michels JEFF MICHELS was born in the apple country of NY State, and has been writing songs for over thirty years. Heavily influenced by the “we can change the world” generation, Jeff’s songs portray both problems and solutions for a pessimistic world. Having lived and played in Frederick Maryland, Sacramento, California, Staunton, Virgina, and Seattle, Washington, he now resides in western North Carolina with three growing children and wife of 20 years. Musical influences include John Prine, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, David Bowie and Randy Stonehill. Hobbies include flyfishing for wild trout and good microbrews.

	Wednesday, July 8 8:30pm Open Mic hosted by Heath

	Thursday, July 9 8:30pm Taylor Martin and Special Guests By its nature, a recording is a snapshot. A document that captures for posterity a fleeting moment that otherwise would be allowed to pass us by without notice. These days the popular fashion is to use this ephemeral nature as an excuse for disposability. Songs with gloss and sparkle on the surface and no heart beneath permeate today’s radio dial. By rejecting the fickle demands of synthetic fashion and focusing on what lies below the surface, Taylor Martin brings you music with a beating heart. Sparse, gritty, real and powerful, Engine is filled with music born of genuine experience painted true and honest with raw and uncommon sincerity. This is music as it should be. Simple music that expresses the difficult and complicated nature of human interaction with a candid and unflinching sense of reality that makes this record a valuable and shining example of what is right in American music today. http://www.myspace.com/taylormartinsmusic

	Friday, July 10 9:00pm The Honeycutters The product of too much black coffee and not enough hugs, the Honeycutters (formerly the Bee's Knees) came together in the Spring of 2007. Since their first live performance at the Westville Pub in May of 07, when the band included only singer/songwriter Amanda Anne Platt and lead guitarist Peter James, they have steadily gained momentum, audience, and band members. Spencer Taylor (Mandolin), Ian Harrod (bass), and Mike Lott (drums) have been added to the mix, fleshing out the live sound and turning Amanda's soulful tunes into great dance numbers. With the release of their first studio album, "Irene", the group has begun to expand their listening area to the greater Southeast. Their original americana, ranging from country ballads to honky-a-billy and blues, is a memorable blend of catchy melody, skillful composition, and honest songwriting. www.myspace.com/thehoneycutters

	Saturday, July 11 9:00pm Jazz the Ripper We are a young band from Asheville, North Carolina, creating our own style of music. The oldest band member is 17. We are making our music while at the same time, following the lead of the great Jazz artists and Funk bands before us such as: Tower of Power, Earth Wind and Fire, Galactic, Herbie Hancock, and James Brown. What sets us aside from many other bands, is that the majority of our music is original. JTR started out in the fall of 2007 as a jam band. We played together a few months and wrote a song or two. A few band members came and went, but we got serious when Will and James joined the band. We wrote some songs, learned some covers, and played a few gigs around Asheville, trying out our "style". As we wrote more of our own material, each one of us contributing to every song, we began to realize our potential, and that with our combined efforts, we could create a new and unique jazz/funk fusion sound. www.myspace.com/jazztheripper www.myspace.com/jazztharipper www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.asp?epk_id=128168

	Tuesday, July 14 6:30pm Damian LeMaster Damian LeMaster is an emerging singer/songwriter making his first solo appearance at The Back Room. Born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, transplanted to the Sonoran Desert of Tucson, Arizona, Damian now finds his home in the mountains of western North Carolina. Currently keyboardist/vocalist in two active bands, WiLSiN & Consciously Sedated, Damian brings a wide range of musical abilities to his energetic solo performances. www.myspace.com/damianlemaster

	Wednesday, July 15 8:30pm Open Mic hosted by Tony

	Thursday, July 16 8:30pm Silver Dagger Ashleigh Caudill: Bass and vocals Matt Purinton: Mandolin and vocals Grace Van't Hof: Banjo and vocals Ricky Cooper: Guitar and vocals Soon to be a recognized act in today's roots music scene, Silver Dagger brings together young and energetic talent from the country's leading music programs. Alumni of East Tennesee State's acclaimed bluegrass program, Grace Van't Hof and Ricky Cooper, Berklee alumnus, Ashleigh Caudill, and national touring veteran, Matt Purinton work a stage like old hands. Weaving in and out of their solos and vocal harmonies, the group rivals seasoned artists many years their senior. Their different backgrounds and four home states influence their unique instrumental styles. 2009 marks Silver Dagger's first complete touring season.. The group's clever originals and covers of bluegrass favorites are sure to captivate any audience! http://www.myspace.com/silverdaggerbluegrass

	Friday, July 17 9:00pm Donna Hughes "In whatever musical context she chooses, Donna has the potential to go as far as she wants. The idea of producing this album intrigued me, because Donna is unique enough as a writer and performer to establish herself as a distinctive voice both within today’s bluegrass scene and beyond it. I truly believe this album is going to amaze everybody, regardless what category or genre they want to fit it into. As we were recording, I remember telling her, 'This album will be your calling card, and will open doors for you that you cannot imagine.' I believed that then, and now, as I listen to her new album, I believe it more than ever. Donna is very personable with her tunes – she writes from the soul. As a performer, she has many avenues.

	Saturday, July 18 9:00pm Lance Mills Lance Mills, Wore Out Shoes Award winning, North Carolina songwriter, Lance Mills has released his highly anticipated, ground breaking new album. Lance is a coveted writer and performer in North Carolina and has had his songs recorded by a who’s who of rising starts in Roots, Country and Bluegrass music including The Steep Canyon Rangers, Songs From the Road Band, The Biscuit Burners and Town Mountain just to name a few. With this project, Wore Out Shoes, Lance brings you the result of one of today’s leading writers and singers collaborating with some of the finest musicians in the genre. It is a collection of original songs with styles ranging from gritty Country Blues to Appalachian style ballads, from traditional Bluegrass to original Southern Rock. The recording process was one that enabled Lance to have his community of musicians be a part of this special release. Performers on the album include members of North Carolina groups like The Greasy Beans, The Grit Pixies, The Eliza Lynn Band, County Farm, Jim and Jenny and the Pinetops, Fifth House, Shannon Whitworth Band and more. These talented folks have come together in support of Lance and his songs that are stories of real life; heartache and hope, pleasure and pain, and struggle and survival, each one unique with an authentic sincerity. Enjoy! www.myspace.com/lancemills

	Tuesday, July 21 6:30pm Woody Pines "How many artists, besides the late Johnny Cash, open with a prison song? Roots and blues musician Woody Pines probably found himself in an exclusive club when he started off a recent Orange Peel set with the song “99 Years.” The thing about Pines (whose band borrows its front man’s stage name) is that he’s such a consummate player, such an upbeat personality, that not only can he get away with such a stunt, he can turn the concept of hard time into party time. (All things considered, that style could well be prime for a resurgence.) Pines, when he’s not logging tour miles (and he tours near-constantly: His MySpace page boasts that “He left home with his guitar on his back and made it through 49 states before he was 19.") can often be found playing on the streets in New Orleans. He brings that low-key street corner style of performance to his stage show, but with all the polish and seasoned professionalism of a tour-bus-and-green-room rock stardom. www.myspace.com/woodypines

	Wednesday, July 22 8:30pm Open Mic hosted by Joel

	Thursday, July 23 8:30pm Red June Red June is a musical collaboration from Asheville, NC. It brings together three contrasting but complementary musicians in a beautifully distilled form. Will Straughan performed with the Emma Gibbs Band from 1996 to 2004 and is a talented multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and singer with an instantly recognizable vocal style and approach. He is a sought after session player and currently works with Eliza Lynn and Lance Mills, among others. John Cloyd Miller is a versatile singer/songwriter as well, concentrating largely on bluegrass music for the past several years in the band Lo-Fi Breakdown. His vocal and instrumental style is soulful and genuine with an unmistakably authentic old-time flavor. Natalya Weinstein plays almost any style of fiddle or violin and is a solid harmony singer. Over the past few years she has performed regularly with Polecat Creek and Lo-Fi Breakdown, has recorded on several albums, and is an accomplished instructor in the Asheville area. The trio began performing together in The Will Band in 2005 once or twice a year as schedules allowed. With the desire to make more time for a project, Will, Natalya and John started rehearsing again in late 2008 and soon coalesced into the current ensemble, Red June. As a vehicle for Will and John's original music as well as songs we all know and love, Red June is looking forward to some great performances in 2009 and beyond. www.myspace.com/redjunemusic

	Friday, July 24 9:00pm Shane Pruitt Band In today's ever expanding market of musicians and musical acts, finding true roots music built on heritage and yet staying original becomes harder and harder to find. Herein lies the foundation for one of the most explosive blues acts coming out of the Southeast today, the Shane Pruitt Band.??Lead man Shane Pruitt hails from Spartanburg, SC, where the musical roots of the blues and southern rock have been living and breathing for years on end. Birthing such musical talents and styles like those of Toy Caldwell and The Marshall Tucker Band, David Ball, Champ Hood, Walter Hyatt, and many others, Spartanburg has named Shane Pruitt its “Instrumentalist of the Year” for seven years and running. Living and breathing the blues and gospel, The Shane Pruitt Band embodies a regional tradition while bringing its original tone and flare to every performance.??Finding itself ever-searching in musical traditions between Delta Blues, Gospel, and Southern Rock, The Shane Pruitt Band embraces in the Jam Band traditions of improvisation and an ever-evolving musical experience. Picking up momentum with every performance, Shane Pruitt and his trio are driving towards uncharted waters while wowing critics everywhere they play. Coming off of the new, self-titled release "The Shane Pruitt Band", the band has made friends and colleagues across the board with their soulful sound. Having shared the stage with such greats as Johnny Winter, Junior Brown, Chuck Raney, Victor Wooten, Galactic, Papa Mali, The Neville Brothers and many, many more, Shane Pruitt is a name to be known amongst the insiders of the southern music scene. The members share their own place in music history as well. Hammond B3 player and vocalist Lil' Jimmy Peterman is a founding member of the Steve Miller Band (1967-1969), having also been a founding member of the Steve Miller Blues Band (featuring Steve Miller and Bozz Scaggs' original colaboration). Shane's prior colaboration, Flat Front Tire, was also a fixture in small club touring throughout the late 90's and early milleneum. www.theshanepruittband.com www.myspace.com/shanepruitt

	Saturday, July 25 9:00pm WSNB WSNB is giving new life to an old style. WSNB is rock solid blues, sometimes heavy rock'n'roll. The music has a Delta blues feel with Willie Shane's growling voice hitting you all the way from his native Mississippi. His harmonica style is unique and the combination of his harp and Nathan's slide work is a breath of fresh air. Nathan's range of skill, dynamics and taste, sets him apart from many of today's guitar players. The hard driving rhythm section of Jason & Clay is steady and persistent, like pistons of a big block engine. The lyrics are intellegent, sometimes witty...covering subjects from lust, love, and insanity to Hurricane Katrina and the war in Iraq. WSNB's unique lyrics and homespun style of music is straight from soul goodness. Like a train coming through your front door, WSNB will make your hips shake, your feet move, & your big toe jump up in yo' boot! Check out the debut CD... JOMO SWAMP ROOT BOOGIE... it has blues dripping from every track...it's nasty. www.wsnbmusic.com

	Tuesday, July 28 6:30pm Rock Killough CD Release Party Rock was playing in a lounge in Bradenton, Florida where he was discovered in 1976 by the legendary songwriter, Hank Cochran. Hank took Rock to Nashville and helped get him immediately signed as a staff writer at Tree Publishing Co. If you ask Rock what he does, he replies that he is a songwriter/singer. He will also tell you that these two are much like apples and oranges. So, for clarity we will take them separately. As a songwriter, Rock has songs on gold albums by The Oak Ridge Boys (2), Hank, Jr., Sammy Kershaw (3), and songs on platinum albums by Hank, Jr. and Sammy Kershaw. Other artists who have recorded his songs are: Johnny Rodriguez (top 10 single), Brenda Lee (top 20 single), Jerry Jeff Walker, Jeannie Seely, Mickey Newbury, Carole King, Waylon, Jeannie Pruett, Jerry Reed, Marty Raybon, 4-Runner, and Randy Travis who released Rock’s “Where Can I Surrender” as a single in January, 2000. Rock doesn’t speak much of his musicianship, but he has played guitar, harmonica, or done background vocals with Hank, Jr., Merle Haggard, Mickey Newbury, Whitey Shafer, Jeannie Pruett, Hank Snow, Jack Green and Jeannie Seely, and numerous others. He also put a band together for his friend and mentor, Hank Cochran, and together, they opened shows for Willie Nelson’s summer and fall tour of 1980. During this time, Rock appeared on the precedent-setting first Songwriter’s Special on “Austin City Limits”. Actually, two episodes were made from this appearance which featured songwriters: Floyd Tillman, Sonny Throckmorton, Hank Cochran, Red Lane, Willie Nelson, and Whitey Shafer, all of whom are now in The Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. As a result of these experiences he produced an album on Hank which was released through Elektra Records. He also produced the musical soundtrack for the movie “Ruckus” which was a forerunner of, and covered somewhat the same subject matter as the first Rambo movie. The soundtrack featured Rock’s friend, Janie Fricke singing Hank and Willie songs. His first project as a singer was “Killough and Eckley”, a duet album with his friend, Dan Eckley, which was released in 1977 on the Epic Label. Next came a solo effort, “Highway 31” for Elektra. The great Don Gant produced both projects. In support of these, Rock and his group toured through the Southeast, opening for such cult favorites as: John Prine, Tracy Nelson, Delbert McClinton, David Bromberg, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, and David Allen Coe to mention a few. In 1980, He formed The McKnight Brother’s Band which put together a live album, “Music From The Cottonbelt”. They stayed on the road nearly four years playing bars and honkytonks throughout the South. In 1988, after a rest from the road, Rock and Billy Earl McClelland got together and started playing again. Two years later, Rock, Darrel Roberts, and Jimmy Grubbs formed The Dixie Flyers. When Jimmy moved to Nashville, Larry T. Wilson and John Joiner teamed up with Rock and Darrel, and The Dixie Flyers became a regular attraction at the world-famous Flora-Bama Lounge for years. The band has a Cd “Blazing Tracks” “Still Loving You” (1992) and “Impressions” (1994) are Rock’s releases on Ark Records. His project, “The Lonesome Ranger” for Ark, was released in 2000. Now, for the first time in 9 years, he has released a new solo Cd for Big Hit Songs, a record label owned by his friend Chris Baker. Chris produced and engineered the project titled “Rusty Plows”. The Cd features 16 songs, both old and new.

	Wednesday, July 29 8:30pm Open Mic our buffet of music!

	Thursday, July 30 8:30pm Julie Ann and Laurel Ridge Bluegrass julia ann ("julie) came into this world singing. she started when she was old enuff to make a sound in her church choir. she later took part in several musicals & talent competitions where she won several awards. she studied under Dr. Julian Doke Brookshire until his passing several yrs ago. she is an accomplished piano player & gives voice lessons. she traveled w/ "the gospel travelers" while in high school then tried her hand @ country w/the band "tripple take" but found out a few years back while w/"mountain top express" that bluegrass was her passion. she has sang w/"flat broke", "leicester country grass" & her own band "laurelridge bluegrass." in 1995 she auditioned @ "dollywood" theme park in pigeon forge, tennessee & was 1 of 7 performers chosen from 1500. that ended earlier than she wanted due to a bout w/cancer. this spiraled out of control & she had 24 procedures w/in the next 9 yrs (she was cancer free 1 yr ago this past september). 3 yrs ago she was given the worst diagoses that a performer could be given, she was told the cancer was in her thyroid & would never be able to sing again. she was determined that would not be the case. less than a month after her surgery she was back on stage & singing better than ever! GOD had definately healed this young singer. she is a BMI song writer & has 3 songs being played on local radio stations. julie also has 4 solo cd's & 1 band cd out now. caleb & micah hanks "the hanks brothers" (as named by del mccoury) add so much to this band w/their talent & wonderful personalities. both of the brothers play w/ "runners of the green laurel" & "buncombe turnpike." micah is a radio dj @ WWNC & also works as an engineer in a local recording studio. caleb has his own high-energy rock band "nova echo", while micah also plays w/"milestone", "blackhook" & "LEMUR," needless to say "They stay rocking!" tyler kirkpatrick has been playing since age 11. he has been on the nashville network as well as several christian tv shows. he has been featured in 2 editions of the "Singing news" magazine. he has played in "iron station", "straight drive". "bostic yard" & is also w/"laurel ridge." while traveling w/"harvest" he opened up for karen peck, kirk tally & the tally trio, percy sledge, the isaacs, & jeff & sherie easter. he also went on tour w/gordon mote (the piano player for bill gaither). he was signed w/REI record label & has played on several different projects. he has 9 "1st place" awards for the dobro & 3 "2nd place" awards for the banjo. he teaches banjo & dobro. he has a patented dobro capo on the market called the "TAK" capo. considered 1 of the best out there! he plays the weissenborn guitar & lap steel. these wide-spread backgrounds are what makes this band so unique! they have gathered together from different bands to form an awesome sound & perform bluegrass classics like noone else going today. their "buffet" of talent can make you smile, laugh, cry but ALWAYS leave you "breathless!"

	Friday, July 31 9:00pm Galen Kipar Project With the care and meticulousness of a gourmet chef"... the Asheville, NC - based Galen Kipar Project cooks up an ever-evolving musical experience that fluidly combines folk-rock, blues, classical and world beat in a "melodically adventurous, rich sonic vernacular. The arrangements defy expectations and the lyrics take surprising turns" as they continuously challenge themselves to create a profound musical experience for their listeners and for each other. "...this brilliant young artist. Never settling for conventional melodic or lyrical choices, everything about Kipar's music says he is most certainly a thinker... Playfully pushing the edge, could be an accurate take on The Galen Kipar Project's music as a whole. It is smart, daring, and unashamed" - Kim Clark, Asheville Magazine BLUE FUSION SOUL FOLK" www.myspace.com/galenkiparproject www.galenkipar.com www.reverbnation.com/galenkiparproject "...this brilliant young artist. Never settling for conventional melodic or lyrical choices, everything about Galen Kipar's music says that he is most certainly a thinker. With string quartet, tuba, the sounds of playing children, classical guitars and church bells artfully woven through the complex-yet accessible-tunes, the songs on Why it's Needed (07') ..." Kim Clark, Asheville Magazine 2007 "Augusta Georgia's Canal Organization commissioned Kipar to compose a song about the historic Augusta Canal. The organization will feature two songs by Kipar on it's Compilation CD, "Going with the Flow." The compilation will feature songs about the Canal by various artists and be available online and in stores in 2009. www.augustacanal.com

	Saturday, August 1 9:00pm Jon Stickley Band After stepping onto the Colorado music scene in 2003 as part of the award winning, Broke Mountain Bluegrass Band, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Jon Stickley, has been making waves through the bluegrass world. The Durham, NC native has since returned to his home state to play professionally with bands including, Big Fat Gap, The Biscuit Burners, New Vintage, and The Colorado Playboys. His well rounded abilities and good nature have earned him a reputation as one of the best up and coming flat-pickers in the business. Jon currently lives in Asheville, NC and plays with the Shannon Whitworth Band. His first solo project "Lions" was released in July 2008. "It's so refreshing to hear someone at such an early age who already has their musical identity. One knows it's Stickley and no one else. He can shred!" -Clay Jones www.myspace.com/stickleymusic

	Tuesday, August 4 6:30pm Tony Campbell Originally hailing from Charleston,SC, Tony has been playing around the area for several years with a variety of musicians and can be seen with the group Ten Toe Turbo. Drawing on a wide range of influences, Tony plays an array of tunes and instrumentation featuring original music to deep classics. Come out and enjoy some good music to go with your fine dinner.

	Wednesday, August 5 8:30pm Open Mic our buffet of music

	Thursday, August 6 8:30pm Exception to the Rule Exception To The Rule, a young progressive bluegrass band from Northeast Georgia, refuses to be bound by genre rules as they write and perform original music. Driven by riveting live shows, compelling lyrics, innovative arrangements, and soulful harmonies, Sara Ray (guitar, age 23), Laura Ray (banjo, guitar, age 21), Jason Ray (bass, age 19), and Kayla Ray (violin, mandolin, age 16) create a refreshingly bold sound that can only be described as the “exception to the rule.” Exception To The Rule draws inspiration from a variety of musical styles to create their own unique sound. Laura's hard-driving banjo style, self-described as a hybrid of Earl Scruggs and Ron Block, is the cornerstone, while Kayla’s sultry violin and mandolin solos add elements of classical, jazz, blues, and rock. Their vocals range from Jason’s Johnny Cash-like solos to four-part sibling harmony. On-stage, the vocal and instrumental versatility of each band member adds spice to performances and keeps audiences guessing what will come next. Listeners of all ages are delighted with a mix of original numbers; traditional bluegrass, rock and country favorites; driving instrumentals; and good-natured humor. Off-stage, band members keep busy writing and recording two brand new albums to be released summer 2009. Whether paying homage to their musical roots by covering a classic or sharing some insight in an original song, these charismatic young artists craft their style based not on what's popular at the moment, but on what they love – and that makes them the… Exception To The Rule. Instrumentation Sara Ray (guitar), Laura Ray (banjo, guitar), Jason Ray (bass), Kayla Ray (violin, mandolin)

	Friday, August 7 9:00pm Alex Caton Alex Caton first put a bow in her hands at the age of four. As her interest in Irish and Old Time music grew, she changed her tunes and began playing and teaching fiddle on the side. But it wasn’t until she moved to the Charlottesville, VA area to work on a PhD in Anthropology that she found her true calling. Alex fell in love with the music scene in Charlottesville and soon cast aside her career as a professional archaeologist to focus on fiddle music full-time. Playing Irish, Old Time and Gypsy music. www.alexcaton.com www.myspace.com/alexcaton.com Since 2001, Alex has lived in Gordonsville, VA, teaching Irish, Old Time and Gypsy music out of her home and playing with a wide variety of local groups including the Irish band, The Ryegrass Rollers. In 2003, Alex founded the all-girl gypsy group Las Gitanas, a precursor to Verbunk, the “groovy gypsy” band she started in 2007. But gypsy music hasn’t replaced Alex’s love for Old Time and Irish music—it’s just enhanced what she brings to the other Charlottesville groups she plays in (Alex is one bust girl!): Odd Legged Jenny (Irish-Americana), The Two Dollar Bills (Old Time) and an acoustic roots duo with Chris Leva, lead singer and guitarist for the Guano Boys.

	Saturday, August 8 9:00pm Trees Leave Trees Leave has had the privilege of sharing the stage with the following artists: The Greencards, Sam Bush, Angie Aparro, Tim O'Brien, The Infamous Stringdusters, Irons In The Fire, The Lovell Sisters, Mac Powell (Third Day), Shane and Shane, Trevor Morgan, Randall Goodgame, Brianna Lane, Kort McCumber "....adds a fresh voice to the alternative folk scene with songs that morn opportunities lost and celebrate hope renewed......the duo captures the essence of todays troubador." - Wylie Graver / Verge Live Magazine Usually performing as a duo, they share rhythm guitar duties when the other is impressing on their signature instruments. Cobi Ferguson’s polarizing guitar riffs and Wyatt Espalin’s fiery fiddle solos add spice to their live performances and keeps audiences guessing what will come next. When the venue suits it, Trees Leave performs with a backing band and their songs do not hesitate to meet them at the next level. The listener is caught off guard with the twists of irony, winks of wit and sighs of sorrow of the characters in their songs.