High Lonesome Strings Monthly Meeting

Sunday, January 26, 2020 2:30 PM

3rd Floor Cabaret Room

Triad Stage

232 S. Elm Street

Greensboro, NC

Featuring:

Second Chance Bluegrass

Founded in 2002 by Jerry Tysinger, Randy Dally and Jon Essick, in 2005, Randy Shumaker (banjo- guitar-dobro 2005-2016) joined the band and brought a strong lead vocal to the group. Randy’s vocals, coupled with Jerry, Randy, and Jon formed a new sound that became recognizable as Second Chance Bluegrass. Tom Hyatt (2007-2010) joined the band in 2007 on banjo. Jon moved to the upright bass, and Randy moved to the guitar. Now the group was ready to record. Randy Shumaker had written a song about his battle with cancer titled “Bend in the Road” and it became the title track to the first project. The group now had a ministry going and sang in 67 churches and venues that year alone. Tom Hyatt moved to Kentucky, and after a few months, Greg Pettigrew (2010-2014) from Monroe, NC took over the banjo as the group’s ministry continued to grow. After Greg had to leave the road, Terry Martin (2014-2014) played banjo for a little while until his health wouldn’t allow him to continue. Blake Lanning, a 17-year-old from Reedy Creek, NC stepped in to take the banjo role, and still holds it today.

During 2014, the group recorded “It’s About Time”, which included the banjo work of Greg, Terry, and Blake. Back in 2007, Randy Shumaker had been diagnosed with cancer and was given 6 months to live. Randy ended up living for 9 more years before a blood disease finally overtook him in 2016. Randy was an inspiration to Second Chance as well as many people with his songs and testimony. Although this was a difficult time for the band, they remembered his last request was for the group to continue sharing the gospel and “keep on singing”. In 2019, the band released the long-awaited self-titled album “Second Chance Bluegrass”. They continue their mission together to share both their love for Bluegrass and their love for Jesus everywhere with everyone for whom they have the opportunity to perform.

Jon Essick is no stranger to bluegrass. At a young age, while living in Welcome, NC, Jon fell in love with singing. It didn’t take long for him to learn to clog. Even in elementary school, Jon would compete at fiddler’s conventions showing the world his love and talent for bluegrass. Jon joined The Welcomaires as a tenor in 1991, and it was there that he fell in love with harmony. As a founding member of Second Chance, Jon began by playing the banjo, but in 2007 he moved to the bass. Now Jon continues to show the world his love for bluegrass while remembering talents such as Russell Moore and Doyle Lawson for their influence on his musical style.

Jerry Tysinger is one of the founding members of Second Chance, but his bluegrass story began long before Second Chance was a thought. Inspired at an early age by Mike Riddle and the Primitive Quartet, Jerry followed in his father’s footsteps and began a journey in gospel music. Jerry joined the Welcomaires in 1994 and he has been playing guitar and singing bass for audiences everywhere, having been with Second Chance since its beginning.

Hailing from a small town in southwestern Pennsylvania, Randy Dally’s love for music began as a teenager. Randy started playing guitar while listening to rock, rhythm, and blues. The driving chop of Bill Monroe’s mandolin grabbed his attention in his twenties and never let go. Randy’s wife gave him a mandolin for Christmas one year, and from then on he began to teach himself how to play, while studying the styles of Wayne Benson and Doyle Lawson. In 2002, Randy, along with his band mates, formed Second Chance and has been with them ever since.

Blake Lanning is the newest, and youngest, member of Second Chance. Blake joined the seasoned band in 2015 at the age of 17. Blake’s skill as a bluegrass musician has proved to be well beyond his years. He wields an award-winning, no-nonsense, driving banjo that draws the audience in. Combined with his smooth lead vocals, Blake was clearly created for bluegrass. He grew up in Reedy Creek, NC listening to the likes of Terry Baucom and Doyle Lawson and now enjoys influencing others as a member of Second Chance.

Check them out on their website: https://www.facebook.com/SecondChanceBluegrass/

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High Lonesome Strings Christmas Party

Saturday, December 7, 2019  6:00 PM

Mt. Hope United Church of Christ

2400 Mt. Hope Church Rd

Whitsett, NC

Featuring:

Nick Chandler and Delivered

Nick Chandler and Delivered is a hard driving traditional bluegrass band from Western North Carolina. They were so honored to be named an IBMA Official Ramble Showcase Artist for 2019. After many successful years focusing on Gospel music, Nick has released a long-awaited bluegrass album, “Groceries, Gas and Used Cars” The first single “Eli Funkelby” is available on iTtunes. This band has been delighting crowds all over the country with their original songs, tight harmonies, and exciting pickin’. Nick Chandler and Delivered: Live it, Love it, Bluegrass.

Nick Chandler has traveled the country for many years delighting crowds with his extraordinary mandolin talents. Nick is a master on the mandolin and has won numerous awards stating the same. His talent for writing and arranging songs is evident and his love for bluegrass shows in every note that he plays.

Spencer Hatcher plays banjo and sings tenor, lead , and baritone. He is a fan of the great Don Reno and Raymond Fairchild and his banjo playing reflects that. He is currently a senior in the ETSU bluegrass program in Johnson City, TN. He also plays guitar and mandolin. He is originally from Thomasville VA and enjoys hunting and fishing when not playing music.

Gary Trivette plays the bass and sings all parts. A founding member of Claybank, Gary brings passion and excitement to the stage. Gary is an excellent songwriter as well.

Hudson Bosworth plays guitar, and sings lead and baritone. He is originally from Ogden Utah and studies bluegrass at ETSU. Hudson wows the crowd with his hot guitar licks and is the perfect addition to Nick Chandler and Delivered.

The band’s sound is one of tradition and history mixed with the talents of today. Their first Bluegrass release with Poor Mountain Records “Groceries, Gas, and Used Cars” was released this year. It showcases their diversity and talents in a way that cannot be denied. Check them out on their website: https://nickchandleranddelivered.com/

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High Lonesome Strings Camp-o-ween

Friday and Saturday,  October 25-26, 2019

 Hagan-Stone Park Campground Shelter

5920 Hagan-Stone Park Road

Pleasant Garden NC 27313

Camp-o-ween

Performing Friday starting at 8 PM:

The Shiloh Creek Girls 

The Shiloh Creek Girls are a band from the backcountry roads of Ramseur, North Carolina. These ladies produce a mixture of bluegrass and gospel music that inspires and reaches the hearts of both young and old.

This talented band consists of four sisters and their mother, so their bond goes beyond their musical abilities. Katie (guitar) is the oldest sister, Karrie (fiddle) and Kylie (mandolin) are identical twins, Kassie (banjo) is the youngest, and Lanette (bass) is the mother of the family who leads her girls to come alive on stage and entertain audiences of all ages.

In 2019, the three younger girls each won a $500 High Lonesome Strings Youth Scholarship that can be applied to lessons or attending a music camp. Karrie used her award to attend a Mark O’Conner Fiddle Camp. Kylie and Kassie are applying their winnings to lessons on their instruments.

The Shiloh Creek Girls second album, There is a Time, made its debut at the 2019 IBMA show in Raleigh, NC, when they had the privilege to play on the IBMA World of Bluegrass Youth Stage. In addition, they played at the High Lonesome Strings stage during the StreetFest. The band enjoys playing in churches, local events, and has also played on the main stage at the 23rd annual Bluegrass First Class in Asheville, NC in 2018.

Performing Saturday starting at 8 PM:

Old River Road 

Old River Road, an emerging bluegrass band hailing from south-central North Carolina, consists of Bob Dotson (guitar, lead vocals), Stephen Caviness (banjo), Amelia Freeman (mandolin, lead and harmony vocals), Malachi Freeman (fiddle, lead and harmony vocals), and Justin Freeman (bass, lead and harmony vocals). They met as regulars at the [Clyde] Maness Pottery & Music Barn in Carthage, NC and the band was “formed” fortuitously when Becca Rae heard them jamming there and invited them to open for the Jeff Little Trio at the Sunrise Theater in Southern Pines. She put them on the spot by asking for the band name. The name of the road the Freemans live on in Carthage was suggested off the cuff and Old River Road was born.

Band front man Bob Dotson is a bluegrass lifer from Hamlet, NC. He started taking guitar lessons at the age of nine and was playing in Gospel groups and at church by the time he was thirteen. Bob fell in love with bluegrass music about that time and bought his first album by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. He has played in many bands all over the eastern seaboard including local groups The Twisted Grass Entourage and Flatt Blue. An accomplished guitar picker, Bob has won numerous awards at area competitions, most recently winning the bronze medal in the instrumental category of the Silver Arts portion of the North Carolina Senior Games State Finals.   He  loves to  share music  whenever  and wherever possible and can be found anywhere from senior centers and local shops in Hamlet to jams and conventions throughout North Carolina.

Stephen Caviness, from Carthage, NC, provides the driving banjo that Old River Road thrives on. A multi-instrumentalist who has been playing since a young age, he has also won often at the local conventions. In college, Stephen was a member of Petite Team (with Steve Petite, now the president of Bob Jones University), recording a couple of CDs with them. During his run with Petite Team, Stephen played banjo, some guitar, and bouzouki on Celtic arrangements. He has played banjo for Bridgetown and Flatt Blue, and currently plays with the Ingram Family as well. When he’s not protecting and serving the City of Sanford, Stephen enjoys spending time with his family and filling in with any group who needs him.

As brother and sister, Malachi and Amelia Freeman have travelled the same path together. When Malachi was six years old and Amelia was five, a family friend gave them both ukuleles and their musical journey began. Four years later, both were singing with the Moore County Choral Society Children’s Chorus, having been selected with no prior vocal training. Mostly self-taught from books and internet resources, they began performing on fiddle and mandolin having never had a formal lesson. They were blessed to meet T and Pammy Lassiter at Clyde’s who taught them about performing as part of a band, and have included them in several editions of The Twisted Grass Entourage. This past year, Malachi and Amelia were both selected to perform in the 2019 IBMA Kids On Bluegrass showcase in Raleigh and both also received High Lonesome Strings Youth Scholarships (THANK YOU HLS MEMBERS AND DONORS!!!).

Now 13 years old, Amelia has already enjoyed performing with bluegrass superstar groups Flatt Lonesome and Sideline. She has been a perennial youth division winner at local fiddler’s conventions, and this past March she won first place at the Highfalls Fiddlers’ Convention in her first year competing with adults. She followed that achievement with a fifth place finish in the youth mandolin at the Old Fiddlers’ Convention in Galax, VA. In addition to singing and playing the mandolin, Amelia toys with the fiddle, guitar, and upright bass. She has also played the piano since age 7 and was the pianist for her church’s Young Women’s group. Other than singing and playing music, Amelia is an animal lover, hatching and raising chickens and ducks.

Malachi is 15 years old and has already been able to sing and play with the Lonesome River Band and Sideline. In only his second fiddle performance ever, he won the Most Promising Talent category at the 2017 Seagrove Fiddlers’ Convention, having never had a formal lesson. Since that time, he has enjoyed success at fiddlers’ conventions in both youth and adult divisions. At the  IBMA World of Bluegrass this past September, Malachi discovered busking and spent two nights playing (and making a little extra money) with newfound friends. In addition to singing and playing the fiddle, Malachi also plays piano and is dabbling with the guitar. He also enjoys acting, 4-H firearms and archery, and robotics team. Malachi has earned the rank of Life in Boy Scouts and is working toward his Eagle rank.

Justin  has been involved with music his whole life.  His mother is very musical and had Justin, along with his 9 brothers and sisters, participating in Kids Chorus from a young age. He played the drums in his high school band. Justin’s father played the guitar and participated in folk bands. So, in college, Justin picked up the guitar and started learning it along with the mandolin. Then life got busy with 5 kids and Justin put music on hold until a few years ago when Malachi and Amelia began playing regularly at Clyde’s Music Barn. He then taught himself the upright bass. Justin also is one of the lead vocalist for the band and sings harmony.

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High Lonesome Strings Monthly Meeting

Sunday,  September 15, 2019 @ 2:30pm

Piedmont Triad Farmers Market

2914 Sandy Ridge Road

Colfax, NC 

Exit #208 on I-40

 

Featuring:

Greg Wilson & Second Wind

Second Wind is a group Greg Wilson formed after returning to music. They play bluegrass, swing, jazz, etc.  The gig determines the folks he brings to play. For this show he will have fiddle, banjo and bass. They play everything from original progressive bluegrass to covers of rock/country to swing/gypsy jazz. You can always expect them to have 3-part harmony and at least 4 instruments. Greg has played the Grand Ole Opry when he was a kid and with many incredible amateur and pro bands after returning to music from teaching physics at the university level.

 “I think I’ve played almost every type of show imaginable from corporate to private parties, bluegrass festivals, and coliseum shows.”

You can catch Greg Wilson & Second Wind at the High Lonesome Strings stage at the yearly IBMA festival in Raleigh, as well.

Hope to see you out this month enjoying music and company with us.

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High Lonesome Strings Monthly Meeting

Sunday, August 18, 2019, 4-6 PM

Barber Park Amphitheater

1500 Dans Rd, at Lee Street Ext.

Greensboro NC

 

Note the later time than usual to avoid the heat!

Bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Jamming at the park after the show scheduled from 6-8 pm

Featuring:

Nu-Blu and The Burnett Sisters with Colin Ray

Nu-Blu

The Burnett Sisters with Colin Ray

 

With four Top Ten Billboard albums, Nu-Blu has quickly established themselves as one of the top Acoustic acts in all of music. They made headlines a couple of years ago for their George Jones inspired tribute single “Jesus and Jones” featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer ‘Soul Man’ Sam Moore (of the iconic duo Sam and Dave). They’ve made appearances on Fox News in the past, while also having their music featured on CBS “Sunday Morning.” Over the last year they have also helped bring Bluegrass to the masses, hosting the nationally-syndicated TV show “Bluegrass Ridge,” which airs in 60 million homes worldwide. They also just celebrated the release of their brand-new DVD project, “The Stories We Can Tell” which features exclusive music videos and in-depth interviews about all of their struggles and triumphs.

Ranging from ages 12 to 22, The Burnett Sisters Band consists of five members who create a unique blend of music in the bluegrass, old-time, old country, and folk traditions. Establishing themselves as a gospel quartet, all four sisters began singing and playing together at local venues and churches in their early youth with the inspiration of other family bands. Currently, The Burnett Sisters Band performs professionally as a five-piece string band across the United States. The Burnett Sisters Band has established the reputation of a highly entertaining, engaging, and delightful group of musicians with haunting sibling harmony vocals. Products of the very successful JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) program, the members strive to carry on the old-time and bluegrass traditions, while providing their own characteristic renditions of classic favorites and originals. The Burnett Sisters Band looks forward to sharing their music with you.

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High Lonesome Strings Bluegrass Association Presents “Bluegrass For the Future” – Concert by Sideline and Southeast Express on August 23, 2019

This is a fundraising event for High Lonesome Strings Bluegrass Association. Our goal is to raise money for the High Lonesome Strings Bluegrass Association’s Youth Scholarship Fund. Current Youth Scholarship Recipients will be appearing before the show and during intermission. Come early so you can catch the ‘future of bluegrass’ in the ‘now’!

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High Lonesome Strings Monthly Meeting

Sunday, July 28, 2019 @ 2:30 PM

 

Stonefield Cellars Winery

8220 NC Highway 68 North

Stokesdale, NC

 

Featuring:

Paula Dellenback & Fox River

Paula Dellenback & Fox River was formed from a musically rich area near the state’s heritage music trail called “The Crooked Road”. With a style of their own, these members bring a mixture of original material, traditional and progressive Bluegrass music.

 Paula Dellenback is an award winning singer and songwriter born in the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwestern Virginia. Her songwriting has a style of storytelling through song that brings visuals of the region’s history and intrigue of trials, family, love, and life. Her second original song “Jar Gap”, won WPAQ’s Ralph Epperson Award for excellence and has been the most popular so far. Paula began music later in life but took off at a fast pace singing lead, harmony and playing rhythm guitar and electric bass. She has played in numerous Gospel bands, solo shows, and manages the Paula Dellenback & Fox River Band. Paula and her band have appeared in numerous festivals and venues including “Song of the Mountains”, IBMA, Reeves Theater, Heartwood, Blackmon Amphitheater, and many more.

 George Cutchins began his music career at a very young age by attending all the festivals and fiddlers conventions during the late 70s-80s with his mom and grandma who danced with local dance teams. He has played upright bass with many musicians throughout the years. George briefly played with, and was influenced by  “Old Standby” Mr Jim Eanes around 1992-1993.  He also played with many other local groups until 1996 when he joined Don Smith and the Foggy River Boys. George is still with Don and they have been going strong for 23 years. Other bands include Bluegrass hall of fame artist Bobby Atkins and The Countrymen, Out of Bounds, The Hardtimes Band, Paula Dellenback and Fox River from 2016-current, and The New High Country Boys from 2018 to current. He played mostly upright bass and occasionally rhythm guitar with all the bands. Several of George’s influences are Charlie Waller, Ed Farris, Bill Harrell, Roy McMillian, Monroe Brothers, Mac Wiseman, Ray Cline, Don Reno, Charlie Poole and many others. George is a member of multiple organizations of bluegrass music including the Sandy Ridge Music Association where Paula Dellanback is a board member and promoter, the North Carolina Bluegrass Music Association, High Lonesome Strings Bluegrass Association,  and several luthier organizations. George Cutchins’ passion is to help promote the traditional style of music and to preserve the heritage of its meaning in song.

 Charlie Milliron grew up in Franklin County, VA. No one in his family played music but he was drawn to the Bluegrass & Old-Time style of music that was played at the old Cannaday’s Store in Boones Mill, VA. Charlie started joining music jams at the age of 10 and by 14 was becoming a good rhythm player and taking lead breaks on the popular Bluegrass and fiddle tune instrumentals. From that time through high school he was influenced greatly by the band Lost & Found and Charlie Waller and Country Gentlemen. Uncle Josh Graves and Bashful Brother Oswald influenced Charlie’s Dobro playing, and to this day he still makes that old box cry and sing like they did! Charlie is now a prize winning Dobro player himself as well as a singer and songwriter.  He is currently part of the Roger Handy and Friends band as well as Paula Dellenback & Fox River.  One of Charlie’s greatest passions is to help young musicians develop their skills in Bluegrass/Old-Time music. He encourages them to mature into great players and to help preserve the tradition for future generations. Charlie’s favorite saying to these young musicians is “Don’t ever lose the melody!”

 Thanks to Johnny Cox who is filling in on mandolin.

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