Joomla - Featured Musicians

Featured Musicians

Friday, 31 August 2007

Bear on the Square is thrilled to be hosting an incredible lineup of
nationally and locally known musicians!

Norman and Nancy Blake
	Norman and Nancy Blake come to Bear on the Square following stints at the Grand Ole Opry, Prairie Home Companion, and many TV shows and performances with renowned musicians like Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristopherson, and many, many more. Norman and Nancy also recorded for the soundtracks of “O Brother,” “Cold Mountain,” and “Walk the Line.” Bear on the Square is thrilled to welcome these highly acclaimed, multiple Grammy nominees to Dahlonega. More about Norman and Nancy Norman and Nancy on the Web http://www.somagency.com/NormanBlake/
Carolina Chocolate Drops
	The Carolina Chocolate Drops is an exciting group of young African-American string band musicians who are taking the music world by storm. Rhiannon Giddens, Justin Robinson and Dom Flemons are highly talented musicians whose performances are being met with standing ovations from coast to coast. Bear on the Square is proud to bring them to Dahlonega as they continue the rich tradition of old time string band music with incredible energy and innovation. More about the Carolina Chocolate Drops Carolina Chocolate Drops on the Web: Official Site MySpace YouTube
James and Rachel Bryan
	Joining Norman and Nancy Blake on stage during Bear on the Square will be James and Rachel Bryan, who specialize in old-time Southern and bluegrass music. Trained first by his father and then by master fiddler Kenny Baker, James began as a championship fiddler in his teen years, and has progressed to performing on many albums with other musicians and recording his own acclaimed fiddle albums. Rachel is a guitarist/singer who is also accomplished on the mandolin and fiddle. More about James and Rachel
Gold Rush with Neel Pender
	Dahlonega musical event audiences are familiar with Gold Rush, a locally-based band spotlighting some of the region’s outstanding bluegrass performers. Joining the group for Bear on the Square, as he has for many of the band’s past performances, is Neel Pender with his soulful renditions of bluegrass and country music songs. More about Gold Rush with Neel Pender
Greybeard
	Greybeard, the Dahlonega band providing the music at the Live Country Auction on Friday night of the 2008 Bear on the Square, is well known locally, having appeared at most local music venues and at the Mountain Music & Medicine Show at the Holly Theatre. In addition to bluegrass, the group plays old-time, blues, jazz, and even rock ‘n roll. More about Greybeard Greybeard on the Web www.BeardsOfGrey.com
Hair of the Dog
	Hair of the Dog is primarily known as a band which plays Cajun music, but founder Whit Connah emphasizes that the band has never been a strictly traditional Cajun music band. While there are traditional elements which drive the group's music, such as the impassioned vocal delivery and co-founder Barbara Panter-ConnahÕs strong Balfa-styled music, also present are honky-tonk country music, rockabilly, blues, zydeco and even rock 'n roll. The current band, which began as a group known as Hurt Dog back in 1979, was formed in 1987 with its emphasis on Cajun dance music. Over the years with changes in personnel, the acoustic setup of the original Hair of the Dog has evolved toward a more driving electric sound. In its ÒBest of AtlantaÓ selections in 2005, Creative Loafing picked Hair of the Dog at Atlanta's Best International/World Music Act. More about Hair of the Dog Hair of the Dog on the Web couchslug.com
Curtis and Holly Jones
	Curtis and Holly Jones, who recently moved to Dahlonega, have a solid background in the field of bluegrass music. Curtis has performed not only throughout the United States, but throughout the world, and he has appeared or recorded with numerous top names in the music industry. Holly grew up in British Columbia as part of a performing bluegrass family, and she is featured on a number of recordings. For more about Curtis and Holly Jones Curtis and Holly on the Web: http://www.curtisjonesguitar.com http://www.myspace.com/cortinimusic http://www.myspace.com/hollyjonesmusic
John Lilly
	John Lilly returns to Bear on the Square, bringing with him his wide repertoire of original, traditional, and classic country music hits. His music is powerfully performed with unusual depth and sincerity and has received the acclaim of audiences wherever he has appeared. John's newest CD, Haunted Honky Tonk, has been an instant success. More about John Lilly John on the Web www.johnlillymusic.com
Lo-Fi Breakdown
	Lo-Fi Breakdown is a high energy, old-school bluegrass quintet based in Asheville, N.C., that is steeped in tradition while forging innovative New South elements within the genre. The band plays a healthy mix of traditional and original material, and it constantly reaches to break new ground within bluegrass music. Working around one microphone and dressed in vintage suits and hats, the band's look and sound sets them apart from many of the contemporary acts today. They have shared the stage with the Del McCoury Band, mandolin master Sam Bush, songster Robert Earn Keen and fiddle legend Jim Shumate among others. More about Lo-Fi Breakdown Lo-Fi Breakdown on the Web http://www.lofibreakdown.com http://www.myspace.com/lofibreakdown
The Myers Family and Friends
	The Myers Family and Friends sing and play music that has been passed along in their family for the past 80 years. The group consists of Helen Myers McDuffie on acoustic guitar, Helen’s daughter Leasie Whitmire on bass, Helen’s niece Edna Mullinax on acoustic guitar, family friend Sue Trotman on acoustic guitar, and family friend Ed Teague on banjo. Their old time country music style is similar to the Carter family and features family harmony singing. Their song selections include some sentimental and gospel favorites as well as many stellar original songs penned by Helen Myers McDuffie and her late sisters. The band has made numerous stops in Dahlonega over the years, including appearances at the Mountain Music & Medicine Show. More about The Myers Family and Fiends
The Skillet Lickers
	The Skillet Lickers name is synonymous with fiddle band music in Georgia and is a group familiar to Georgia historians and folk music fans across the globe. One of the earliest “old-time” music groups to be recorded, the band’s recordings have sold millions of copies in the United States, and their style remains influential to the development of country, folk and bluegrass music. The band took root in the 1920s when a Dacula chicken farmer, Gid Tanner, was asked by Columbia Records to go to New York and record “some of that hillbilly music.” Today’s Skillet Lickers are carrying on a tradition of family and community string band music going back at least four generations. Gid’s grandson Phil Tanner and great grandson Russ, are keeping the Tanner tradition alive with a repertoire which include breakdowns like “Cumberland Gap” and “Buckin’Mule”, comic folk songs “Three Nights Drunk” and “The Old Maid and The Burglar”, and sizzling fiddle tunes like “Alabama Jubilee”. More about The Skillet Lickers
The Solstice Sisters
	An Athens group which has made numerous appearances in Dahlonega, The Solstice Sisters is composed of three women who harmonize old-time country ballads, traditional folk songs, and 30s styled swing. Maggie Hunter, Susan Staley and Anna Durden have been singing together since the mid 1990s, and they have performed at many festivals in Northeast Georgia, sharing the stage with the likes of Doc Watson, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys and many more. More about The Solstice Sisters The Solstice Sisters on the Web myspace.com/solsticesisters
Young Guns Included in this group are some of the area's finest young musicians. Here are some of those who will be appearing:
	Up-and-coming Ethan Smith is an accomplished flatpick guitarist who lends his unique stylings to bluegrass and old-time tunes.
	Alex Thomlinson, current Beginning Fiddle Champion in both Alabama and Georgia, was also named top fiddler in the 2007 National Championship Country Musician Beginners event in Smithville TN.
	2007 Georgia State Fiddle Queen, Aerin DeJarnette, was an invited competitor at the 2007 Grand Masters in Nashville, has earned three State Championships in Georgia and numerous 1st Place fiddling prizes throughout the Southeast.
	Emma DeJarnette is the current Peewee Fiddle Champion of the State of Tennessee, the Beginner Instrumental winner at Uncle Dave Macon Days, and has earned 1st Place in many fiddle contests in Georgia.