It is going to be a rocking good time in Bath County on Saturday, April 12, when WCHG, Allegheny Mountain Radio hosts the 12th Annual Bluegrass Jamboree culminating a week of fundraising activities for the station.
On tap to perform are Lost and Found, The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys and Southern Rail Express.
“We are excited to be welcoming an all star lineup to help us raise money for our local radio station – WCHG.” explained D. J. -Willie Smith, volunteer DJ for Allegheny Mountain Radio and well-known local musician.
According to their official bio, the “Lost and Found” band was formed in Martinsville, Virginia, in 1973. They get their unique name from the fact that the band originated with musicians who were “lost” from other bands but “found” each other, and came together with a shared love of bluegrass music. The band joined Rebel Records in 1980 and is best known for such musical hits as Love of the Mountains, Leftover Biscuits, Wild Mountain Flowers for Mary, Ida Red and Harvest Time.
Although the band performs traditional, classic bluegrass tunes they are most know for their original material. Band members include artists Allen Mills on bass fiddle, Ronald Smith on banjo, and Scott Napier on mandolin, with each artist supplying vocals, as well.
The “Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys” is a popular regional bluegrass band formed in 1968 in Pocahontas County. Well-known local favorites on the bluegrass circuit, its band members include Richard Hefner on banjo, Chris Nickell on guitar, Mike Smith on upright bass and Rick Carpenter on mandolin. The band has several recordings available on CD and regularly performs at the Opera House in Marlinton. The band can be heard in various local venues, at local street fairs, family reunions, weddings, local pubs, coffee shops and fundraising events.
Rounding out the program are perennial favorites “Southern Rail Express Bluegrass Band” based in Bath County. The band was formed in May 2010 when bluegrass artists Willie Smith, vocals and bass, Kenneth Lowry, banjo, Jim Almorode, mandolin and vocals, and David Cannaday, guitar and vocals, were asked to perform for the C&O Railway Heritage Center. Since that time the band has played for several private events in the area, including the Omni Homestead, and public appearances at the annual Maple Festival in Monterey, and the Bath County Mountain Arts and Strings Festival. The band has played alongside such greats as Joe Mullens and the Midnight Ramblers as well as the Little Roy and Lizzy Show.
Tickets will be $10 per person; $5 for students (ages 13-18) and children 12 and under will be admitted for $1. The event will take place in the auditorium at Bath County High School located at 464 Charger Lane, Hot Springs, Virginia. The performance is slated for 6 ot 9 p.m. and the auditorium doors will open at 5.
Food and drink will be available at 4:30 p.m.
“We hope everyone will come out for an evening of good music and family entertainment,” Smith said. “This weekend event is a major fundraiser for our station and is the final event in the annual station spring fundraiser.”
All proceeds from the Jamboree will go to benefit Bath County’s WCHG radio station.
Sponsors Include the Bath County Arts Association, Dominion Generation, Garth Newel Music Center, Bath County Office of Tourism, Highlands Community Bank, Mead Westvaco, Bath County Collision Center, Dr. Marty Diamond, DDS. McLaughlin and Young Funeral Home, BARC, Burns Auto Repair, Cucci’s, First and Citizen’s Bank, Hammond and Mitchell Inc., Phillips Insurance, Country Café, Jason’s Pizza, Valley Supermarket, and Mike’s Auto.
For further information please contact 877-572-0721, 540-839-5400 or rlhamr@frontier.net