FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/21/2011
Morgan Arts Council -- Berkeley Springs, WV
www.macicehouse.org

Press Contact only: Mary Hott 304-258-2300 - mary@macicehouse.org

LOCAL ROOTS MUSIC IN CONCERT

BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV ----More than a dozen local musicians are scheduled to perform at the Morgan Arts Council's third annual roots music concert at the Ice House on Saturday, November 26 at 7:30pm.  "Folks will be doing some serious pickin," said Mary Hott, MAC's Executive Director about the song list which includes country, bluegrass, gospel and more.  Noted musician, Joe Herrmann performs and shares hosting duties with "The Doctor," Ed Asher from Country 92.9 WDHC.  Performers include both returning favorites as well as some new voices.

Dave Moore can trace his musical heritage to his father Paul Moore, who had The BAR M Boys, a 1930s string band.  Moore the elder was a regular at the famous Watermelon Park performances in Berryville, VA.  Moore performs at the Roots Concert with "The Hayride Trio."  Another returning favorite is Lickety Split Banjo Boys of Fred Revell and his son, Frankie.   Fred married into the Fleegle family which spans several state lines in the region and is one of the most prominent members of MAC's Musical Family Trees exhibit.  Fred added the traditional three-fingered banjo technique the Fleegles' used to his own complicated melodic style of banjo playing.  Another Fleegle performing is Jim, a popular bluegrass picker from both previous concerts.

New to this year's concert is a planned jam session with both Fleegle and Rusty Herrell of the Ridgeway family of Great Cacapon. The Ridgeway musical family tree stems from the legendary Charles Lee, continues through  Edward “Alph” Ridgeway and is represented at the concert by third generation guitarist, Herrell.  The Ridgeway/Fleegle performance connection spans two generations.  "I am continually amazed at how the roots of local music are so intertwined," said Jeanne Mozier who assembled the collected stories for MAC.

With the changing patterns of family and community life, young musicians are less likely to follow the roots music path of learning at home by playing with their parents and families.  Roots music is still being transmitted however by teachers like Joe Herrmann and by innovative programs like the bluegrass major available at Glenville State College in West Virginia.  A student of both Herrmann and Buddy Griffin at Glenville, fiddler Robby Mann is performing at the concert.

"We have several invitations still out," said Hott, "so there are sure to be some surprise guests on Saturday night."

The concert is part of MAC's ongoing Music Census project sponsored by Washington Homeopathic Products.  Tickets may be reserved by calling MAC at 304-258-2300 or going online at www.macicehouse.org.  The Ice House is located at Independence and Mercer in downtown Berkeley Springs.  The concert is funded in part by the West Virginia Commission on the Arts and county hotel taxes.