Josh Chapman, of the GSC Bluegrass
Band, warms up prior to the show.

Story and Photos by Drew Moody

Saturday was a perfect fall evening to enjoy 'Bluegrass at the Drive-In.' And the friendly folks of the Mt. Zion Theater provided the perfect location.

A flat-bed trailer became the stage. Some who came brought lawn chairs, others improvised - sitting in the beds of their pick-up trucks. Two young girls had kittens to give away.

Fans of bluegrass gathered to enjoy
a relaxing evening of great music.

Sharing the stage with the Glenville State College Bluegrass Band were Buddy Griffin and Ashley Messenger's band, Retro & Smiling.

The event was a fund-raiser for the GSC Bluegrass program. Headed by Griffin, the music program offers a 4-year B.A. music teaching degree with a "bluegrass" emphasis.

As part of the program students "live the art" mastering performing, recording and mixing CDs, as well as seeing how the music business works.

All the musicians joined in the last song of the
evening. The stage lights almost gave the appearance
they were playing around a campfire. - This photo is
black and white to fit the "retro" theme of the evening.

Next summer Griffin is planning a bluegrass tour of the nine remaining West Virginia drive-in theaters, as well as stopping at a few in surrounding states.

Drive-In theaters were a popular tour stop for bluegrass bands throughout the 1950s and early 1960s.

Griffin and Messenger will be releasing two CDs in the near future.

GSC students performing Saturday night included: Luke Shamblin, Josh Chapman, Derek Sexton-Vaden, Mary Sue Bailey, Allison Drain, and Trish Cottrell. Also joining the band on stage was GSC professor David O'Dell.