RETRO-BLUEGRASS AT MT. ZION DRIVE-IN |
(09/14/2009) |
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Josh Chapman, of the GSC Bluegrass 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.
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Fans of bluegrass gathered to enjoy 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.
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All the musicians joined in the last song of the 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. |