Southern Sound Series begins Jan. 15 in York
Showcasing the cultural influences of the Carolina Piedmont’s musical heritage, the 2016 Southern Sound Series rings in the new year at the McCelvey Center’s Lowry Family Theatre, 212 E. Jefferson St.
The series commences Jan. 15 with the Jerry Douglas Band, followed by Rhiannon Giddens Feb. 27, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors March 19, and concluding April 30 with Iris DeMent.
“The Carolina Piedmont is the birthplace of a number of different styles of American folk music, including country, bluegrass, blues and gospel. European, African and Native American musicians from the Carolinas learned from each other and influenced each other, and in so doing created the unique musical forms of American music that are now famous throughout the world,” said Michael Scoggins, historian for Culture & Heritage Museums.
Concerts start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for CHM members or $30 general admission. Season passes for members cost $90 or $108 for nonmembers. For details, call 803-909-7313 or 803-909-7488, or visit chmuseums.org/southernsoundseries/.
About the musicians
▪ The Jerry Douglas Band: World-renowned Dobro master Jerry Douglas is a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association, was named Musician of the Year three times by the Country Music Association, 11 times by the Academy of Country Music and twice by the Americana Music Association; and was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship in 2004 from the National Endowment for The Arts for his artistic excellence and contribution to the nation’s traditional arts. The accolades go on with numerous International Bluegrass Music Association awards and 14 Grammy awards. The 2015 Grammy award for Best Bluegrass Album went to the Earls of Leicester, a tribute band to legendary bluegrass artists Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, which was assembled, organized and produced by Jerry Douglas.
▪ Rhiannon Giddens: Giddens is a contemporary showstopper with a powerhouse voice. Giddens has performed at the McCelvey Center twice with the Grammy-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops. Giddens returns in honor of Black History month with guitar-playing songwriter Bhi Bhiman and cellist Leyla McCalla to lead the new “Swimming in Dark Waters: Other Voices of the American Experience” tour. A native of Greensboro, N.C., Giddens attended the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where she performed as a lyric coloratura soprano. In February, Giddens released her debut solo album, “Tomorrow is My Turn.”
▪ Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors: Holcomb is an emerging singer/songwriter from Memphis who leads the Nashville, Tenn.,-based band the Neighbors. Holcomb’s music has been featured on television shows and commercials. The band, which includes Nathan Dugger and Rich Brinsfield, has played alongside groups such as the Avett Brothers, Ryan Adams, Los Lobos, and NEEDTOBREATHE. Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors have gained recognition in the music industry as independent recording artists selling more than 75,000 records. Their latest studio album, “Medicine,” was released in January 2015 and is available on CD and vinyl.
▪ Iris DeMent: DeMent is considered by many in the music industry as a national treasure; NPR called her “one of the great voices in contemporary popular music.” DeMent’s Pentecostal upbringing seeps through in her piquant voice. DeMent’s 1992 debut, “Infamous Angel” was noted as “an essential album of the 1990s” by Rolling Stone. DeMent’s “My Life” was nominated for a Grammy Award for best contemporary folk album, as was her collaboration with John Prine, “In Spite of Ourselves.” Her latest recording released in 2015, “The Trackless Woods” is a collection of poems by 20th century Russian poet Anna Akhmatova adapted to music.
For more information about Culture & Heritage Museums, visit chmuseums.org.
This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Southern Sound Series begins Jan. 15 in York."