Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Bluegrass fans, mark your calendars! On Saturday, June 25, the Monticello Opera House will be hosting the Southern Music Rising, featuring Blue Holler, South Georgia and North Florida's award-winning premier acoustic bluegrass band.
Bluegrass music is a genre of American roots music that was developed in the 1940s in the Appalachian region of the United States. It is described as a distinct musical form, which has been developed over the years from elements of old-time music and traditional music of the Appalachian region, which was where many Scottish-American immigrants settled, bringing with them the musical traditions of their homelands. Bluegrass has additional roots in traditional English and Irish ballads and dance tunes, as well as traditional African-American blues and jazz sounds. Over the years, the people that built up our great nation added their folk music sounds to create the style we know and love today. Such a perfect blend of melody and instruments from such a variety of America's people makes the bluegrass sound one of rich culture and an excellent example of true American music.
Before the genre of instrumental string folk music became coined with the name, “bluegrass,” it was commonly referred to as “old-time mountain music” or “hillbilly music.” In 1939, a band named Blue Grass Boys became largely popular in the central Kentucky area, which is often referred to as the bluegrass region for its iconic Kentucky bluegrass, a common name for the grass of the Poa genus that frequently grew there. Although an exact date for the adoption of the name “bluegrass” is not known, it is estimated to have become widely accepted around the year 1950. Leader of the Blue Grass Boys, Bill Monroe, is often referred to as the “father of bluegrass.” From there, the genre has seen influence by well-beloved musicians like Earl Scruggs, John Hartford, and Kenny Smith, among others, to become the well-recognized sound of today's modern America.
Founded in 2004, Blue Holler has performed a mixture of traditional, contemporary, jazz-influenced and gospel bluegrass music, and are highly esteemed by the communities they perform for. From an early age, these versatile musicians have shared their talent with the world via festivals, auditorium shows, radio stations, church shows, coffee shops and private events in areas of Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Blue Holler's instrumental perfection, combined with impressive family-style harmonies is a tough act to beat, and you aren't going to want to miss it!
Come out and enjoy the award-winning talent of Seabie Ewer, playing bass, Brandon Gandy on banjo and vocals, Skylar Gandy on fiddle and vocals, Brandon Taylor on guitar and vocals, and Marshall Roberts on mandolin and vocals. The show will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening, although the Monticello Opera house lobby and bar will be open and ready to serve at 6 p.m., with a full cash and credit card bar offering beer, wine and cocktails for guests. Make plans to come out and support Southern Music Rising and Blue Holler, and let's turn the Monticello Opera House into the Monticello Opry House this Saturday evening!
Tickets will be available for purchase at the door on the night of the show, but for all of you early birds out there, you can buy tickets online at https://prod5.agileticketing.net.