Berea Bluegrass Ensemble

Description

Western Carolina University’s next First Thursday Old-Time and Bluegrass Series event will feature the Berea Bluegrass Ensemble performing at Homebase in Cullowhee. The concert and jam session will take place Thursday, March 7, beginning at 7 p.m.

For seventeen years, the Berea College Bluegrass Ensemble has thrilled audiences with their shining student talent and fun, lively performances.   During their time at Berea College, student band members show off their picking and singing skills on stage in exchange for course credit, lifelong friendships and the opportunity to share their music with audiences around the world.  The band performs music from Appalachia and beyond, blending the sounds of traditional mountain music and bluegrass with contemporary influences.  Band founder and director Al White teaches dozens of new students each year as the college’s Appalachian Instruments instructor and works hard to assure that each Bluegrass Ensemble performance is polished and professional.  The group has traveled throughout the Eastern United States and has toured internationally in Ireland, Japan, and Denmark. Current members are Seth Lewis; banjo, Senior from Kentucky, Hannah From; guitar, Freshman from Georgia, Jessie Lawson; bass, Sophmore from Kentucky, Nathan Jose; guitar Junior. from Bengaluru, India, Cora Allison; Freshman fiddle from Tennessee, and Al White; mandolin, Faculty member and director.

The First Thursday concert series is free and open to the public. Pickers and singers of all ages and experience levels are invited to take part in the jam session which starts at 8pm. This session is also open to those who just want to listen. Homebase is adjacent to the WCU campus at 83 Central Drive, Cullowhee. The First Thursday Series continues on April 4, 2019.

For more information, call the Mountain Heritage Center at 828-227-7129 or visit mhc.wcu.edu.