Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Free bluegrass workshops in Gastonia Saturday

The annual Bluegrass Music Project - a free music workshop at Gaston School of the Arts - takes place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A concert featuring instructors Darin Aldridge, Becky Buller, Terry Baucom and Jack Lawrence will follow at 7 p.m.

The workshop is free, but the evening concert is $12 to the public and $6 for workshop participants. The Bluegrass Music Project focuses instruction and jamming with an emphasis on younger students, but all ages are welcome. 

Multi-instrumentalist and band leader Aldridge (formerly of the Country Gentlemen, pictured above) and his wife Brooke head up the Cherryville-based gospel bluegrass band Darin & Brooke Aldridge. Buller (below) is a renowned fiddler in her own right who currently tours with the Aldridges. 

Baucom is a bluegrass banjo veteran who co-founded IIIrd Tyme Out, Boone Creek, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and was the International Bluegrass Music Association's 2001 instrumentalist of the year. 

Flat-picking guitarist and Charlotte-native Lawrence is practically a fixture around these parts. He was Doc Watson's sideman for twenty years and continues to release solo material and perform. 

Lunch will be provided for those students that pre-register by calling 704-866-8882. Tickets for Saturday's concerts are available at that number or online at www.NCTickets.com. The project - now in its fourth year - is partly funded by a grant from Gaston School of the Arts.