Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 18, 1994 TAG: 9405180051
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
They are among the artists featured in the second annual American Music Fair, being hosted by the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley on Friday and Saturday.
The festival celebrates all kinds of music, from country and bluegrass to jazz and classical. Arts, crafts, food vendors and children's programs are also featured.
The U.S. Navy bluegrass band Country Current will perform at 7 and 9 p.m. on the Friday evening program.
Robin and Linda Williams and their group will perform Saturday, when the program runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. They will also give a harmony workshop in the afternoon.
Country Current is one of the units added to the Navy Band in keeping with America's varied musical tastes.
It was formed in 1973. Bill Emerson, a Virginia Country Hall of Fame member, joined the Navy to help establish the group which has since performed at the Grand Ole Opry and at a dinner hosted by President Bush and his wife, Barbara, in Beijing, China.
Robin and Linda Williams have been touring for 20 years. They will be joined for this program by Their Fine Group, Jim Watson and Kevin Maul. Watson was a founding member of the Red Clay Ramblers, and has toured with the Williamses for five years.
The Williamses have also appeared on the Grand Ole Opry as well as Austin City Limits. Last spring and summer, they opened 16 concert dates around the country for two-time Grammy winner Mary Chapin Carpenter. They have released 10 recordings.
Tickets are $10 for a day pass including the Robin and Linda Williams' performances, and $5 for a day pass not including those performances. The first 500 ticket-buyers will get free Friday Country Current passes.
The tickets may be purchased at the Fine Arts Center in Pulaski, the Gallery Cafe in the Norwood Center in Radford, and the Signet Bank branch in Dublin. They can be ordered by mail, and further information can be obtained, by calling 980-7363.
There will be performances all day Saturday on two stages, in Rooker and Martin Halls.
The Rooker Hall schedule starts at 10 a.m. with clogging by Melanie Ondich; 10:45 a.m., harmony by the Pulaski County Melodies; 11:30 a.m., barbershop singing by the Sweet Adelines; 12:15 p.m., folk and dulcimer by No Strings Attached; 1 p.m., folk music by Greg Trafidlo and Laura Pole; 1:45 p.m., Trillium; 2:30 p.m., acoustic guitar by Jon Benfield, and 3:15 p.m., acoustic guitar by Mark Litteral.
In Martin Hall, the 10:30 a.m. performance will be Pulaski County High School jazz; 11:30 a.m., Blacksburg High School jazz; 12:30 p.m., Dixieland by the Riverboat Ramblers; 1:30 p.m., contemporary country by Southbound; 2:30 p.m., old-time country by Branchin' Out; 4:30 p.m., bluegrass by Jack Hinshelwood; 5:30 p.m., the Little Symphony; 6:30 p.m., Allegheny String Quartet; and 8 p.m., The McKenzies.
Robin and Linda Williams will give a harmony workshop at 3:30 p.m. in Martin Hall and perform at 7 and 9 p.m. in Rooker Hall.
by CNB