THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 12, 1996 TAG: 9607100127
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: 48 lines
The Cock Island Race not only is a party for sailboat skippers, their crews and their families. The whole town is invited to the Portside activities that begin at 1 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.
Street dances are scheduled for 7 to 10 p.m. both nights.
Portsmouth-born Bill Deal and his buddy, Fat Ammon Tharp, will play for the Friday night dance, offering their special brand of beach music that brought them national fame.
On Saturday night, dancers will move to the music of Liberation, a five-piece band based in Virginia Beach since 1982 and well-known throughout the mid-Atlantic. The band plays Top 40 and a variety of show and dance tunes.
Dramtreeo, a group that has performed for every Cock Island Race weekend, will return this year on Saturday, appearing on the Water Stage from 4 to 7 p.m.
Dramtreeo, formed 15 years ago and known for its vocal harmonies, plays traditional and original folk music. The group plays at a number of East Coast festivals. Later this summer, Dramtreeo will participate in the American folk festival at Lincoln Center in New York. The group has recorded four albums, with its most recent called ``Storm.''
Members of the group are Andy Cleveland, fiddle, flute, tin whistle; Jerry Cronin, tenor, guitar, mandolin, tin whistle; Jim Crutchfield, tenor, harmonica, bodhran, bones; Carlton Lillard, bass, bass guitar; and Chip Vogan, baritone, banjo, guitar.
The entertainment will open with a three-hour performance at Portside by Melvin's Flea Circus from 1 to 4 p.m. July 19. The Lewis McGehee jazz trio will play on the Water Stage from 4 to 7 p.m. the same day.
Saturday's entertainment will open with Against All Odds at 1 p.m., followed by Dramtreeo and Liberation. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Carlton Lillard, left, Andy Cleveland, Chip Vogan, Jim Crutchfield
and Jerry Cronin are Dramtreeo, a well-known folk group who will
perform Saturday on the Water Stage.
Fat Ammon Tharp, left, and Portsmouth-born Bill Deal will play their
special brand of beach music for the Friday night dance.
On Saturday night, dancers will move to the Top 40 music of
Liberation, a five-piece band based in Virginia Beach since 1982. by CNB