2011 Bluemont Concert Schedule
August 7, 2011 – The Flaming Shillelaghs
The Flaming Shillelaghs first performed for the Bluemont Concert Series in the 1980s for First Night Leesburg. Since then, they have delighted audiences with their spirited renditions of traditional Irish dance music, haunting ballads and infectious humor. The Flaming Shillelaghs are Jesse Winch on guitar, bodhran, and harmonica, Joe DeZarn, fiddle, Tina Eck, flute and whistles, and Melissa Dunning on vocals. Their performance will also feature traditional Irish step-dancing. They’re multi-talented, multi-instrumentalists who never let a good tune or song get by them.
August 14, 2011 – Ted Garber
Ushering in a new golden age of live entertainment is Ted Garber, a genre-bending multi-instrumentalist whose “BluesAmericanaRock” combines classic showmanship with a captivating singer-songwriter sensibility. His smokey, bluesy vocals, howling harmonica riffs and screaming guitar licks are enticing audiences wordwide, taking us on a diverse musical journey from the Big Apple to the Big Easy, hovering in the Mississippi Delta before heading South of the Border.
Ask Ted about his musical influences, and four passions shine through-the iconic time-honored entertainers of his childhood, such as Sinatra and Elvis, his late folk-rock musician father, the rhythm and blues scene of New Orleans, and insatiable globe-trotting. His thirst for new experiences has led him to more than 30 countries on four continents. Whether it’s a dingy shantytown motel room in Tanzania, a Brazilian beach hut jam session, a single-mom waiting tables at Denny’s, or the smiling shoe-shining oracle on a New Orleans street corner, Garber’s walking, hitching, gigging, chicken-and-goat-bus-cultural-immersion is what steers his musical odyssey.
Ted kicked off his career performing covers on the streets of New Orleans for tips, where he balanced academic studies at Tulane University with his passion for playing. Inspired by the vibrancy of the city and realizing his natural ability to connect with a crowd, he honed his talent for original material. He went on to open for the likes of Pat McGee and has performed in venues as diverse as DC’s legendary 9:30 Club, LA’s The Viper Room, and Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. He was also named DC’s Top Entertainer by WUSA-Channel 9, and won On Tap Magazine’s Battle of the Bands “Taste of Arlington” Competition in 2006. Ted won a 2010 Washington Area Music Award (WAMA) for “Pop Rock Recording of the Year,” recognizing his late-2009 studio album, “American Rail.”
Most recently, Ted has enjoyed being a member of the prestigious Strathmore Performing Arts Center’s “Artist in Residence” (AIR) program, an annual fellowship in North Bethesda, MD that takes only six artists out of hundreds of worthy applicants. Having sold out The Mansion at Strathmore three conesecutive times in early 2011, Ted recorded two of these public concerts which now comprise his brand new album, “Live at Strathmore” (Released: May 13, 2011). Featured on this album is an all-star backing band comprised of multi-Grammy winners Jon Carroll (pianist, Starland Vocal Band, Mary Chapin Carpenter) and Cathy Fink (ukulele) along with the multi-Grammy nominated Scott Ambush (bassist, Spyro Gyra) and local favorite Eddie Hartness (drums) of Eddie From Ohio as well as other local talent and other Strathmore Resident Artists.
August 21, 2011 – Dixie Power Trio
The Dixie Power Trio delights audiences across the country with their eclectic mix of New Orleans jazz, zydeco, Cajun and original compositions, and charms them with their zany wit.
Neither a trio nor purely a Dixieland band, the Trio is comprised of Zack Smith on cornet and accordion, Andy Kochenour on tuba, Wayne Wilkinson on guitar and Byron McWilliams on drums.
The Washington Post praises the Trio’s “…class menagerie of tunes… from Lou Reed to Louis Armstrong, The Beatles to Led Zeppelin, Dr. John to The Neville Brothers. They call it Dixieland music for the 21st century, but it’s worth hearing now!” Their interpretation of classic tunes is equaled by the excellence of their original works. Recent winners of the prestigious WAMMIE award (Washington Area Music Awards) for Best Traditional Jazz Recording, this band is not to be missed.
August 28, 2011 – Pan Masters
The popular Pan Masters Steel Orchestra thrills audiences with exotic island instruments, great music and dancing on the green. Their eclectic repertoire ranges from traditional island calypso, reggae and soca to the band’s interpretations of Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, J.S. Bach and more.
Originally from the Islands of Trinidad and Tobago, the Pan Masters are perennial winners of Baltimore, Washington and New York City steel band competitions, including outstanding performance awards at the DC Caribbean Carnival for ten years running.
The Pan Masters have performed for Bluemont since 1982, and many of the current band members are children of the original Pan Masters. A Bluemont audience favorite, this fantastic performance is not to be missed.
