Star-Spangled Weekend Will “Celebrate Bristol”

22
July 2009
Magazine
Star-Spangled Weekend
Will “Celebrate Bristol”
Celebrate Bristol will present a StarSpangled Weekend July 3-5. Trey Hensley,
one of the region’s vocal sensations, will be
the featured entertainer on Saturday at
Cumberland Square Park. Other performers
will include the Bristol Virginia Senior
Show Choir, Katie Salyers and Miss Johnson
City Jessica Nixon, a native of Bristol. 276494-7485.
The celebration begins with fireworks on
Friday, July 3, and continues with a full slate
of events on Saturday, including Bristol’s
annual Independence Parade, followed by live
music, free food, book signings by local
authors and children’s activities at Cumberland
Square Park.
At 2 p.m. Saturday, the dedication and
grand reopening of the newly restored Bristol
Train Station will feature an O. Winston Link
photography exhibit, a railroad art exhibit by
the Art of the Highlands, and artwork by
children from Bristol. Music will be provided
by Bristol’s Own Dixieland Band, and
Theatre Bristol actors will portray historic
Bristol citizens.
The weekend will conclude at 3 p.m.
Sunday with the dedication of the new
American Revolution Patriots Monument
next to the Veterans Memorial in Cumberland
Square Park.
About the Headliner: Hensley is an 18year-old singer who has followed his heart into
the world of country music. Though young,
he has already gained the respect of legends
like Marty Stuart, who calls Hensley a “bona
fide hillbilly rock star.” Hensley’s new CD is a
combination of radio-friendly contemporary
songs as well as the classic sound of some of
his heroes. The release offers music as
originally performed by Elton John, Conway
Twitty, Jimmy Dickens and the Gaither Vocal
Band. He’s also included songs written by
Charlie Daniels, Larry Gatlin and Jeannie
Seeley. Some legendary singers stopped in to
sing with Hensley on his CD, including Charlie
Daniels, Steve Wariner, Janie Fricke, Richard
Sterban of the Oak Ridge Boys and more.
Hensley is currently on the road with his fourpiece band on a coast-to-coast tour.
Tunes @ Noon
at the Paramount
The David Caldwell Tunes @ Noon
performance series continues at the
Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol, Tenn.
$5 suggested donation. The Paramount is also
accepting non-perishable food items for local
food banks. 423-274-8420.
• July 10: Pianist Jonathan Knight of
Knoxville, Tenn. will perform such classics as
“The Way You Look Tonight,” Beethoven’s
“Moonlight Sonata,” Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in
C# Minor, Chopin’s Prelude in E Minor, and
several original pieces.
Singer/songwriter Shannon
Whitworth will perform during
the Music on the Square series in
Jonesborough, Tenn.
Music on the Square
in Jonesborough
Trey Hensley will be the
featured entertainer during
Bristol’s Star-Spangled Weekend.
Bring a lawn chair to downtown Historic
Jonesborough, Tenn. every Friday at 7 p.m.
to enjoy the free Music on the Square series.
423-753-1010, www.musiconthesquare.com
• July 10: Singer/songwriter Shannon
Whitworth lives in western North Carolina,
where she focuses on mountain, bluegrass and
country music. For the last four years she has
toured the U.S. with a band she co-founded,
The Biscuit Burners.
The Tunes @ Noon series at the
Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol
will feature, from left, pianist Jonathan
Knight and vocalist Tim Landis.
• July 17: Participants in Theatre
Bristol’s Summer Camp will showcase their
talents in acting, singing and dancing.
• July 24: Tim Landis will present a
program of basso vocal music. He will perform
operatic arias, American songs, African
American spirituals, and a taste of jazz and
Broadway. He will be joined by baritone Mark
Owen Davis, jazz guitarist Brandon Story
and Vicki Fey on piano.
• July 31: The Bristol Virginia Senior
Show Choir will present Listen to the Music,
based on the theme of a famous Doobie
Brothers hit. The production will elicit
sentimental memories, lots of laughter and
even the urge to get on your feet and “move”
with the music. You will not want to miss the
enthusiasm of this 70-member ensemble.
• July 17: Wolf Creek blends bluegrass,
classic country, Americana, blues and rock —
exposing audiences to what they call
“Powergrass with a Twang.” Members include
Jason Crawford on guitar, mandolin, banjo
and vocals; Kevin Jackson, fiddle, guitar and
harmony vocals; Edward Main, electric and
acoustic guitars and vocals; Jim Price, bass
guitar, harmony vocals; and Robbie Stevens,
drums, percussion and harmony vocals.
• July 24: Christabel and the Jons will
have you swaying to their distinctive style of
folky-swing music that blends multiple styles
from gypsy jazz to country blues. Old suitcases
and dressy vintage costumes give their
performance a torch singer/speakeasy feel.
Lead singer Christa DeCicco enchants
audiences with her expressive lyrical style and
laid-back, sultry performance on guitar,
accordion and banjo.
• July 31: The OverDrive Bluegrass
Band uses speed, drive and taste to captivate
its audience. The members met during local
jam sessions at East Tennessee State
University. Band members are Tyler Williams
on vocals and guitar; Jared Hensley, lead
guitar, mandolin and vocals; Meredith Goins,
fiddle and vocals; Tom Cecil, banjo, guitar
and vocals; and Dwayne Anderson, bass and
vocals.