The Gordon College Southern Culture Series continues Jan. 25 with a concert by two-time Grammy winner Nashville Bluegrass Band.
Members of the group, who have been together for more than 20 years, include Mike Compton, mandolin; Pat Enright, guitar; Alan O'Bryant, banjo; Stuart Duncan, fiddle and Andy Todd, upright bass.
In 2002, Enright was the voice of one of the Soggy Mountain Boys, the fictional old-time singing trio in the movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" O'Bryant, Compton and Duncan also played on the film's soundtrack. The next year, Duncan's fiddling was featured throughout the soundtrack for the movie, "Cold Mountain." Music from both soundtracks is featured in their performances.
Nashville Bluegrass Band
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Although Nashville Bluegrass Band can be as traditional sounding as any pioneering bluegrass band, the band's repertoire is extremely varied, laced with blues compositions and songs from African-American gospel tradition.
The Band was initially formed to accompany Minnie Pearl and others on a 1984 package tour, and through the years, according to its website, NBB has continued to perform with other artists such as Lyle Lovett and Mary Chapin Carpenter, as well as the legendary gospel group, Fairfield Four. They have recorded with Bernadette Peters, Clint Black and collaborated with Johnny Cash on the film soundtrack "Dead Man Walking."
"We think this is going to be a great concert," said Robert Vaughan, vice president of academic affairs who, along with a faculty committee chaired by Professor Marvin Thomas, developed the Southern Culture Series. "This music is timeless and appeals to just about everyone whether they are from the south or not."
The performance is at 8 p.m. and reserved seat tickets for this event are $15. To reserve a ticket, call (770) 358-5123.
The series continues in February when the Gordon College Theatre will present "Crimes of the Heart," a play set in Mississippi that focuses on three sisters who have been reunited because one shot her husband for beating up her boyfriend. Performances are set for Feb. 13-18, 2008.
John Shelton Reed, director of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of North Carolina and author of "My Tears Spoiled My Aim," "Minding the South," and "1001 Things Everyone Should Know About the South," will speak Thursday, March 13.
The annual BBQ and Blues Festival held in downtown Barnesville will conclude the Series.
The Southern Culture Series is designed to "celebrate the rich diversity of our Southern culture," according to Vaughan. "We want to draw a wide audience of people to develop an appreciation for the uniqueness of Southern culture."