Grammy winner to open String Band Festival
The annual Georgia String Band Festival will feature Grammy award winner Dom Flemons on Friday, April 28, 7 p.m., at the Harris Arts Center.
Flemons mixes traditional music forms with a contemporary approach, creating new sounds that appeal to wide audiences. Dom began his music career as a performer in the Pheonix, Arizona music scene, where he produced 25 albums for singer-songwriters and slam poets. In 2005, Flemons co-found the Carolina Chocolate Drops, an African American string band that won a Grammy for its 2010 album, Genuine Negro Jig. Dom performed as a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops at the very first International String Band Festival on May 5, 2007, at the Harris Arts Center.
Today, the artist tours throughout the United States and internationally as “The American Songster.” Dom has performed at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. He rang in the New Year by joining friends at the Ryman Auditorium for the Old Crow Medicine Show.
Flemons has been touring internationally and has released his latest album called Ever Popular Favourites with British guitar player, Martin Simpson. Dom’s newest album to be released through Smithsonian Folkways will be celebrating the stories and songs of the black cowboys. The artist has a new podcast called American Songster Radio in conjunction with WUNC North Carolina Public Radio.
Tickets to the Dom Flemons are $20 per person and may be purchased online at www.harrisartscenter.com or by calling 706-629-2599 with credit card information. The concert is sponsored by a grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts.
Flemon’s performance kicks off the Gordon County Fiddlers’ Convention on Saturday, April 29, 1 p.m., with registration at noon. Some of the finest musicians in the tri-state area will compete in Traditional Singing, Buck Dance, Banjo, String Band, and Fiddle for $1900 in prize money.
“String Band music originated in North Georgia and our festival celebrates our local musical heritage,” said Toni Molleson, Harris Arts Center director. “It’s very rewarding to see how contemporary musicians interpret the genre and keep the tradition alive. We invite everyone to come experience a wonderful afternoon of very fine, oldtime music.”
Saturday’s tickets are only $10, with children 12 and under free, and are available at the door. Ticket holders may come and go as they please throughout the afternoon to enjoy not only the Georgia String Band Festival but also— right down the street—the BBQ, Boogie and Blues Festival, offering arts and crafts booths, barbecue competitions, and live music in downtown Calhoun. It’s a fun-filled, toe-tapping day of old time pickin’ and grinnin’.
Musicians must be age 15 or older to compete. Participants may register throughout the day, but no entrant will be accepted after numbers for order of appearance are drawn.
For rules and further information call 706-629-2599, visit the Georgia String Band Festival page on Facebook, or go to the Website of the Harris Arts Center: www.harrisartscenter.com