Art of Sound Foot O' The Hills Music Festival

Is Art of Sound on your calendar yet?

2010-09-08T19:57:00.000-07:00

October 21-23 marks the date of this year's Art of Sound Music Festival in Uptown Shelby. Some changes, some familiar and some brand new things are in store. Exciting things will be happening that is for sure and you won't want to miss it.

IFor the very first time, the venues will include the less-than-one-year-old Don Gibson Theater. Stages will include the Gibson, the Arts Center, and the Outdoor Stage on Washington Street. Thursday night and Friday night will feature the Arts Center and Don Gibson stages and Saturday's schedule will include both plus the Outdoor Washington Street stage which is free. On Saturday evening, the Don Gibson Theater will present its own special presentation which is a separate ticket.

The best way to keep up with everything is by visiting the Art of Sound web site at www.artofsoundcc.com. You'll find the list of performers, ticket information and other details. Check back too for more current updates.

We've got Big Band music, Singer-Songwriters, jazz, soul, bluegrass and some things that are hard to categorize. We'll give out two Heritage Bridge Awards for deep and lasting contributions to the musical landscape and there will be CD's and other items galore from the artists that come. Some will be brand new releases and you can get them signed on the spot.

On the same day as the Art of Sound main festival day (Saturday, October 23), the Liver Mush Festival will kick off the day and run most of the morning with events planned by the Uptown Shelby Association. So plan to come early, and or stay late. This is a great local “StayCation” event or a good excuse to visit us from out of town. Besides the Art of Sound web site, visit also these local folks for more information about how to best spend your time, your hard-earned dollars and let us know how you like it.

http://www.ccartscouncil.org
http://dgshelby.com
http://tourclevelandcounty.com/
http://cityofshelby.com/
http://www.broadrivergreenway.com
http://destinationclevelandcounty.com
http://www.uptownshelby.org/

Swing/Jazz Standards, Vintage Country, plus Don Gibson selections

2009-10-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

A group sure to please many folks during Art of Sound will be the duo of Roger Bellow and Vollie McKenzie, backed by Berita Martin on percussion and Robert Woodlowski on upright bass. Vollie and Roger both have some real good recorded music out and have been playing together over 20 years.

The heart and soul of this little ensemble is swing and jazz standards, classic vintage country, and originals with a bit of Don Gibson in the mix in honor of our home-town hero and legend. These are some fine musicians and one of their best assets is their choice of material and the sort of treatment they give it.

Vollie, Roger and the others are greatly respected among some mighty good performers around the country. Check out the CD sales area for Vollie’s “This Train” as well as two or three well done collaborations by Roger and some top-notch players. For a taste of Roger’s guitar work, check this out from his backing of Charleston singer Ann Caldwell at last year’s event.

Deeper Shade of Blue presents Art of Sound preview show

2009-10-05T17:45:00.000-07:00

You can listen to the Art of Sound preview show on Steve Leatherwood's "Deeper Shade of Blue" program on WGWG radio. Tune in to 88.3 or WGWG.org on Tuesday October 6, and again on Tuesday October 20. Air time is 7-9:00 PM.

Steve welcomes Art of Sound committee member Tommy Forney to the DSB studio for a fast two-hour run-down of nearly all the 2009 Art of Sound performers. Thanks Steve, for the opportunity to play recordings of our artists. Hope this will give some idea of the variety and quality of the music in store for this year's festival on October 22-24. As always, go the the website for the details, schedules, performers, local links, venues and ticket information. http://www.artfosoundcc.org

Thanks to The Star for being a media sponsor for Art of Sound.

Tori Sparks’ made “Merry-Go Round” video here

2009-09-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

Tori Sparks (Sat. - 5:15-6:00) is one hard-working DIY singer/songwriter/guitar player and part time Roller Derby aficionado. The roller derby part and the Nashville Roller Girls show up in her video for her song, "Merry-Go Round" which was made at the Shelby City Park Carrousel last spring.

She was looking for a carousel to use in the video when she was directed from her base in Nashville to Shelby. The restored ride proved to be the right backdrop for the project which can be viewed on her website, Myspace, or YouTube. Try ToriSparks.com for a link to all of the above.

With a background in theater, her songs and delivery tell stories, sometimes taken from her current life on the road self-promoting her music. Criss-crossing the country from New York to Wilmington to the west coast and back to Music City, she keeps up with fans via Twitter and all the rest.

But the Carousel Video brought her here and she will return for this year's Art of Sound, in a way to say thank you to the city that hosted the video shoot. Hold on to your socks when she comes on stage. She knows how to put on a good show, both visually and acoustically. Her voice will reach out and grab you and her guitar licks are strong and perfectly suited to the material which is recognizably personal and recognizably universal.

Art of Sound is happy that Tori has added us to the map of her widely traveled itinerary. She's right in the middle of a strong line-up Saturday in the First National Bank upstairs venue.

7th Annual Art of Sound Music Festival in Uptown Shelby.

2009-08-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

Cleveland County’s largest and oldest active music festival will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 22-24.

Sponsored by the Cleveland County Arts Council, over 30 bands, duos, and solo artists of all types will play Saturday from about mid-day until late evening and on two extra nights.

Venues will be an outdoor stage on Washington Street (Saturday, free), The Arts Center and the Ed Hamilton Banquet room inside First National Bank, all in Uptown Shelby on or near the Courthouse Square. Everything from solo songwriters and performers to jazz, bluegrass, country-rock, and old-time string band music will be featured.

Homegrown musical excellence will be joined by artists from Boston, Nashville, Washington D.C., Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina from Asheville to Chapel Hill.

Please call the Cleveland County Arts Council for information, or visit artofsoundcc.com for details and ticket prices or to find out about volunteer opportunities and sponsorship.

photos from last year: 2009 Art of Sound photos click this

Soon come!

2008-09-29T10:58:00.000-07:00

6th Annual Art of Sound Festival
When: October 17, 18, 19.
(Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday afternoon)
What: 30-some bands and performers on several stages throughout Uptown Shelby.
High quality music with something for everyone.
Sponsored by the Cleveland County Arts Center, the City of Shelby and others
For information, ticket prices and schedules please call 704-484-6476 or www.artofsoundcc.com
Volunteers always welcome.

The Cleveland County Arts Council and sponsors will proudly present the sixth annual version of the Art of Sound Music Festival the third weekend in October. There will be events all three days this year, from Friday, October 17, through Saturday and Sunday, the 18th and 19th.

As in previous years, Saturday’s lineup will comprise the bulk of the festival, from about 11:00 AM running until about 11:00 PM. The site will continue to be the Uptown Shelby area and several intimate venues including an outdoor (free) stage, the Arts Center, First National Bank, old Farmer’s Market (experience it for the last time before renovations begin), the student stage on the Courthouse Square, and Shelby Music Center .

Friday evening’s activities will consist of the Frank Love Orchestra at First National Bank, and Dale Brittain followed by Acoustic Syndicate at the Farmer’s Market Stage. On Sunday, the 19th, renowned mandolinist Mike Marshall will join the Shelby High Orchestra for a collaborative concert.

The weekend of top-notch music in many genres promises to be the best yet, building on a tradition begun in 2002 to showcase excellence in all types of music from the local area, the region, and beyond. There will be Bluegrass, Jazz, Gospel, Cajun, Celtic, Standards, acapella Gullah singers, Old-time string band music, Swing, and Country to name a few. The following is a sampling of the total package.

For the first time playing for a wide audience in the area, Harold Williamson brings his New Wondering Souls band to the Art of Sound stage. Harold grew up in Cleveland County, took his dreams to New York City and the stages and studios of Harlem and recorded albums, then brought his music back home and eventually recruited a band from this area and is recording and performing again. His music is original, with lyrics from his personal trials and triumphs. The sound is big and powerful vocally, deeply rooted in R & B and gospel instrumentation that will draw you in.

Bluegrass and some of its branches will be well represented, including solo work from second timer Jack Lawrence. The FlintHill Band continue to grow as local favorites. They’re writing good music and interpreting gems from the past. Dean Jencks is one that has picked up the challenge of working from the county that produced an icon like Earl Scruggs and he is one of the best. Tenor Harold Simpson is part of the vocal glue that holds together their trio and quartet work while contributing a solid and musical bass line.

The wooden floor of the Farmer’s market will provide a fitting canvas for three good string bands that not only play and sing great old time material, but also will provide a groove for anyone who feels the urge to shuffle their feet. This is the music that inspires the old southern flat foot and buck dancing that has gotten a little scarce in these parts. If you know someone who has held on to any of this old time dance tradition somewhere between square dancing and modern clogging, get them down to see the Slate Mountain Ramblers, the Buffalo Creek String Band, and the Hush Puppies. Fiddler Richard Bowman and family (Slate Mountain) always get a stage full of dancers to join them when they play places like the Tommy Jarrell Festival in Mount Airy. If you’re not familiar, this is basically one step back from bluegrass into a more dance-oriented groove.

Fans of jazzy stuff, big guitars and big vocals, will have a lot to enjoy. Calvin Edwards will get you moving to the sound of his archtop jazz guitar and a tight ensemble. Ann Caldwell and Roger Bellow will sing and play some of the best music ever composed. That’s the stuff we now affectionately call the standards. One Leg Up plays Swing in the tradition of Django Rhinehardt and Joe Venuti. It’s exciting just to be near this interplay of sounds. Carey’s Fridley’s bass and vocals anchor the swing guitars horn and strings -- you’re going to want to dance to this too.

IIIrd Tyme Out is one of the big names in bluegrass , winning awards for seven consecutive years as Best Vocal Group by the IBMA. Critics have called them “the complete band from stage left to stage right.” Founding member Russell Moore (guitar), Steve Dilling (banjo), Justin Haynes (fiddle), Wayne Benson (mandolin) and Edgar Loudermilk (bass) have carved out a place for themselves as a distinctive band, worthy of the role of one of our top draws for this year’s lineup.

Mama Said is back and we’re proud to claim them. Phil Ruff recently won the 2008 Chris Austin Songwriting contest at Merlefest in the Gospel category for “Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John.” Their new CD is called “Take Root” and is getting a lot of respect and airplay.

Speaking of traditional music, Gullah culture is the name given to the African American music from the South Carolina and Georgia coast and islands that came out of slavery days. Ann Caldwell and the Magnolia Singers will bring the unaccompanied sound of pure joy of living and spiritual roots from Charleston where they live and have played the Spoleto Festival. In this music are the roots of blues and jazz.

The Wrights are a husband and wife singing duets and carrying on the great Country tradition with a fresh and compelling sound. Adam and Shannon Wright, natives of Georgia, now work out of Nashville and write original material as well as interpreting others such as Willie Nelson and Don Williams.

The Old Ceremony will deliver a unique rock and roll experience drawing on a wide range of influences and instrumentation. The Chapel Hill based group defies general description but makes music that’s fun, danceable and sophisticated all at the same time.
Need Celtic music with bagpipes? Gael Warning is one of the projects that Tom Eure is associated with. See him alsowith Gator Gumbo for Cajun flavor or solo in the Early Bird Café.

The best way to plan your Art of Sound day and weekend, is to get a program (now available on the website), come early so you get the most value, and maybe make a point of trying something completely unknown. It’s not likely you’ll be disappointed.

Real to Reel International Film Festival and Hank Garland Tribute Music

2008-07-14T16:36:00.000-07:00

For several local musicians, a highlight experience was getting to meet and jam with one of the greatest and most influential country/jazz guitarists of the period between the late 1940's to the mid 1960's. The too-short but trail-blazing career of Cowpens, S.C. native Hank Garland is a compelling story now being told in a new movie making the festival rounds. It will be screened on Friday, July 25th at our sister festival, the “Real to Reel International Film Festival" at the Joy Theater in Kings Mountain. (www.realtoreelfest.com or 704-484-2787). A festival brochure is available at the Cleveland County Arts Council.

Note: musicians who knew Hank and his music will play at the post-festival party on Saturday night, July 26 at the Joy.

"Crazy" is the story of Hank Garland, who played on an unbelievable number of hits with artists like Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Don Gibson (“Blue, Blue Day”, “Sea of Heartbreak”), and worked in studios with Chet Atkins, Grady Martin, fiddler Tommy Jackson and other legends. But after a tragic and life-changing auto accident 15 years into his career, Hank had to relearn everything. The once lightening quick fingers that made "Sugarfoot Rag" into a sort of country anthem and explored the world of jazz guitar and stretched so many boundaries were never quite the same.

Hank lived out the rest of his 74 years with his brother Billy in Florida and his parents in Cowpens. That's where several local pickers pilgrimaged and played with the man that showed visitors gold records and memorabilia from the golden years of American music including the Gibson Byrdland Guitar that he and Billy Byrd (Ernest Tubb's long-time lead guitarist) designed and is still a sought after model.

It's a complicated story, but this movie captures the flavor of the time. It's authentic in details such as the guitars used, and the music is top-notch. The soundtrack was produced by Grammy winner Larry Kline.

The movie covers Hank’s rise to the highest ranks of hot solo guitar work and his stormy relationship with the business powers of the music industry. Hank began to be interested in jazz and his association with players who were outside of the Nashville mainstream such as the black players that he liked to jam with after hours didn’t help him get along with the what has been called the Nashville mafia. He eventually recorded a couple of highly respected jazz albums including “Jazz Winds From a New Direction” which is still considered a milestone recording today.

Crazy is only playing festivals at this time so it's appropriate that a quality story about a regional native son (practically next door) play our Real to Reel Film Festival this year. This is more of the rich heritage that came from local down home folk, but made it about as big as it gets in the industry. Bobbie (Mrs. Don) Gibson says, "Don was very close to Hank and never wanted to call him or other musicians “sidemen”. They were both about giving credit to the artists who made the music.

Some of Hank’s local family and friends and musician buddies will be at the Joy Theater anxious to see Hank remembered and exposed to a younger generation that may not be as familiar with what he did. They remember him as a true guitar hero and a genuine person and one of our own. On Saturday night July 26th after the movies and awards, there will be a live musical tribute in the lobby to celebrate the legend and the man, as well as a fun way to end this year’s version of Real to Reel.

Links:
http://www.crazy-themovie.com
http://www.myspace.com/hankgarland
Hank's Obituary by Eddie Stubbs

Thanks for your support in 07 - See you October 18th, 2008

2008-01-21T13:11:00.000-08:00

Art of Sound for 2007 was great, thanks to those who sponsored, supported and participated. Looking forward to the next one? We are.

Some highlights at this point are that we now have some YouTube videos posted and more to come. Visit our channel at http://www.youtube.com/artofsoundcc
We have our own videos by videographer Mary Lopez of Frank Love and Ray Ledford and of James Leva and Purgatory Mountain. Also in the process of gathering up any other Art of Sound youtubes to link from the Channel (Robin Rogers, Calvin Edwards, Ned Lucas Band, Two Dollar Pistols, No Alibi). Links to some videos by acoustic fingerpicking blues master Ernie Hawkins (AoS 2007) are linked as well.

Here's an excerpt from the Heritage Bridge Award presentation where 2007 winner Frank Love and 2005 winner Ray Ledford joined forces for a really nice short set of tunes.

2007 Heritage Bridge Award

2007-10-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

Heritage Bridge Award 2007 recipient is bandleader J. Frank Love, Jr.

The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 20 at 11:30 A.M. at the Arts Center during some of the opening festivities of this year’s Art of Sound Festival. The Frank Love Orchestra plays on Friday night, October 19th at 8 PM at the First National Bank Ed Hamilton Room. Check the Art of Sound web site for ticket and other information.

Frank Love has been making music in and around Cleveland County for over 60 years. Most of the time it’s been music in a big way, as in “Big Band” music. He has quite a following with the current versions of the Frank Love Orchestra (Big and small bands). But a lot of people may not know that Frank started out playing his trumpet in the 1930’s even before the WWII years and the grand popularity of Dorsey, Goodman and all the rest in the 40’s.

A good friend and fellow musician from Shelby was trumpeter Johnny Best. Best later moved to California and had a career that included playing in Glenn Miller’s band. Several years ago, Frank and other of Johnny’s friends brought him back to Shelby to play a concert in his hometown.

2005 Heritage Bridge Award recipient and guitarist Ray Ledford will join his longtime friend Frank Love to play a few numbers during the presentation. Also on the program to make the presentation are Patty Osborne Lee and Nancy Morgan. Patty, who went on to become Miss North Carolina in 1948, was a young singer from Lawndale who sang in one of Frank's early bands. When Paty married, she suggested Nancy Elam who sang with the band the next two years. Representing some of Frank's later successful efforts to organize his big band and on into the current version will be Homer Hayworth, Shelby High Band Director for many years.

Watch the newspaper and the Art of Sound web site for more details on Frank’s musical history and the way he has kept the rich sounds of the big band era alive for so many to enjoy.

For more information on the Cleveland County Arts Council/Art of Sound Festival's Heritage Bridge Award, please click here.

Who/What is James Leva and Purgatory Mountain?

2007-09-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

Onstage at the Arts Center at 5:30-6:30; Workshop at Shelby Music Center: 1:30 PM

Old-time music, "it's better than it sounds," goes the old saw. These guys have the chops. James learned all he could in person from Tommy Jarrell in Mount Airy and from other authentic old-time musicians. He's got 8 or 9 CD's out there with a mixture of traditional tunes and his own well-honed songs. Here's an article from Bluegrass Now magazine's Band to Watch column, September, 2007.

Mandolin/guitar player extraordinaire Danny Knicely used to be in McGraw Gap with Larry Keel, and has played with everybody including Tony Rice and Vassar Clements. Check out Danny with James on youtube here or with Kristin Andreassen and Mark Schatz here and here with Casey Driessen and Mark.

Al Tharp is based in Louisiana and plays in the famous Beuasoleil band and they played the Super Bowl. Al plays hot licks on the openback banjo as well as upright and (sometimes) electric bass. Matthew Gordon will be adding precussion, bones, fiddlesticks and traditional Appalachian dance to the mix (flat-foot, buck dancing, that's the idea).

So, when you see James Leva and Purgatory Mountain on the Art of Sound Festival schedule, you know to expect good music and musicianship, some traditional, some current and all a good way to spend an hour. Look for them at 1:30-2:45 at Shelby Music Center for a workshop on Appalachian Music and Dance (Danny's quite a teacher to tie some of the world's traditions and influences together -
...Here are Jame, Danny, Al and Megan Downs (filling in for Matthew Olwell and Matty Gordan) at Art of Sound 2007:

Plenty of amplified and rocking music - take your pick

2007-09-25T10:21:00.001-07:00

Tater, Audioform, Dorian Gris, Ned Lucas Band, No Alibi, David Childers and the Modern Don Juans, Dom Casual, The Carpenter Ants, even Calvin Edwards, Robin Rogers (blues), and Two Dollar Pistols (honky-tonk country) will be here for you if you like to hear it turned up a little bit.

Sure, the festival will have its singer songwriter, old-time, bluegrass and "Gypsy jazz" featuring the best acoustic leaning sounds, but we haven't left out rock, jam, jazz or blues, either. So if your tastes turn to the funkier, the louder, the feel-it-in-your-body type grooves, just check us out on October 20th (and 19th) and you'll find something to move to. Whether it's on the uptown outdoor stage or in one of the intimate venues (the largest indoor stage holds 225) there will be a huge variety of sounds and moods.

Just a couple of notes on these bands. Tater has a hot new CD and sound better than ever; Ned Lucas Band features a blues trio sound with Ned back and forth on Hammond Organ and guitars; Calvin Edwards has that urban blues thing going on. All three of these we're proud to say are local, as is Modern Don Juan guitarist Randy Saxon. Childers is from Mount Holly. No Alibi is based over in Boiling Springs.

Two of last year's NC performers honored

2007-09-18T08:19:00.001-07:00

Two veteran N.C. artists that performed at last year's festival are being honored at the state and national levels currently. George Shuffler, the guitarist who pioneered the "cross-picking" style with the Stanley brothers in the 50's and 60's will receive the annual Folk Heritage Award from the North Carolina Arts Council on October 25 in Raleigh, NC. This clip on Youtube shows the style with James Alan Shelton, current Ralph Stanley guitarist on their DVD Clinch Mountain Guitar.

Another N.C. Folk Heritage Award recipient who played at Art of Sound last year, African American string band musician Joe Thompson of Mebane, NC is being honored with the National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts this week in Washington, D.C. Joe joins Shelby native Earl Scruggs and many others in receiving this national honor. Here's a clip of Joe Thompson with the group he inspires and is a mentor to, the Carolina Chocolate Drops.

Ernie Hawkins - Acoustic Blues

2007-09-14T17:49:00.000-07:00

Ernie Hawkins will be bringing the blues home in a sense when he plays the this year's Art of Sound. His inspirations for learning to play this music and learning it well enough to be considered one of the most sought after teachers of the style include the great Piedmont blues players from the Carolinas. It was Rev. Gary Davis more than any other who was his teacher and connection to the music. Davis was born in Laurens SC and played on the streets around Durham NC (where he met Blind Boy Fuller) as a singing gospel preacher. He got to New York in about 1940. Check out "In This Land" (Death Don't Have No Mercy) here on youtube or this gospel number on Pete Seeger's television show. Gary Davis influenced everyone from Bob Dylan to Jerry Garcia to Peter Paul and Mary and David Bromberg. "In the liner notes to Davis' album Say No to the Devil, critic Larry Cohn compared his instrumental virtuosity in this regard to that of classical guitarist Andres Segovia and banjo player Earl Scruggs." - Paul Andersen Contemporary Musicians, April 1997

Besides Gary Davis, Ernie helps keeps alive the music of several artists from several states including Mance Lipscomb from Texas and Blind Willie McTell of Georgia. Mance Lipscomb from Navasota, Texas was the son of a slave from Alabama and took the name Mance from a friend named Emancipation. His father was a fiddler and his uncle a banjo player, another piece of evidence that blacks played the basically the same old time string band music that whites did. He considered himself a "Songster" because of the diversity of styles he played. His easy loping style can be witnessed in some of the video and other recordings made after he was "discovered" and brought to a wider audience in the 1960's. See and hear "Night Time is the Right Time". Playing the jacknife slide on "Jack of Spades".

Check out this amazing 1927 video of Blind Willie Johnson, another of the great acoustic blues players. Apparently the film is a reenactment or pantomime with the song, but powerful just the same.

Ernie's performance which will probably be a survey of all the great blues players from the tradition and a few of his own, is at 1 PM on Saturday at the Arts Center. His workshop at Shelby Music Center is at 3:00.

Tickets are on sale

2007-09-13T07:16:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendar and download a schedule (subject to mostly minor changes and additions).
Two Friday night shows on on the schedule for the first time this year. The Frank Love Orchestra will play for listening and dancing in the First National Bank Hamilton Room and the foot-stompin', good-time string band from Kansas City, The Wilders, will play a show at the Arts Center. Please visit the Art of Sound Website for all the details.

Saturday's lineup looks to be the best yet, with the usual small intimate venues, free outdoor stage, and a couple of first class workshops at Shelby Music Center. Other venues are the Arts Center, The Corner (Royster Building, old "Loy's"), The GSCT Stage (was Kiddo's Korner), the Hamilton Room at First National Bank, Central Methodist Church main sanctuary, and another free venue, the western steps of the 1907 Court House (Middle and High School Chorus groups).