Pittsboro is celebrating the reopening of the Chatham County Courthouse with a Street Party on April 20, 2013. We'll feature some great local entertainment, so be sure to come out to join the crowd. Here's the lineup:
6PM - 7PM - Bluegrass
Tommy Edwards and the Chatham County Friends
7PM - 8PM - Vintage Country
Kitty Box and the Johnnys
8PM - 9PM - Rock and Roll
The Breaks
The bands will play in front of the courthouse on Hillsboro Street.
Parking and Transportation:
Parking available at the Alpha Install Lot and the Old Ford Lot. Chatham Transit Network will provide a shuttle service running every 15 minutes between 5:30 PM and 9:00 PM. Their vehicles will be wheelchair accessible. We humbly thank our event sponsors for generously providing this free parking and transit service.
Detailed Bios:
The Chatham County Friends
Chatham County is known for its
contribution to the traditional string music known as Bluegrass. The Chatham
County Friends is a foursome composed of pickers from across that county. They
sing and accompany themselves on guitar, mandolin, banjo and acoustic bass. All
have performed professionally for many years.
John Fredericks. A mainstay of several area bands, John is
known for his distinctive voice and his rock solid guitar playing. He lives in
the northern part of Chatham.
Acoustic bassist Thomas “Snuffy” Smith and
multi-instrumentalist Tommy Edwards live in Pittsboro and are among the
co-founders of one of North Carolina’s most respected bluegrass bands, The
Bluegrass Experience. They have performed and recorded together for over 42
years. And speaking of recordings, Tommy’s latest solo project, “North
Carolina: History, Mystery, Lore and More” has been received favorably by both
critics and the public. It was subject of an article in Our State magazine last
year. And The Bluegrass Experience has twice been chosen to perform at that
publications “Best of Our State” events.
Siler City’s Jerry Stuart is a true pioneer in bluegrass
music. The internationally known songwriter and mandolinist began performing
while still in high school, playing at special events and on a weekly radio
show. After high school he continued his education in the Washington, DC area
where he became a standout performer in the area’s lively bluegrass music
scene. He subbed for Bluegrass Hall of Honor member John Duffy in the Country
Gentlemen, played in a band with Hall of Honor bassist Tom Gray and
collaborated with him in writing several songs. One of his original
compositions was featured on Folkways’ “Mountain Music, Bluegrass Style”, which
was the second “Long Playing” album of bluegrass music ever released. Forsaking
a career as a touring musician (he turned down an offer from the legendary
Stanley Brothers) he returned to Siler City where he continued to play extensively with The Green Valley Ramblers, winning
prizes at national and regional competitions and continuing to write. He was
recruited by County Records to do a solo project which he recorded with the
help of several of his band mates as well as his old friend Tom Gray. “Rocky
Run” showcased Stuarts’ mandolin virtuosity as well as several of his original
tunes. He has been named a Chatham County Treasure by ChathamArts, one of only
two artists to have been so designated. The other is Clyde Jones. Stuart continues
to perform frequently with his son Doug and daughter-in-law Stacey in the band
Coyote Ridge.
The Chatham County Friends look forward to playing for their
neighbors and visitors at the celebration of the restoration of The Chatham
County Courthouse.
Kitty Box and the Johnnys
Taz Halloween started Kitty
Box and The Johnnys way back in 2001. She shamelessly wrote the
original songs in as many styles of vintage country as she could,
"borrowing" from the styles of Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline, George
Jones, Loretta Lynn, even the Beatles (yes, The Beatles had a country flavored
song or 2) and, of course, Johnny Cash. Most of the originals that they
will be performing today are those songs.
Her pen went scratchin' to paper (a
paper bag one time when the inspiration hit & no notepad was in sight)
every time there was a breakup between her and a particular "beau".
She noticed that the only thing that they really had in common was a love for
Dwight Yoakum, so it was only fittin' for the songs to be in a country style of
some sort or another.
Many Johnnys have come and gone through the years - all
lent their styles and interpretations to the tunes. Most of the songs are
what Taz calls tongue in cheek and furrowed brow. Darkly funny. She was born
in Chatham County, Georgia (Savannah) but grew old, not up, in North
Carolina. She is very proud to reside in Chatham County, North Carolina.
Marty
Johnson has been her pillar of strength & humor since 2003. He joined the
band draggin' his feet, yet willingly. He is a multitalented/faceted musician,
but when they met, he was more of a funk bass player. Country is in his genes,
but he belongs to the Church of Bootsy Collins and Curtis Mayfield. He is the
only Chatham County native in the band and has many colorful, rib achin'
tales to tell. Luke McMahan used to live in Asheboro, but recently
relocated to Pittsboro with his young bride, Kristen. He is a genius mixologist
of the sound board kind & drummer extraordinaire. His musical background is
more that of a rockin', harder edge, but he knows how to mix the batter and make sounds like curtains swayin' to a warm spring breeze in a kitchen
window. He is the youngest in the band, yet is always spoutin' words of wisdom and info and keeps us laughin'. We all love to laugh. We are so lucky to
have such a wiz as a drummer and sound savant.
And Lastly, but not least,
Pete Gamble on guitar. Pete most recently was in the band Killer Filler, a surf
instrumental group. He has played in many bands, lived many places on the
globe, but he comes to Chatham County to practice, tell tales, wail and laugh
with us and we, again are so very grateful. He is an ace locksmith by day.
Night. Noon. He picks us out of and into a jam all of the time. Pete also has
many anecdotes, loves to laugh and loves us and that is key.
Much more to
tell, but you'll just have to get to know us and we'll trade stories. Taz is
very honored and grateful that even when she doesn't feed her Johnnys, they
keep comin' back. Lucky gal and lucky Ya'll. Kitty Box and The Johnnys will
be playing at Sadlacks on 4/21/13, at The Cozy Cabin in Chatham on 5/05/13 and at The City Tap on 5/24/13. It is our honor to be playing for Ya'll today
on this occasion. Thank You.
The Breaks
Electric General is the third release from the North Carolina
ensemble and it marks a significant development for the band. Most strikingly,
the synth textures that were a prominent part of their sound are gone.
The band has emerged with a leaner and more aggressive sound
as each member carved out new territory in the frequencies abdicated by the
keyboards. Steve Carr’s guitar is more massive and detailed while the rhythm
section of Traywick Batson and Brunson Hoole is decidedly more active. John
Enslinn’s taut delivery is as potent as ever and his lyrics benefit from the
extra space in the midrange.
Appreciation for our Event Partners:
Alpha Install is contracted to perform installations of
computers, wireless data network devices, GPS receivers, and specialty antennas
into vehicle fleets and, in some cases, into fixed-point locations like retail
outlets, or substations. Check out the very cool facade improvements they have planned for their building. Its great to see positive investments in downtown properties.
The Chatham Transit Network offers public transportation
around Chatham County, between Siler City, Pittsboro and Chapel Hill, as well as point to point service for medical appointments.
Thanks also to the owners and managing realtors of the Old Ford Lot; your civic mindedness is much appreciated.
Celebrations and Ceremonies earlier in the day:
The County has a Grand Reopening Ceremony planned for earlier in the day. Tours of the interior will be available including the new museum managed by the
Chatham Historical Association. I'll update the Parks Blog with details as they're released. This will be an historic event you wont want to miss.
