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Randy Waller and the Country Gentlemen
Scott Boyer
Donnie Fritts
Lightnin Charlie
Paul Thorn
April Taylor
Blue Mother Tupelo
Delbert McClinton
Every part of the USA offers its own brand of biking pleasure-- the locations for past annual gatherings were chosen because they offered many nearby miles of choice blacktop. This year's Rally is no different, but now there's an extra dimension to be savored - 2009 Rally participants will find themselves treated to some of the best live entertainment ever presented by the BMW MOA. Northeastern Tennessee, the very heart of Appalachia's most beautiful rolling ridges and valleys, is also the historical cradle of almost all original American music. Your Rally Chairmen have made sure that your weekend in Johnson City TN will find you surrounded by the most exciting and legendary performers of the Authentic Southern Sound. From campground picking sessions, to old-time fiddlin' competitions, to classic rock and blues on the Main Stage at the fairgrounds, the 37th International Rally will long be remembered for bringing new meaning to "the rhythm of the road."
Three consecutive nights of music at the rally site itself will serve up a taste of every sound the region's known for--- the free-standing festival stage will allow listeners to gather in groups of any size, in folding chairs and blankets on an expansive grassy area adjacent to the Beer Garden, convenient to restrooms and the nearby campground. The show begins each evening before sundown, and goes deep into the last hours of the day, so those who are long out on the road will still have plenty of time to enjoy the concerts.
Thursday kicks off at 7pm with bluegrass master Randy Waller, whose four-piece band The Country Gentlemen reincarnates the legendary combo fronted by his famous dad Charlie. Mixing fifty years of vintage compositions with contemporary pickin' angles, the weekend's opening act sets the tone for what's to come. Then 9pm brings blistering guitarist Lightnin' Charlie to the stage, backed by one of the hottest live blues bands on the circuit today, The Upsetters. Known for his inventive Stratocaster skills, Charlie recalls Howlin' Wolf, Solomon Burke, and the rockabilly masters all at one time - he's full blast for two hours, and you won't forget a minute of it.
Friday's Main Stage lineup offers three very different performers, who nonetheless all represent the Deep South style. Blue Mother Tupelo steps up at 6:30, to get things rolling with their homegrown blend of "Swampadelic Southern Soul Rock" - Ricky and Micol Davis distill the most energetic elements of Tennessee, Texas, and Tchoupitoulas in a hot set of fiery regional boogie. Next up is the indescribable poet, prophet, and ex-boxer Paul Thorn - son of a Mississippi Pentecostal preacher, and creator of the region's most unique blend of rock, gospel, and rhythm and blues. Thorn is a genuine Southern paradox, a bona fide tough guy with a feeling for the social fugitive - his lyrics are true literature, his show nothing short of uplifting. Both acts are fitting lead-ins to the headliner, Delbert McClinton, the famous Fort Worth phenomenon and veteran of four decades of trailblazing America's blues/rock highways. He scored hits like "Giving It Up For Your Love" and "Sandy Beaches" won a Grammy with Bonnie Raitt for their "Good Man/Good Woman" duet, and over the years has enjoyed covers of his songs by Emmylou Harris, The Blues Brothers, Vince Gill, Wynonna, Lee Roy Parnell, Martina McBride, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, among others. Delbert's powerhouse band features the world's strongest collection of backup rhythm and horn players, and will shake the stage until at least midnight.
Saturday evening entertainment begins with Bristol native April Taylor, who has scorched the Music Row charts as Top Female Independent Artist of the year for 2008. She'll render her version of the national anthem, then charm the audience for another hour with the hits she's crafted from her home base of Nashville. April's show then morphs into a unique night-long revue of Southern-fried rock, blues, and soul, orchestrated by one of the genre's elemental lynchpin musicians, Scott Boyer. As a central player in the national heyday of classic Southern Rock, Scott has called together a stunning collection of his friends and compatriots, all of whom have been long-time members of chart-topping groups from that era - now appearing in an ever-changing assemblage known as The Decoys. They'll commit to a standout selection of original material, then serve as the backing band for consecutive sets by Russell Smith, lead vocalist and writer for The Amazing Rhythm Aces, and prolific songwriter Donnie Fritts, whose work has spun gold for an incredible list of Billboard's most celebrated and recognized artists. Many of these musicians are old friends who have played with each other repeatedly over the years, so we can expect to be treated to some exciting, unprecedented jams and improvisations - with the possibility of additional guest artists dropping in for the
show, it'll feel like an old-style family reunion.
In addition to the scheduled Main Stage presentations, the Rally site will be host to a number of impromptu area performers, who have been invited to come in and play street-style - solo, duo, and trio players will be found during the day at various places in the fairgrounds, giving listeners a free sampling of their talents, in exchange for tips and CD sales. Members are encouraged to bring their own instruments, to join and learn from spontaneous interaction with these artists and each other. Plans are also in the works for an open-mike stage, offering a public platform for anyone who feels the urge to contribute to the weekend's musical energy.
Anyone who's ever spent time in the Deep South knows that homegrown music is essential to the culture... and if you're planning to gather for a good time, the sound of singing and dancing is going to be part of it. Along with fine regional food and the world's friendliest faces, this year's live entertainment will surely make the 2009 Rally an event to remember!
WEB SITES FOR ARTISTS:
www.myspace.com/russellsmiththeaces
