The Dalton Little Theatre in Dalton, GA will host Live at the Firehouse, a songwriter showcase on January 26-27, 2007. The theatre is located in a renovated firehouse, which was built during the early 1900s. Invited participants include: Darin Aldridge, Earl Brackin, Louisa Branscomb, Nancy Cardwell, Wesley Crider, and Brian Ashley Jones.
Live at the Firehouse will begin at 8:00 p.m. on January 26 and 27, 2007. Seating is limited and reservations are strongly encouraged. The Dalton Little Theatre is located at 210 N. Pentz Street in the heart of downtown Dalton. For reservations contact the Dalton Little Theatre at 706-226-6618 or email dlt@optilink.us
Here is some background information about each of the songwriters participating in this event.
Multi-instrumentalist Darin Aldridge of Cherryville, NC currently performs with the Circuit Riders. He previously toured with Charlie Waller and the Country Gentlemen, The Darin Aldridge Band, Carolina Crossfire, Straight and Narrow, and has been nominated four times for SPBGMA mandolin player of the year. A prolific songwriter, his first solo project in 2000, “In Time” contained several of his originals and his 2004 solo album “Call It A Day” featured six cuts written or co-written by Aldridge.
Earl Brackin has had a vast array of musical experiences. He formerly performed with the bluegrass group Saugahatchie and the gospel group, Mainline – both based in Alabama. Brackin has also had considerable experience composing, arranging and even writing radio jingles. Several of Brackin’s original have been featured on recordings released by Mainline and others. Brackin has worked as a teacher in public and private education and he currently serves as the Minister of Worship at Evangelical Methodist Church.
Louisa Branscomb of the Cartersville, GA area is a name familiar to many in the world of bluegrass music. Her song "Steel Rails" has the distinction of being the longest running song on the bluegrass charts. Branscomb’s songs have been recorded by a list of top recording artists, including Alison Krauss, John Denver, Dale Ann Bradley, Valerie Smith, The McPeak Brothers, Fontana Sunset, Boot Hill, and too many others to list. A recipient of many awards, Branscomb was honored with the IBMA Recorded Event of the Year award in 2006, for her contributions to the Daughters of Bluegrass recording project. Her achievements and contributions to the music industry were recently recognized when she was inducted into the Hall of Honor of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame.
Nancy Cardwell is a "lifer" when it comes to bluegrass music. She grew up in a family band in the Missouri Ozarks, performing on her father’s live radio show, at Branson theme parks, for the National Parks Service, and a variety of gigs including libraries, coon hunts and Sunday School picnics. Ms. Cardwell has performed with numerous regional and touring bands. In addition to free-lancing as an upright bass player in the Nashville area, Cardwell currently performs with The Persimmon Sisters of Kentucky. She has served as the Special Projects Director for the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) since 1994, and she is a current member of the International Bluegrass Music Museum Board of Trustees. She has been a freelance writer since 1980 for Bluegrass Unlimited, and has also written for Bluegrass Now. In 2006 Nancy received the Charlie Lamb Award for Country Music Journalism from the International Country Music Conference at Belmont University in Nashville.
Brian Ashley Jones is a versatile singer and songwriter who draws from a variety of influences ranging from rock, blues, country, and bluegrass. Based in Nashville and Atlanta, Jones has maintained an active musical schedule since 1991, averaging 200 to 250 live shows a year both as a solo artist and playing guitar, bass, and mandolin for others. 1997 saw the release of Jones’ first CD of original material entitled Come Out and Play. Jones’ second CD Courier was released in 2002. He is currently working on his third CD of original material as well as producing demos for other singer/songwriters at The Brick House in Nashville.
Wesley Crider of Ringgold, GA is a fingerstyle guitarist that has attracted a lot of attention. A national award winning guitarist, Crider has participated in numerous recording projects and is known for his clean crisp picking. Wallace Guitars, a custom builder of instruments produces a Wesley Crider Signature Model acoustic guitar.
