Local Events in Nelsonville, New York
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:00:00 +0000
Age Limit: All Ages
Carolina Chocolate Drops
When: Feb 26, 2012 8:00:00 PM in Nelsonville, Ohio
Cost: $20-30 per person
Hitch-Hikers
Fri, 25 May 2012 20:00:00 +0000
Hitch-Hikers
The Hitch Hikers 2nd Reunion Concert (Dedicated to the memory of Chuck Mohney).
On Friday May 25, 2012 the Hitch Hikers will be back at Stuart’s Opera House for their second reunion concert. Mike likes to call it “The Second Annual Final Warning”. At 7:00 pm the doors will open for another two hours of vintage rock starting at 8:00 pm. The members of the Hitch Hikers are: Terry Daugherty (keyboards), Zach Daugherty (guitar) Phil Fawcett (guitar), Jon Flowers (vocals), Mike Guess (drums), and Dusty Johnson (bass).
Friday, May 25, 2012 at 8:00 PM
Stuart's Opera House
52 Public Square
Nelsonville, OH 45764
Phone: (740) 753-1924
E-Mail: dan@stuartsoperahouse.org
When: May 25, 2012 8:00:00 PM in Nelsonville, Ohio
Cost: General Admission $10.00
8th annual Nelsonville Music Festival
Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000
May 18-20, 2012
Stuart's Opera House presents the 8th annual Nelsonville Music Festival! Three days of live music, camping, kids activities, art vendors, beer garden, and more all at Robbins Crossing on the campus of Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio. Past performers have included The Flaming Lips, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Neko Case, George Jones, Yo La Tengo, The Avett Brothers, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, The Swell Season, Mudhoney, Man Man, and more! Much more information as we get closer, but check out www.nelsonvillefest.org for more information!
When: May 18, 2012 12:00:00 AM to May 20, 2012 12:00:00 AMin Nelsonville, Ohio
An Evening with Dwight Icenhower
Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:00:00 +0000
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 8:00pm
Stuart’s Opera House welcomes nationally recognized Elvis tribute artist Dwight Icenhower to Nelsonville for what is sure to be an amazing show. If you are an Elvis fan, look no further, Dwight is the real deal. Dwight Icenhower was raised in Pomeroy, Ohio and began his Elvis career by singing karaoke at a local fair when he was just 16 years old. Now, he is one of the very few Elvis Tribute Artists that have made a full-time career out of keeping the legend alive. Dwight performs 4-5 shows weekly and he keeps the audiences asking for more. Born four years after the King passed away, he has studied every move that Elvis made and has mastered the 50's, 60's, and 70's eras of Elvis' career. Dwight packed the Opera House last January, so make sure to get your tickets right now!
Dwight has performed all over the United States and is planning to perform across the world soon. He's had the opportunity to share the stage with some personal friends of Elvis including: DJ Fontana, The Jordanaires, The Sweet Inspirations, Cynthia Pepper, Julie Parrish, Charlie Hodge, and Joe Esposito. Because of his good looks and amazing voice Dwight has sometimes even been mistaken for Elvis himself. He continues to awe audiences of all ages and his fans enjoy him both on and off stage.
Floor: $25 adv • $30 door | Balcony: $20 adv • $25 door | Box: $30 adv • $35 door
When: Feb 18, 2012 8:00:00 PM in Nelsonville, Ohio
Rhonda Vincent
Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:00:00 +0000
Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 3:00pm
Stuart's welcomes back the "new Queen of Bluegrass" Rhonda Vincent for what promises to be another great show, this time a SPECIAL Sunday matinee! Rhonda has been to Nelsonville countless times and always packs the house, so get your tickets right away. If you are a fan of bluegrass it doesn't get better than this. With over seventy awards to their name, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage are the most celebrated band in bluegrass, with honors including a coveted Entertainer of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and a staggering seven consecutive IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards.
To another artist at a similar point in their career, the idea of self-producing a new album, recording it in their own studio, and then releasing it on their own label, would be an unthinkable gamble, fraught with loose ends, complications, and a distracting degree of responsibility. For Rhonda Vincent, however, it is simply the next logical step. Among the most complete and accomplished artists of her generation – in any genre – Vincent was born into a performing family, and from an early age has dedicated herself to understanding and excelling at every element of her craft. She is quick to point out that she is not infallible: in fact, her willingness to take chances and then diligently assess the results afterwards has insured her continuing artistic and professional growth.
“With every album that I make,” she reflects, “I learn something. Sometimes it’s something I could or should be doing, sometimes it’s something not to do. I’ve done this all of my life, and I’ve come to realize that if the experience is not pleasant, you need to find something you can take away from it…” She applies those lessons exquisitely to Taken, her first album on her own Upper Management imprint, available in stores on September 21, 2010.
Famously crowned as “the new queen of bluegrass” by the Wall Street Journal, and indeed the most decorated musician in that field, Vincent’s music is actually much more inclusive and accessible than that banner would suggest, incorporating savvy contemporary touches while drawing deeply from the haunting mountain soul of classic Monroe-styled bluegrass. The presence on Taken of special guests ranging from Dolly Parton to Richard Marx to Little Roy Lewis affirms Vincent’s wide-ranging vision.
One of the defining aspects of bluegrass – and a prominent thread running through Taken – is that it is, first and foremost, a communal music. While famously self-reliant, Vincent is also proud to acknowledge and incorporate the contributions of the Rage, her longtime backing band, which consists of Hunter Berry (fiddle), Mickey Harris (bass), Ben Helson (guitar), and Aaron McDaris (banjo, guitar). Bucking the trend of recording with overly-familiar session musicians, then taking to the road with a different group of players, Vincent not only uses the Rage throughout Taken – she credits them as her co-producers, giving each member the opportunity to contribute to the final product.
“It’s a collective venture,” she says with pride. “Everyone brings something. I’m open to listening to them and asking, ‘What do you hear on this?’ They are free to use their imagination. It’s so nice to let everyone individually critique their own work. We’re coming together for a common goal…”
While Vincent’s new label arrangement introduces a bold new degree of accountability, she has never let business scenarios affect her artistic decisions. “I don’t think that changes anything,” she says. “I’m passionate about the music, no matter what. With every project, I just want to create the best album that I can. When you make a change like this, people assume there’s going to be this big difference in everything you do – but the only difference is the label. It was recorded in my studio, where I’ve been working since 2005, and I recorded it with Bil VornDick engineering, who I’ve worked closely with before.”
Indeed, Rhonda Vincent has earned and benefited from a lifetime’s worth of experience, gathered in a remarkably short time. The fifth generation of musicians in her family, Vincent was quite literally born into the business. Her parents Johnny and Carolyn helmed the popular bluegrass outfit the Sally Mountain show, with whom Rhonda made her stage debut at age five, singing and tapping a snare drum. She began playing mandolin onstage at age eight, and quickly mastered an array of stringed instruments, from guitar to fiddle. As she grew as a vocalist and musician, she augmented her love of traditional bluegrass with a growing appreciation for such contemporary mavericks as the New Grass Revival and Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. She made the transition from being a member of the Sally Mountain Show to a being a solo artist, cutting her first solo album in 1986.
After a series of well-received solo recordings for venerable bluegrass label Rebel Records, Vincent signed to Giant Records for a pair of major-label country projects – an invaluable experience that greatly furthered her understanding of the music business. Her triumphant return to bluegrass began with her 1999 signing to Rounder Records, and continued through a series of acclaimed releases which grew her audience exponentially and made her the recipient of vast critical acclaim, commercial success, radio airplay (with several long-term, chart-topping appearances on the Bluegrass Unlimited survey), and heightened visibility in the media, including a top-five video on CMT for “You Can’t Take It With You When You Go.” Her eight Rounder albums (including a beloved Christmas collection Beautiful Star and the powerful, in-concert career survey Ragin’ Live, also released on DVD) established her as an inventive, intuitively ingenious recording artist, blending the very best of the classic and modern.
With over seventy awards to their name, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage are the most celebrated band in bluegrass, with honors including a coveted Entertainer of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and a staggering seven consecutive IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards. In 2001, Vincent signed a high-profile endorsement contract with Martha White baking products, the company who first sponsored bluegrass icons Flatt and Scruggs in 1953. Like Flatt and Scruggs before her, Vincent now rolls into every show on the Martha White Bluegrass Express tour bus, and she has even composed a new Martha White theme song.
Despite all that she has achieved, Vincent is still seeking new challenges. For Taken, she reasserts herself as an instrumentalist, playing all of the mandolin on the album. “It became a personal goal for me,” she explains. “That’s one of the liberating things: it’s on my label, it’s in my studio. Before, I had budget restraints that limited the amount of time I could spend. I’d be so busy that I couldn’t prepare, and I’d just send in Hunter and he’d do it in one or two takes. This time, I mentally prepared myself, and as I get into it, it got so much easier. I’m thrilled that I’ve done it.” Her playing on Taken is a handy reminder that she is a notable, underrated stylist on the instrument, capable of everything from funky, driving Monroe-styled breaks on “Court of Love” to the ringing, intricate cross-picking on “Tonight My Baby’s Coming Home.”
Her playing, and that of the Rage, is unfailingly crisp, tasteful, and in full service of the song at hand. Taken is refreshingly free of unnecessary ornamentation (vocal or instrumental), with all elements focusing on the spirit of the song at hand. Vincent took special care to consider as many songs as possible for Taken, auditioning material from established songwriters and newcomers alike, with quality being the only deciding factor. “Sweet Summertime,” the breezy first single, comes from the pen of new discovery Donna Webster, and is a fond, wistful remembrance that is already becoming a favorite of fans who have heard it in concert. Billy Sherrill’s “Tonight My Baby’s Coming Home,” previously recorded by both Tammy Wynette and Barbara Mandrell, is a clever reverse-trucker song, sung from the woman at home’s point of view and boasting a witty guitar solo from Ben Helson that combines low, country-style twang with nimble bluegrass flat picking.
While the Rage provides the core instrumental and vocal support on Taken, a small group of carefully considered guests were invited to contribute. “I don’t bring in guests just to bring in guests,” Rhonda explains. “It has to be something that makes sense musically. Like, when were doing vocals for ‘In the Garden by the Fountain,’ I could just hear Dolly Parton singing the high harmony in my head, so I called her, and luckily her schedule worked out.” Dolly’s pristine mountain harmony brings out both the sadness and the joy of the bittersweet track, which features a poignant lyrical twist at the song’s conclusion. Most surprising among the guests is pop hit maker Richard Marx, a longtime friend of Vincent’s, who contributes a devastatingly subtle harmony to the title track, raising the emotional level of the song substantially. Most thrilling to Vincent, however, is the presence of her daughters Sally and Tensel Sandker, who perform in their own band Next Best Thing, and contribute lead and harmony vocals on “When the Bloom is Off the Rose.” “That is one of my proudest moments,” Vincent says of the recording. “Just to hear that played back and say, ‘These are my daughters.’ And you know how family harmonies are. That song has a buzz that you just can’t get any other way. I can’t wait for folks to hear that.”
Taken concludes on a profoundly optimistic note, with Vincent joined by pre-teen vocalists Isaac Moore and Hannah Harper to perform “You Must Have a Dream.” The song’s uplifting message is deepened profoundly by the young vocalists’ astonishingly mature performances, backed by a choir of other young singers. “That song,” Vincent says, smiling, “is different from anything I’ve done.” With a career spanning so many decades, albums, and session, that is no small feat.
Looking back on the sessions, which took place between the tireless band’s incredibly busy performance schedule, Vincent immediately credits those around her. “Every person in my band rose to a new level of playing on this project. Hunter blew me away with his fiddle part on ‘Taken’ – I’ve never heard him play with such grace. Aaron’s banjo playing is so tasteful, yet surprising. Ben is only 23 years old and his guitar work has grown so much in one year – and it started out great! Mickey is the rock of the band, a great songwriter and singer in addition to a bassist. These guys can play a tender ballad just as easily as high-powered bluegrass. That’s rare. The abilities and the connections we have amaze me, but you have to do what’s best for the song. In the end, it’s very humbling…”
When: Apr 15, 2012 3:00:00 PM in Nelsonville, Ohio
Greg Brown
Fri, 30 Mar 2012 20:00:00 +0000
Friday, March 30, 2012 at 8:00pm
ON SALE NOW! Greg Brown's songwriting has been lauded by many, and his songs have been performed by Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Michael Johnson, Shawn Colvin, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. He has also recorded more than a dozen albums, including his 1986 release, Songs of Innocence and of Experience, when he put aside his own songwriting to set poems of William Blake to music. One Big Town, recorded in 1989, earned Brown three and a half stars in Rolling Stone, chart-topping status in AAA and The Gavin Report's Americana rankings and Brown's first Indie Award from NAIRD (National Association of Independent Record Distributors). The Poet Game, his 1994 CD, received another Indie award from NAIRD. His critically acclaimed 1996 release, Further In, was a finalist for the same award. Rolling Stone's four-star review of Further In called Brown "a wickedly sharp observer of the human condition." 1997's Slant 6 Mind (Red House Records) earned Brown his second Grammy nomination. His latest CD, One Night (Red House), is a re-release of a 1983 live performance originally on Minneapolis' Coffeehouse Extemporé Records.
Greg Brown's mother played electric guitar, his grandfather played banjo, and his father was a Holy Roller preacher in the Hacklebarney section of Iowa, where the Gospel and music are a way of life. Brown's first professional singing job came at age 18 in New York City, running hootenannies (folksinger get-togethers) at the legendary Gerdes Folk City. After a year, Brown moved west to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where he was a ghostwriter for Buck Ram, founder of the Platters. Tired of the fast-paced life, Brown traveled with a band for a few years, and even quit playing for a while before he moved back to Iowa and began writing songs and playing in midwestern clubs and coffeehouses.
Reserved Seats: $25 adv • $30 door | Box Seats: $30 adv • $35 door
For more information: gregbrown.org
When: Mar 30, 2012 8:00:00 PM in Nelsonville, Ohio
ABC Players present "The Taming of the Shrew"
Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000
May 10-13, 2012
Athenian Berean Community Players present The Taming of the Shrew, William Shakespeare's classic battle of the sexes. Directed by Celeste Parsons.
When: May 10, 2012 12:00:00 AM in Nelsonville, Ohio
John Gorka
Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:00:00 +0000
Friday, March 2, 2012 at 8:00pm
Stuart's Opera House welcomes folk singer-songwriter John Gorka to our stage! Rolling Stone calls Gorka "the leading singer/songwriter of the New Folk movement." John Gorka has been playing folk music all around the country around 25 years putting out his 11th album this year. Energetic acoustic music that is not a trend, not a fad, but an expression of everyday life, is his trademark. John’s rich baritone voice and unique songcraft weave a magical spell that can only be described as ‘Gorka.’ His songs have been recorded and played by Mary Chapin Carpenter and Nancy Griffith over the years and he has graced the stages of Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage, and countless others over the years. John Gorka carries on the time honored tradition of real folk music. Don't miss this show!
Box: $25 adv • $30 door | Floor: $20 adv • $25 door | Balcony: $17 adv • $22 door
When: Mar 2, 2012 8:00:00 PM in Nelsonville, Ohio
The Hitch-Hikers 2nd Reunion Concert
Fri, 25 May 2012 20:00:00 +0000
Friday, May 25, 2012 at 8:00pm
The Hitch Hikers 2nd Reunion Concert (Dedicated to the memory of Chuck Mohney). On Friday May 25, 2012 the Hitch Hikers will be back at Stuart’s Opera House for their second reunion concert. Mike likes to call it “The Second Annual Final Warning”. At 7:00 pm the doors will open for another two hours of vintage rock starting at 8:00 pm. The members of the Hitch Hikers are: Terry Daugherty (keyboards), Zach Daugherty (guitar) Phil Fawcett (guitar), Jon Flowers (vocals), Mike Guess (drums), and Dusty Johnson (bass).
Terry, Jon and Mike graduated from Nelsonville High School in 1966, and are especially fond of their high school memories, old neighborhoods, and good people. Phil also has ties with Nelsonville and is fondly remembered as a favorite teacher as well as a winning coach. Zach is Terry’s grandson, and Dusty is Terry’s soon to be grandson-in-law. The residents of Nelsonville reached out in a big way to help the band in 2011. They offered love and financial support by attending the band’s first concert in 45 years. That concert on May 27 was given as a benefit to the late Chuck Mohney, the original bassist with the Hitch Hikers.
Now the Hitch Hikers would now like to give something back to the community they love. All proceeds (net of venue and concert expenses) from this concert will be donated to the Nelsonville Food Cupboard. So come out, have fun, take a trip back to the sixties! The band has asked that you bring at least one non-perishable food item with you when you come to the concert. That way we can all immediately start helping those in need. See you there!
When: May 25, 2012 8:00:00 PM in Nelsonville, Ohio
ABC Players present "25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"
Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000
March 9-10 + March 16-18, 2012
The Athenian Berean Community Players present The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the Tony Award winning hit musical about surviving adolescence. Directed by Sylvia Abbott. Musical Direction by Lynn Sullivan.
When: Mar 9, 2012 12:00:00 AM in Nelsonville, Ohio
