An Evening of Original Roots Music and Bluegrass with Shawn Lane, Darren Nicholson, and Reed Jones
March 29th
Doors Open at 6pm Concert at 7pm
Featuring-
Darren Nicholson (Darren Nicholson Band)
Shawn Lane (Blue Highway)
Reed Jones (Redline/Someday Morning)
$20 per ticket -
The show will mix up a songwriter-in-the-round feel with a harder hitting concert format
Free Coffee and Bean-to-Bar Chocolate tasting.
Shawn Lane, Darren Nicholson, and Reed Jones In the realm of acoustic, roots, and bluegrass music, authenticity and originality seldom converge in a meaningful way. But Shawn Lane, Darren Nicholson, and Reed Jones are a welcome and refreshing exception to that tired rule. GRAMMY nominations, IBMA awards, and #1 original bluegrass songs abound with this combo, and this legacy of musical success is built on the foundation of millions of miles traveled, countless stages graced, and innumerable connections made through the gift of music. They understand who they are, where they come from, and why that matters when it comes to crafting songs and performances that impact people. Simply put, they create real music for real people, and it’s really strong.
Shawn Lane is a legend in the acoustic music world. He has built a reputation and career on his abilities as a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter, having played in such acts as Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder and Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver before leaving a massive mark on the bluegrass world with the band Blue Highway, which he co-founded in 1994, and which is broadly held up as the perfect example of how a modern band can contribute new original music to the genre’s heralded songbook. It’s safe to say that you would be hard-pressed to find a bluegrass musician today that doesn’t bear the indelible mark of Shawn’s impact on the bluegrass world.
A product of the mountains and culture of Western North Carolina, Darren Nicholson has lived American roots and bluegrass music his entire life. He is a first-rate mandolinist, guitarist, singer, and songwriter, as he has demonstrated in his years alongside artists like Alecia Nugent and Balsam Range, the acclaimed bluegrass band he helped form in 2007. Most recently, he’s experienced immense success with the Darren Nicholson Band, having written numerous #1 bluegrass singles and continuing to connect with audiences like only he can. There are often virtuosic musicians and great performers, but rarely does an artist embody both of those traits so fully as does Darren Nicholson.
Reed Jones comes by this music honestly with roots in the great Appalachian Migration, and honesty perfectly describes his musical identity. As one critic recently put it, “He makes it mean something to the listener.” For nearly 14 years, he was the bass player, harmony singer, and primary songwriter for the seminal bluegrass band, Audie Blaylock and Redline. In that capacity, he penned numerous #1 songs, traveled internationally, and even authored and played the theme song for the Travel Channel series, Backroads Gold. He, too, is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, and he thrives on sharing his passion for rich storytelling and creativity, especially when you give him an audience.
Together Shawn, Darren, and Reed bring a multifaceted, explosive, and engaging approach to making music. Their deep understanding of American music enables them to seamlessly interweave original music with traditional elements, crafting a show and experience seen nowhere else. In a landscape marred by a follow-the-leader mentality and disingenuous ambition, these three men bring the authenticity and originality we crave. Actually, the authenticity and originality we need.