From Rainwater Poster Co.:
Darren Nicholson is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He is also a Grammy nominee, recipient of multiple International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, and founding member of Balsam Range – alongside banjoist Marc Pruett. Pruett is a Grammy award winner, and received an honorary Doctorate of Arts from Western Carolina University in 2010 in recognition of his many achievements as a professional musician.
Audie Blaylock is an American singer, guitarist, mandolinist, and composer in the bluegrass tradition. His music has been featured as the theme song for Travel Channel’s series Backroads Gold, and he is also a Grammy nominee and multiple IBMA Award winner. In addition to touring internationally as bassist with Blaylock’s group, Audie Blaylock and Redline, Reed Jones is a photographer, musical preservationist, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and an accomplished writer and songwriter.
So what happens when you put the four of them together? Audiences in western North Carolina will have a rare chance to hear this top-tier ensemble as they perform a series of three exciting shows on March 31 through April 2nd.
“Audie, Reed, and Marc play a very rare kind of bluegrass that I like to refer to as ‘next level’ or ‘otherworldly,’” Nicholson enthuses. “When it comes to this kind of tradition and drive, there aren’t words to describe the excitement and intensity these shows will bring!”
A one-off show at the Meadowlark Smoky Mountain Heritage Center in Maggie Valley brought these four musicians together in 2021. “It was the first time we had played together in a long time,” says Blaylock. “It was so good to play with these great musicians and singers. Marc Pruett has always been a favorite banjo player of mine!”
These four artists knew they wanted to continue performing together when their touring schedules allowed. “We are excited to play some shows and just have fun,” says Blaylock. “That’s what this is all about for us. We hope everyone will come out and have fun with us!”
Billed simply as “An Evening of Bluegrass,” three shows are set to take place across western North Carolina. Nicholson, Blaylock, Pruett, and Jones will kick off the weekend on Thursday, March 31st with a downtown Asheville performance at Jack of the Wood. On Friday, April 1st, they will hit the stage at Burnsville Town Center. The mini-tour concludes on Saturday, April 2nd, with a show at The Gem at Boojum Brewing Company in Waynesville.
And Nicholson cannot wait. “Playing with these musicians pushes me to a different level. It’s nerve-wracking and exciting, and so much fun! Buckle up for a weekend of adult-strength, hard-driving bluegrass.”
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