MHM presents Generations of Bluegrass

Darin and Brooke Aldridge, Snyder Family perform Saturday

What do you get when you combine bluegrass veterans with bluegrass prodigies? The answer is Generations

of Bluegrass.

This Saturday night, Oct. 17, Mountain Home Music will present Generations of Bluegrass. Representing the bluegrass veterans will be Darin and Brooke Aldridge. Representing the bluegrass prodigies will be the Snyder Family.
Darin Aldridge came up with Charlie Waller and the Country Gentlemen. He was not only a performer and singer, but also was producer for several award-winning albums with Mr. Waller, including 2005 bluegrass CD of the year, Songs of the American Spirit. Brooke Aldridge has won contests as a singer since she was a child.

About the duo, reviewer Tom Bibey writes, “Brooke’s emotive vocals combine with Darin’s soaring tenor in a magical combination.”

Their magic has had results. The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) has chosen them to be an official showcase artist for 2009. Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine has said they have set a new standard of excellence in bluegrass gospel. And the Gospel Roots chart has chosen their CD, I’ll Go With You, No. 1 for this year.

In addition to Darin and Brooke Aldridge, their band includes Eddie Biggerstaff (bass fiddle), Chris Bryant (banjo) and Perry Woodie (dobro and guitar).

The Snyder Family Band features Samantha, 10, and Zeb Snyder, 14. Their father, Bud, plays the bass fiddle.
Samantha began playing classical violin at age three in the Suzuki method. By age 4, she was playing duets with Zeb, who was learning classical guitar. At age 7, she made the transition to bluegrass. In 2008, at age 9, she became the youngest ever to win the prestigious Fiddler of the Festival award at Fiddler’s Grove in Union Grove, home of the oldest fiddler’s competition in North America.

Zeb began classical guitar lessons at age seven and in the Suzuki method. When he broadened his interest to include bluegrass at age 11, he entered a new phase that brought him to his favorite style of playing the guitar – flat-picking. Zeb has won many guitar competitions since he began flat-picking.

Bud’s musical training began in high school as a percussionist. It was not until his children needed a bass player for the family band that he stepped up to the challenge.

The concert will be at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium, starting at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $12.50 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets for college and high school students are $10 (at the door only). Tickets may be purchased at Mast Store locations, Rydell Music Center, Pandora’s Mailbox in Blowing Rock, and Fred’s Mercantile on Beech Mountain. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.mountainhomemusic.com.

The purpose of Mountain Home Music is to honor the music and musicians of the Appalachian region. It is affiliated with the Blue Ridge Music Trails, a project of the North Carolina Arts Council.

For more information, visit www.mountainhomemusic.com or call (828) 964-3392.