Foot-stompin' music kicks off concert series

July 06, 2006|by JULIE E. GREENE

Catch some foot-stompin' old-time music with the kickoff of the third season of Music by the Lake this Saturday.

Robbie Caruthers of Boonsboro says he caught the bug for that type of music when, as a student at The College of William & Mary, he saw the Plank Road String Band and Ace Weems and the Fat Meat Boys perform.

It inspired him to pick up the violin he hadn't played in years and learn fiddle style.

Caruthers, Paul Mackrell Jr. and Mary Dailey - as the South Mountain String Band - will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 8, in City Park's band shell. They will be accompanied by the Rock Candy Cloggers.

Music by the Lake, a free Saturday concert series, continues through Aug. 26.

Mackrell, who lives outside Leitersburg, plays the clawhammer banjo, and Dailey, who lives near Hedgesville, W.Va., plays guitar and the mountain or lap dulcimer.

Dailey, who grew up in Washington, D.C., suburbs, fell in love with the sound of Appalachian music and the dulcimer when she volunteered at a camp for underprivileged children in the late 1970s.

"It was love at first sound," she said.

Mackrell got into the old-time music in the mid-1970s when he saw Ralph Stanley perform at a bluegrass festival in Indian Springs.

Stanley's banjo playing inspired Mackrell to learn the banjo and the strumming style for Appalachian old-time mountain music. He and Caruthers have played together for almost 30 years, and Dailey joined about four years ago.

Mackrell says he enjoys playing at the band shell as people relax on lawn chairs and blankets.

"You can't find a better venue really ... It doesn't get better than that."

Schedule

All performances start at 7 p.m. Shows are canceled if there is heavy rain.

July 8 - South Mountain String Band and Rock Candy Cloggers

July 15 - Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition

July 22 - Soleil (bluegrass)

July 29 - Tori Anderson & Possum Holler (country rock)

Aug. 5 - The Homegrown String Band (bluegrass)

Aug. 12 - Borderline (bluegrass)

Aug. 19 - Billy Coulter (country rock)

Aug. 26 - Wing & a Prayer (bluegrass harmonies)

If you go ...

WHAT: Music by the Lake summer concert series sponsored by the Washington County Arts Council and City of Hagerstown

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturdays in July and August

WHERE: City Park band shell, Hagerstown

COST: Free

MORE:There is seating, but attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Call 301-791-3132 or go to www.washingtoncountyarts.com and click on Newsroom to check if concert is canceled.

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