A bluegrass group, Songs From the Road Band, will headline a concert in Oak Ridge on Saturday.
It’s the third Summer Sessions concert this year sponsored by ORNL Federal Credit Union.
The opening group at the concert on Saturday will be Grassroots Gringos, a bluegrass band based in Knoxville, a press release said.
Songs From the Road Band is from Asheville, North Carolina. They are known for their lively and exciting shows, which are often compared to the thrill and spontaneity of a NASCAR race, the press release said. The group features Mark Schmick (mandolin), Charles Humphrey III (bass), Sam Wharton (guitar), James Schlender (fiddle), and Gabe Epstein (banjo). With six albums under their belt, their most recent single “Amarillo Blue” topped the Bluegrass Today Grassicana chart earlier this summer, the press release said.
ORNL FCU’s Summer Sessions concerts are free. They are scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. at the pavilion in Alvin K. Bissell Park at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.
“The community is invited to bring their lawn chairs and join their friends and family for an evening of free Americana roots music,” a press release said. “Local food truck vendors will be on-site serving delicious treats and drinks.”
You can stay informed about performances and weather-related cancellations by following the credit union on its Facebook page or visiting ornlfcu.com/summer-sessions.
ORNL FCU recently announced that Grammy Award-winning bluegrass group The Steeldrivers will headline the final Summer Sessions concert on Saturday, October 23.
The Steeldrivers formed in 2008 with former band member Chris Stapleton as the lead singer. When Stapleton left the group and questions arose about how the band would continue, old and new members chartered their own path to success, the press release said. The Steeldrivers won a Grammy award for Best Bluegrass Album for the 2015 release of “The Muscle Shoals Recordings.” Currently, band members include Tammy Rogers (fiddle), Mike Fleming (bass), Kelvin Damrell (guitar/vocals), Brent Truitt (mandolin), and Richard Bailey (banjo).
“The band’s dynamic songwriting and eclectic shows are sure to make this a concert not to be missed!” the press release said.
ORNL FCU’s Summer Sessions concert series is produced in collaboration with WDVX, a nonprofit radio station serving East Tennessee.
“ORNL FCU has been a long-time sponsor of the listener-supported radio station and is proud to partner with WDVX to bring bluegrass and Americana programming to the community,” the press release said.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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