By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Edito
The second-annual Beaufort County Music Festival kicks off this weekend with a Friday concert at the Turnage Theater.
The three-day festival is sponsored by the Beaufort County Arts Council in association with the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association, Downtown Washington on the Waterfront, Flanders Corp. and PC Sound.
Friday’s concert begins at 8 p.m., and general-admission tickets are $12 each for adults and $10 each for children 10 and younger. For ticket information, call the Turnage box office at 252-975-1191 or visit www.turnagetheater.com.
Act one will feature Lipbone Redding and the Lipbone Orchestra. Redding is an inventive singer, songwriter, guitarist and former subway musician, according to Joey Toler, BCAC’s executive director. Redding’s original music is reminiscent of New Orleans swing, Memphis grooves and New York City style.
Act two, Greensboro’s Holy Ghost Tent Revival, has been described as “explosively intoxicating,” according to Toler. The six-piece ensemble melds brass, banjo, guitar, bass, drums and keyboard for an eclectic mix of styles.
On Saturday evening, three talented musical artists will take to the Turnage stage. Show time and ticket prices are the same as for Friday’s event.
Alice Gerrard’s music career has spanned 40 years, during which time she performed with and learned from many of the old-time and bluegrass greats. Gerrard has earned worldwide respect for her own contributions to music, Toler noted.
Jack Lawrence, considered one of the finest acoustic guitarists in the country, is musical partner to Doc Watson. The two have traveled as a duo for 20 years, according to Toler, who described Lawrence’s style as “eclectic, encompassing Americana, blues, bluegrass and sophisticated folk.”
Joining Gerrard and Lawrence for the Saturday concert is Tony Williamson, whose distinguished career has included working with Alison Krauss, Earl Scruggs, Tony Rice and Vassar Clements. Williamson has performed for Luciano Pavarotti, and his talents have been recognized by national music organizations.
While the Friday and Saturday concerts are ticketed events at the Turnage, the festival will offer a wide variety of musical entertainment free to the public.
Five venues — the Turnage Theater, an outdoor stage, Civic Center, BCTMA stage and BCTMA jam tent — will offer live music throughout the day Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Offerings will include blues, gospel, bluegrass, country and even workshops for clogging, contra and country line dancing.
A gospel-music sing will be held beginning at noon Sunday on the outdoor stage at the future site of Festival Park near the N.C. Estuarium. The performance is free, and the public is welcome. Seated is limited, so bring along a beach chair or blanket. Fish plates prepared by Keyzer Catering will be available for $7 each, or bring a picnic basket.
For more information on the entertainment schedule, see Thursday’s edition of the Daily News.
Sponsors for the music festival include Tranter’s Creek Resort, PotashCorp, Edward Jones/Rod Cantrell, Down on Mainstreet, David’s Trash Service, Beaufort County Traditional Music Association, Downtown Washington on the Waterfront and Washington Tourism Development Authority.
For more on the festival, visit www.beaufortcountyartscouncil.org.