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The Beaufort County Traditional Music Association (BCTMA) anticipates much excitement and celebration for the family-oriented, 11th Annual Don Skinner Guitarfest on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at the Historic Turnage Theatre, 150 West Main Street, Washington NC. While this is a “free admission” event, collected donations will help support continued aid to Western North Carolina residents impacted by the recent hurricane and flooding.

The event kicks off with a morning BCTMA “Open Acoustic Jam” session in the Turnage Gallery Room from 10:00 AM -12:00 PM.  Four popular local band Guitarfest performances occur on-stage in the Turnage Palace Theatre and Stage from 2:00 PM – 6:00PM. Guitarfest has grown so popular that this is the first time that the BCTMA has invited performers to entertain on the Turnage Palace Theatre Stage to accommodate the expected large audience.

Featured musicians include guitarist Ken Braddy and “CBR” making their first public performance at 2:00 PM. Popular local performer Earl Ragland and “The Ragtags” are featured in the second set starting at 3:00 PM. Joe Solano leads “Six Pack Band” on stage for a blues set starting at 4:00 PM. Pamela Cox and “Cathead Biscuit” are on-stage at 5:00 PM followed by an ensemble song by all the Guitarfest musicians. Allen Vick, on-air personality at Curtis Media Group and DJ at “Beach Boogie and Blues”, is the event MC.

The audience is invited to stay for the entire day or visit and listen as many times as they can while enjoying the charm of Little Washington. The BCTMA Guitarfest is named in memory of Don Skinner, a founding member of BCTMA and an outstanding guitarist.

For the past eleven years Guitarfest has been a very popular annual event that features top guitar players, singers, and bands of Eastern North Carolina. The event was first presented at Washington’s Union Alley Coffee House and then later moved to the much more spacious Turnage Theatre.

These yearly shows evolved into fund-raising events. In 2024 the show raised funds for The Arts of the Pamlico community events, in 2023 for Washington’s Eagles Wings Food Pantry, in 2022 the Humane Society of Beaufort County’s Spay and Neuter Clinic. In 2020 the event featured Eastern North Carolina female guitar players and singers while collecting donations for Washington’s Ruth’s House. In 2019, featured musicians from the New Bern area helped raise funds for New Bern area hurricane victims.

This fun-filled family entertainment is sponsored by the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association and co-sponsored by the Beaufort County Arts Council / Arts of the Pamlico.

For more information, please visit these web sites —

·         BCTMA:  http://www.bctma.org/events/guitarfest2025.html#

·         Arts of the Pamlico – Turnage Theatre: BCTMA’s 11th Annual Don Skinner GuitarFest – Arts of the Pamlico

 

January 11, 2025 – Guitarfest Schedule at the Turnage Theatre Gallery Room

10:00 AM–12:00 PM

BCTMA Acoustic Jam

Musicians and audience are encouraged to attend.

 

January 11, 2025 – Guitarfest Schedule at the Turnage Palace Theatre and Stage

 2:00 PM–3:00 PM

CBR (Country, Blues, Rock)

These five experienced musicians have been featured with popular touring bands for many years. The band offers a mix of Country, Blues, Rock (hence CBR) and some Beach Music. They are making their first live performance together as a band for Guitarfest. Hailing from surrounding Eastern North Carolina counties are musicians Ken Braddy: guitar/vocals, Stewart Herring: guitar/vocals, Denton Carawan: bass/vocals, George Coghill: drums, and David Langley: harmonica/vocals.

3:00 PM–4:00 PM

The Ragtags

This is the first Guitarfest appearance for this must-see Washington band. They draw large crowds wherever they appear because the band’s repertoire spans a wide range of popular musical genres that audiences love.  Earl Ragland: guitar/vocals, Rob Monath: bass/vocals, Buck Brossman: percussion, Daviid Edwards: vocals, Hal Woolard: harmonica.

4:00 PM–5:00 PM

Six Pack Band

A premier blues and rock band that has taken Eastern Carolina by storm in the last year. They have a passion for creating live music that moves people and creates lasting memories. Joe Solano: guitar/vocals, leads the group along with Jeff Shirley: guitar/vocals, Vidal Warren: lead vocals, Billy East: bass/vocals, and Mike Wiggs: drums/vocals.

5:00-6:00 PM

Cathead Biscuit

An “All Star Ensemble” of local talented musicians back together for their second Guitarfest performance. The band features blues-driven rock music by Pamela Cox: lead vocalist, Jeff Shirley: guitar/vocals, JB Mayes: guitar/vocals, Robert McGaughy: drums/vocals, and Jay Costello: bass. Look for lots of Chicago blues and Allman Brothers style tunes