Bluegrass Is Unique Benefit/Tribute to US Military Veterans!

SOLDIER STORIES:

A Benefit Concert for Veterans

SOLDIER STORIES is a benefit concert for veterans projects, presenting an evening of Americana string band music reflecting soldier stories from before the American Revolution to the current day, with guest appearances by musician-veterans.  In addition to the music, the evening will include personal stories and readings from historical letters.  Each concert partners with veterans organizations to raise friends and funds for healthcare projects.

Nell Robinson, (a regular vocalist on the radio show Prairie Home Companion and is touring the country seeking to raise consciousness about veterans’ issues) produces the Soldier Stories shows.  She comes from a long line of veterans going back to the Revolutionary War and the Civil War (in both cases, her ancestors fought on different sides), including family who are/were warriors, conscientious objectors or pacifists.  Nell recently released her second Americana album, On the Brooklyn Road, to critical acclaim.

The band features: two time Grammy winner, Jim Nunally on guitar and vocals, known for his work as a music producer, songwriter and champion flat-picking guitar player, he also performs with the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience;  Keith Little on mandolin, fiddle and vocals, performs with the Peter Rowan Band, nominated for a Grammy Award in 2010; Joe Craven on fiddle, mandolin, and Joe-style percussion, is a well-known performer and educator, with a zany flair all his own; joined by a string bass players with impeccable bluegrass credentials, Chuck Ervin in California and Marshall Wilborn (Lynn Morris Band) on the East Coast.

Together, the musicians have created a show that gives the community an opportunity to share an evening of engaging string band music, thank our veterans and reflect on our history with war and service. The Soldier Stories show will tour Northern California, the Southeast, and appear at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts later this Fall.  See show schedule below and updates at nellrobinsonmusic.com.

“The Soldier Stories music has a rare authenticity. The songs and personal stories in the voices of the soldiers and their loved ones held the audience spellbound. The themes of willing sacrifice, love, and even humor are common threads through songs from 250 years ago to the present day. This is a real and thoughtful tribute to veterans.”  Steve Baker, Executive Director, Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse

2011 SHOWS:
8pm, November 10, Occidental Arts Center, Occidental, CA
8pm, November 11, Freight & Salvage, Berkeley, CA
8pm, November 12, Shasta College Theatre, Redding, CA
8pm, December 7-9, Poplar Knight Spot, Aberdeen, NC
6pm, December 11, Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Washington DC