Planning your visit to Blairsville-Union County ?
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Nearly Normal String Band - Mountain music, blues, bluegrass
This band, consisting of Viva and Neal Araki from Tucker, Georgia is a regular at The Old Courthouse and the Heritage Festival.
Viva grew up in Florida and moved to the Atlanta area several years ago where she met Neal. She is regarded as one of the best banjo players in the old mountain "clawhammer" style of playing, and she is also an accomplished guitar player. Her bell-clear voice is equally at home singing an old mountain ballad or belting out a blues number.
Neal was born and grew up in New York city. He became interested in playing guitar while he was a student at Yale University. After graduation, he spent a year touring the country in a Volkswagen camper, polishing his guitar skills, and choosing a place to settle. Fortunately, he chose Atlanta and north Georgia..
Neal at first learned to play fiddle tunes on the guitar in the manner of his hero, Doc Watson, then he liked them so well that he started playing the fiddle itself. He also plays banjo and mandolin.
Saturday at the Heritage Festival, will be filled by music from some of the favorite musicians at the Mock House stage. After a program by the energetic Raven and Red on Sunday, the rest of the afternoon will be filled by gospel music in the finest mountain tradition. There will be a special shape note singing at 2:00 PM, proving that the oldest musical genre in the north Georgia mountains is still alive and well.
Below is a schedule of music for the Heritage Festival which will be held at the Mountain Life Museum, one block South of the Old Courthouse. There is never an admission charge to events produced by the Union County Historical Society.
Saturday
9:45 AM - Bagpipe opening
10:30 - Nearly Normal String Band
11:30 AM - Roots and Branches
12:30 PM - Jeff Bauman Family Band
1:30 PM - Don Byers
2:30 PM- Without Pearls
3:30 PM- Buzzard Mountain Boys
Sunday
12:00 Noon - Raven and Red
1:00 PM- Leap of Faith
2:00 PM- Special Shape Note Singing
3:00 PM- Pickers for Christ
Date and Time
Friday Aug 29, 2014
7:00 PM - 7:00 PM EDT
Every Friday Night
Concerts start at 7pm
Location
Old Historic Court House
Downtown Blairsville
Fees/Admission
Voluntary contributions to the maintenance fund are always welcomed and appreciated.
Contact Information
For more information (706) 745-5493