Music in the Grove continues their Sunday programs through August, beginning with Chestnut Ridge on Aug. 16 at 6 p.m.
Chestnut Ridge is a newer bluegrass band, having been formed eight years ago. All members perform with other groups. However, Chestnut Ridge has a different sound than the groups the members normally perform with. They expanded their selections to include more old country, some pop and, of course, bluegrass and gospel music. They always have a great time and are constantly musically challenged by each other.
Members are Roger Eberlin, lead harmony and vocals; Ray Horst, guitar, lead and harmony vocals; Ron McVey, fiddle; John Hilton, banjo; and back again this year, Jim Thompson on the upright bass.
Other upcoming August concerts include Tim and Kim Craven on Aug. 23 and Al Shade with daughter Debbie Ann on Aug. 30.
Tim and Kim Craven formerly performed at the grove as The Craven Family with their sons, Oliver and Connor. Tim and Kim have been playing music together for more than 30 years. Graduating from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Tim is the pastor of Mellinger’s Lutheran Church in Schoeneck. The pair plays original and traditional American folk music and bluegrass gospel.
Opening for Tim and Kim will be The Mountain Folk Youth Bluegrass JAM Band, which consists of five talented young bluegrass musicians who have combined to shair their passion for the genre. Members are Kenneth Barley of Millersville, banjo; William Gow of Kutztown, stand-up bass; Colton Gotwals of Oley, fiddle; Tyler Hertzog of Adamstown, guitar; and Conlan Kerschner of Adamstown, banjo. The group took home top honors at the 2015 PA Farm Show, winning first place in the “Got Talent” competition.
On Aug. 30, Al Shade will be accompanied by his daughter, Debbie Ann. Al Shade has performed many times at the grove with his wife Jean, whose health is now failing. Al and Jean dedicated their lives to the program and have performed and preserved the sounds of bluegrass, gospel and country music. They previously made thousands of appearances in public and on local radio stations.
Because of Jean’s health, Al’s daughter Debbie Ann is now singing with him. Some of the country songs they will sing are “The Little Dogwood Tree,” “Precious Memories” and “What a Beautiful Day for the Lord to Come Again.”
Al does a radio show from Lebanon every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on 1510 AM from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Al and Debbie Ann are expert yodelers, so hopefully they will do some yodeling for the crowd as well. Everyone had a good time the last time they were at the grove.
All upcoming programs will be outdoors, so bring lawn chairs. In the case of rain, the program will be indoors. Concerts are held at St. John Center Lutheran Church located at 599 Reading Road, Route 625, a few miles south of Bowmansville. There will be sandwiches and refreshments available at 5 p.m. to benefit the youth, and a free will offering will be taken.
Come on out, relax and join us for an evening of good music. The Aug. 30 program will complete the 2015 Music in the Grove programs. Many thanks to all of our loyal supporters. We look forward to seeing you in 2016.
