Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac - Round Three

Wonders of wonders for any bluegrass fan. We've got the world of First-Rate bluegrass talent at our fingertips right here in the Potomac region and even more so with the announcement that Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac will definitely be performing again in Brunswick, Maryland in November. Thank you, Jill Hossler. Thank you, Darren Beachley. The Lucketts Bluegrass Foundation has posted its performance schedule for 2010/2011 and it's one of the best schedules I've seen in years. Now Jill Hossler and her army of booster moms and dads from Brunswick High School have added another big incentive to travel up the river and toward the mountains to enjoy bluegrass. The northern Virginia triangle converging into Maryland and West Virginia is becoming quite the unique gathering place for those seeking truly authentic mountain music. The quiet and unassuming folks in Brunswick take it all in stride. They're just happy that people are discovering there is more to Brunswick than the train station and the commuter parking lot.
This summer, July 10th to be exact, witnessed the Second Annual Benefit Concert for the Brunswick Junior Baseball League. Headlining it for a second year was Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac with special guests Bill Yates and the Country Gentlemen Tribute Band. Last year's guest appearance included Kenny Ray Horton, of the U.S. Navy Band group "Country Current." Kenny's popularity has grown considerably (especially here in the proximity of Washington, D.C.) but his Navy duty called him elsewhere. Bill Yates stepped in this year. What can I say? The show was wild and it was an additional opportunity to experience another one of bluegrass music's living legends. Now we enter 'Round Three' in November with the inclusion of the Dry Branch Fire Squad - another group with legendary beginnings. I can see where Darren is going with this, but he's always had the ability to surround himself - and be very appreciate of - the best bluegrass musicians in the business. We the audience members are the eventual winners. The first time I met Jill Hossler we had a most wonderful conversation and I joked that I hoped she was ready to accept the fact that she had created a monster in Brunswick. But it was a wonderful monster to have been created along the banks of the Potomac. The downside of civic volunteerism is that one big success just leads to the demand for more successes. So it was with Year One and Year Two. I wasn't surprised when during the second year concert in July, the buzz was already starting for a Third Event. And then the e-mail arrived this morning announcing the "Brunswick Roundhouse Concerts." There's evolution going on here - first class entertainment possibilities in sleepy, little Brunswick along side the Potomac. I sense that something really positive is afoot here, within easy driving distance, and the low ticket price for this level of entertainment is mind-boggling.

Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac and Dry Branch Fire Squad

21 November 2010 from 3:00 to 6:00. A Benefit of the Brunswick High School Athletic Boosters. Information on tickets, price, etc., will be forthcoming in later postings.