Latest Update on the Brunswick Roundhouse Concert Series

Jill Hossler, from Brunswick sent me the latest update on the newly-formed Brunswick Roundhouse Concert Series that I had talked about in an earlier entry. Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac kick off this concert series on Sunday, 21 November, 2010 at 3:00 pm. Tickets are now up for purchase by contacting Jill's organization. I'll leave all the pertinent information at the end of this posting. I've sent for my own tickets because I know the demand will be high once Halloween is on our doorstep. Yep, we're getting into the Fall Season already. I see a remark I made in my daily diary on September 28, 2009: "Saw my first Thanksgiving Dinner advertisement on Channel 7 tonight." There is no let-up on American commercialism brow-beating us into pounding down more food than we need.
This is exciting news for Brunswick, Maryland and especially good news for Brunswick High School ("Home of the Railroaders"). Evolving out of Darren's past two benefit concerts for the Brunswick Junior Baseball League, Jill Hossler (and the whole Hossler Family), Darren Beachley, and the various Booster groups of the school and community have banded together to raise funds for the extra programs at Brunswick High School. It's a win/win for the school and bluegrass fans. Expect that Darren will elicit the help of friends in the business and bring in the best in quality music and performers. He's done it in the past two events and he'll continue with the premier event and those planned into 2011. For starters how about this: Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac and the Dry Branch Fire Squad. If you missed the first two benefits I have only pity in my heart for you. Here's your opportunity to atone for your sins and at the same time support a magnificent cause up in Brunswick, Maryland.
On the nuts-and-bolts administration side of this Jill and Darren have created a foundation, a new website, and everything is easily reached by keeping up with Facebook. It's obvious everyone involved is in it for the Long Haul. Now it's time for the huge bluegrass community here in Virginia and Maryland to come forth and support what Darren has taken on as a cause. Jill Hossler added that each event will support a different in-school Booster group, and have been timed specifically to not interfere with some of the other popular bluegrass venues and bluegrass events that go on in our area. In essence, we the fans will have the opportunity to enjoy a richer and broader bluegrass offering here in Northern Virginia and Western Maryland.

Tickets are on Sale now: seats are $20 (and) $25, make check payable to "Brunswick Roundhouse Concert Productions" or simply, "BRCP." Mail check to: BRCP, 4210 Wallingford Court, Jefferson, Maryland, 21755. For additional information or inquiries about the series the new e-mail address is brcpbluegrass@aol.com The Brunswick Roundhouse Concert Series is also available on Facebook and is connected to Darren's Facebook page, the Brunswick Railroaders and a few other pages. Become a friend today and link up.

Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac with special guests The Dry Branch Fire Squad at Brunswick High School, Sunday 21 November 2010, 3:00 to 6:00. Admission $20 or $25, tickets must be purchased in advance.

Brunswick, Maryland: Real People, Real Mountain Music

The boundaries of Northern Virginia form a unique point for me. It's the pinnacle of Appalachian mountain music. Southern Virginia may have its "Crooked Road" winding its way toward the Blue Ridge, but up here we have Route 15 north that's just as rich in the true mountain sound of hard-core bluegrass music. So we'll take the road once again this summer to enjoy some good local stuff, always within easy driving distance of the D.C. metro area. Last year's Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac Benefit (July 29th, 2009) at Brunswick, Maryland High School was the perfect opportunity for us to get out for the day and visit this absolutely beautiful part of Maryland. It's one of those towns left behind in the history of flourishing railroads and industrial river traffic. Today, down at the edge of the Potomac River canoes, kayaks, and lots of people picnicking take the place of the failed canal traffic. Hard to imagine that next to the old canal was once one of the busiest rail yards in the east.

You can get a good panoramic view of 'once was' from the top floor of the town's interesting Railroad Museum. Be sure and bring the kids for this one - the museum has an incredible model railroad exhibit - all the rail lines that once ran up and down the Potomac River and wended their way in and out of Brunswick are scaled down to miniature (with operating HO-sized trains of course!) so you can gain a perspective of just how important the railroad once was in this mountainous region. Allow yourself plenty of time to visit the museum - and get there before 4:00 pm. Other than that, there's not really much to do in Brunswick but slow-poke around and walk its old winding streets and talk to the locals. The fun of it all is trying to imagine what the downtown area must have looked like in its Hay-Day. The town contains some beautifully old and worn architecture. Everything is within walking distance. The day we visited, like every other town in the U.S., we were practically the only people out walking in the downtown area. Nobody walks any more - I've noticed this across America no matter if it's Fort Wayne, Indiana or Modesto, California. We worry about Swine Flu when we should be worrying about how inert we've become. The only way to appreciate our nation's heritage is on foot.

But we were there for that night's music at the local high school - and what a night. For 25 bucks a piece we enjoyed an evening of (local boy) Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac and Kenny Ray Horton and Friends. Volunteers from the Brunswick Junior Baseball League and the Brunswick High School were out in force to handle the crowd of bluegrass fans and serve up lots of good snacks and drinks during break-time. The people of Brunswick are a friendly, down-home crowd - you'll feel welcomed. But the music is the reason to be there - and in Northern Virginia and the panhandle of Maryland, we've got some of the best.

Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac, Kenny Ray Horton and Friends, and Bill Yates and the Country Gentlemen Tribute Band appear once again at Brunswick High School on July 10th, 2010 for a Benefit Concert in honor of the Brunswick Junior Baseball League. Advance tickets must be purchased by contacting Jill Hossler at (301) 371-7675 or e-mail: jshossler@aol.com

And Bill Yates? Such a Deal!

Brunswick, Maryland Train Station

Hot News: Jill Hossler, coordinator for the Darren Beachley concert this summer in Brunswick, announced today that Bill Yates and the Country Gentlemen Tribute Band will be joining Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac plus Kenny Ray Horton and Friends for the July 10th, 2010 Event. Tickets are already on sale as noted in my last entry. This is the 2nd Annual Concert to raise funds for the Brunswick Junior Baseball League. The concert will take place at the Brunswick High School Auditorium. It just keeps getting better . . .

You Must Contact Jill Hossler for Tickets: (301) 371-7675 or e-mail jshossler@aol.com