Bluemont Memberships

Thanks again to everyone who attended the benefit last week-you really helped kick off our Sunflower Fundraising Goal this summer! We are just over the $4,000 mark and well on our way to reaching $11,000 by the last concert!

We really need your help this summer, more than ever, to be able to continue hosting Bluemont in Ashland and this is done, in large part by your donations and memberships. In case you're wondering, your admission ($5, $4 for Bluemont friends and seniors, $2 children under 12) goes directly to fund the Artists-In-Education programs, which benefit our schools in Ashland by providing Bluemont performers at a reduced cost. How neat! So, funds from memberships and donations are what enable Bluemont to pay the performers, pay the staff, business operations, publicity, and travel expenses. With the current state of the economy, grants are being cut and federal and state money has become very limited.

Please take a minute to come over to the Friends Table and learn about more benefits of membership and donor levels. We'll be there and would love to answer all of your questions.

Thanks so much!

Last Train Home

Come early this Sunday to Bluemont in Ashland to hear Last Train Home, "one of the country's most formidable roots-rock bands". While roots-rock is at the heart of LTH's sound, don't overlook the country, bluegrass, swing, blues, folk, pop and Tin Pan Alley influences you'll find when enjoying their music! Last Train Home has played more than a thousand shows over the years, including tours of Australia, Germany, Switzerland and the Virgin Islands. You can visit www.lasttrainhome.com to learn more about the band!

You might want to come a little early, bring a picnic dinner and enjoy watching the trains go by on the lawn as there should be quite a nice crowd!

Hope to see you there!

Great Weather-Great Concert!

The first Bluemont concert was a terrific success! I must admit, we were a bit worried about the weather as the sky looked heavy and gray about 5:00 but after some discussion, we all decided that we were feeling lucky and to stay outside. What a great choice-the clouds rolled on and the sun came out-perfect! (Just in case: rain location will always be at the Blackwell Auditorium at Randoph-Macon College)

The crowd was quite large and very happy by the looks on all the faces! The PTA from John M. Gandy had a table full of homemade cupcakes, brownies and cookies and had sold out by the end of the night! Sno-Cones were also a big hit with all of the proceeds going to the Knights of Columbus. The Hanover Arts and Activities Center also had a table-thanks Faith for taking time to give out information (and bubbles!) and hopefully gain some new members. Thanks Town of Ashland, for setting up the stage and tent and thanks also to Carl Sloppy for helping with sound.

John McCutcheon entertained the crowd with songs and stories and seemed to enjoy himself as well-the variety of instruments were amazing, especially the hammer dulcimer.

If you were there, hope you had fun! If not, hope to see you next week!

Tonight!

Tonight is the first Bluemont in Ashland summer concert and we're so excited! The weather should be just perfect for an evening on the lawn, listening to John McCutcheon and watching the train go by! In case you're not familiar with John's music, here's a little backstory:

John McCutcheon has been described as a "modern folk musician", has 31 albums, 6 Grammy nominations and multiple Parent's Choice Awards. His first album in 1974 has lead to an love of the spoken word, children's books and songbook compilations. He loves storytelling and says, "If you can recognize yourself in my songs, then I've done my job."

John enjoys playing a variety of instruments including the 12 string guitar, autoharp, fancy banjo, fiddle, fretless banjo, hammer dulcimer, piano, jaw harps and an old time banjo.

I can't wait to hear what's in store! How about you?

First Concert!

It's finally here! Tomorrow night, July 26 folk singer John McCutcheon will be performing at the first Bluemont in Ashland concert. Come on over to the Hanover Arts and Activities Center in downtown Ashland at 7, bring your lawn chair and experience an evening under the stars of some great music! Come earlier and bring a picnic dinner if you like-desserts will be provided by the John M. Gandy PTA. They usually bring some sort of delicious sweeet-hmmm, brownies?cookies? Rice Krispy treasts? I can't wait to find out!

Park anywhere in town and when you arrive at the lawn, visit a Welcome table at any one of the corners (white table cloths), trade your $5 admission (or join Bluemont and come in for $4) for a raffle ticket. Bring your raffle ticket to the Friends table and enter it for a chance to win one of our terrific prizes.

Music, friends, trains, sweets, stars-does it get any better?

Wow!

Wow! Thanks again to everyone who helped with the benefit last night and to everyone who attended. With your help, Jen and I were able to raise $2,679.00 for Bluemont in Ashland. Oh boy! We can hardly wait for the summer concert series to begin!

Musician and Artist contact Info

Please support the wonderful and talented musicians and artists who donated their time and work for the benefit!

The Taters www.thetaters.com

Slipped Disc-Bill McElroy www.slippeddiscaudio.com

Jeremy Witt www.jeremywittphotography.com

Cliff Earl www.cliffordearl.com

Nancy Witt, Brad Camden www.crossmillgallery.com

John Cook www.402photography.com

Gardens Unlimited 804.448.4499

Dave Camden www.camdenclayworks.com

Susannah Wagner Merritt, 606 Gallery 804.752.7618

Tammy Evans www.critterhall.com

Melissa Weaver Dunning weaverdunn@aol.com

K. Bartlett Shaw Bhartford04@Gmail.com

Sue Rosenberg gourdist@yahoo.com

If you have any questions or comments, please let us know! Thanks.

Great Night!

The benefit was a terrific success and a really great time!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Jackie Frost, Chris Fuller, Frank Coleman, Jenny Valent and The Taters for providing wonderful music-the crowd was very receptive and enjoyed every minute of your performances! Bill McElroy from Slipped Disc Audio ran the sound and as always, it was perfect! Thank you Ashland Coffee and Tea for hosting the benefit in the living room of the Center of the Universe!

A million thanks as well to the artists who donated their amazing art for the auction! Every item sold (and sold well above the starting bids)! Thank you Jeremy, Cliff, Nancy, John, Bob and Todd, Dave, Susannah, Tammy, Melissa, Brad, Bart and Sue-you all were so generous with your donations-I was and continue to be humbled by your support for this wonderful organization. More info to come in the next post about how to contact any of these artists in case you missed the benefit last night.

I am grateful beyond words. oxox

Only 5 more days until the Bluemont in Ashland Benefit!

Now, it really seems like a countdown with only five days to go until the benefit! The energy was high at the Ashland Street Party last night with lots of visitors to the Hanover Arts and Activities Center/Bluemont in Ashland booth! I've posted a little photo below in case you missed it! Visitors to the booth were very excited about the summer concert line-up and most said they would really try to make the benefit as well. Terrific!

Bluemont in Ashland Website!

We're so happy that you're following our blog! If you'd like to learn more about Bluemont in Ashland, check out some photos from last summer (with more to come this summer!), and learn about Ashland members and donors, visit our website:

http://bluemont-ashland.synthasite.com

Thanks!

Ashland Street Party

This Saturday night, July 18, bring your family and come enjoy some music, food and beverages at the Ashland Street Party! Right in the heart of downtown Ashland, behind the library on the tracks at 7 p.m. We'll have a tent there with information about the Bluemont Benefit, Bluemont in Ashland and the Hanover Arts and Activities Center.

For more information about the Ashland Street Party, visit: http://www.ashlandstreetparties.com

Hope to see you there!

To name just a few!

Jen and I are having such a great time getting ready for the benefit as well as the concert summer series. Donations for the Silent Art Auction are coming along quite nicely and I'm growing more excited every day! So here are a few of the artists who will be donating their fabulous art for this very special event:

*Jeremy Witt/Jeremy Witt Photography-black and white, silver gelatin photographs

*Sue Rosenberg/Out of my Gourd-hand painted, colorful gourds

*Dave Camden/Camden Clayworks-pottery

*Tammy Evans/Critter Hall-whimsical paper mache' animals

*John Cook/402 Photography-color photographs of his travels around Virginia

*K. Bartlett Shaw-unique hand drawn images

*Nancy Witt/Cross Mill Gallery-oil painter/author

*Cliff Earl-sculptor/painter

*Susannah Wagner-painter/jewelry designer

More to come-hope you'll be at the benefit to find out!

A little peek!

Are you excited about the benefit and are wondering what kind of music will be delighting your senses that evening?

You can take a little peek at Coleman and Fuller, Jackie Frost and The Taters by searching them on:

www.blip.fm

www.youtube.com

You'll enjoy it! Can't wait to see you at the Ashland Coffee and Tea on July 23!

More details about the benefit!

With only two weeks to go, Jen and I are even more excited about the Bluemont Benefit at the Ashland Coffee and Tea on July 23-wow!

A few more details:

*Admission: Join or renew your membership with Bluemont, The Cultural Spirit of our Communities. $25 individual, $50 family. Your membership continues to keep Bluemont in Ashland, reduced admission to the five Sunday evening concerts and helps to provide funding not only for the performers, but helps with community outreach and the Artists-in-Education program.

*Hanover Arts and Activities Center members may reserve special seating!

*Doors open at 5 with the Art Auction bidding beginning at 6 and closing prior to the Taters (about 9). Bidders MUST be present to win please!

*Food and beverages available for purchase with special "Blue" menu items, only available once a year at the benefit!

*All ages are welcome!

*Become a member of the Hanover Arts and Activities Center (HAAC) at this special event!

*Questions? e-mail Elizabeth: bigblackdog@me.com or Jen: jennifer.chambers@comcast.net

Hope to see you there!

Summer Concert schedule

Every Sunday evening beginning at 7 pm on the lawn of the Hanover Arts and Activities Center:

July 26: John McCutcheon

August 2: Last Train Home

August 9: L'Angelus

August 16: The Lindsay Family

August 23: Daryl Davis Band

Come early and bring your family! More details to come!

Bluemont Benefit!

How exciting! The second Bluemont benefit is coming together quite nicely and should be a wonderful evening of music and art! At 7 p.m. on July 23, 2009, Jen and I hope to see you at the Ashland Coffee and Tea with Coleman and Fuller, Jackie Frost and The Taters. Oh boy! What a great time with all proceeds to benefit Bluemont in Ashland (www.bluemont.org). There will be a silent art auction during intermission with plenty of local artists who have graciously donated their talents to benefit Bluemont as well. More information to come-can't wait to see you there!