Rain or Shine- yes!

Did you know that we always have our concerts no matter the weather?  So, if it's rainy, we laugh at the weather and move inside! It's so easy, especially with our new location at Randolph-Macon College!  Just come down to the regular place, Blackwell Auditorium, come up the steps that are usually the stage and come on in! We'll be looking for you!  You can even drop off everyone you bring along out front if you like...
See you there!

This Sunday, August 18- Matuto!

This Sunday, we are thrilled to have Matuto for our 3rd concert of the summer!  A combination of diverse jazz, roots and world music, the band features violin, guitar, accordion, bass, drums and various Brazilian percussion instruments (most that we've never seen and can't wait to learn about!) This six member band creates a unique and inspired sound from the heart of New York Coty's diverse musical culture.

So, you know what to do! Grab a blanket or chair, tell your friends, and come on over and listen to some amazing music under the stars with Matuto! For more info on the band, check out their website:
matutomusic.com

See you there!!

We need your help reaching our fundraising goal!

Each summer, Bluemont in Ashland has a fundraising goal to meet to be able to continue to support the summer concerts!  Your Bluemont membership is SO important and makes such a great impact on reaching that each summer.  This year, our goal is $8,000 and we're about half way there.  "How do I become a Bluemont member?" you may be wondering.  It's easy! There are a few ways to suit your needs- check them out:

*visit us at a concert- we're at the Friend's Table and can answer all of your questions there as well as help you fill out a membership form

*check out www.bluemont.org and become a member on-line

*give us a call and we'll help you through the process by phone

*drop a check in the mail after visiting the website and reading about the membership benefits

Your gift to Bluemont is VERY appreciated- becoming a Bluemont member is a super way to show your support!

Thank you and we look forward to your membership and seeing you at the next show!

We LOVED Hard Swimmin' Fish!

We're hoping, really hoping that you made it out to Hard Swimmin' Fish this past Sunday! They were amazing and really nice guys too! Prior to the show at Randolph-Macon, the boys played for folks at the Omni Senior Apartments and had a great time with the residents there!  The weather held out nicely and while clouds lingered and the humidity was out of control, the rain stayed away so everyone enjoyed themselves dancing and listening to our terrific band! We sure would like them to come back to Ashland for another summer concert as soon as possible!  Thanks Hard Swimmin' Fish!

Hard Swimmin' Fish this Sunday!

This coming Sunday is going to be full of energy and fun!  A few hints about what's to come:
swim caps, swimsuits, Fred Horne, barracudas, sunshine, laughter, Lori Foley, Hard Swimmin' Fish, lanterns, prizes...
You'll have to come to the concert to find out more!
Although, we can't wait to tell you more about the band, Hard Swimmin' Fish! So, maybe just a little bit...
Hard Swimmin' Fish is a blues quartet that has been making music together for over fifteen years. The band plays a range of styles covering the country blues of Mississippi and The Piedmont, the urban blues of Chicago, and funk infused varieties with roots in New Orleans' second line. This versatility allows Hard Swimmin' Fish to offer either acoustic or electric performances and play any venue. Together they churn out a vibrant combination of originals, rearranged traditional material, and recognizable standards.
See you then!

Bluemont in Ashland Business Leaders

Our summer concerts here in Ashland are supported by a growing group of businesses and community leaders whose support ensures that these wonderful events can continue at affordable family prices.

Join us in thanking these major contributors:

The Town of Ashland; Randolph-Macon College

Ashland Main Street Association 

Hanover Arts and Activities Center 

Ashland Street Parties

Ashland Coffee and Tea                 The Caboose Wine and Cheese

The Iron Horse Restaurant Trackside Grill

Ashland Ace Hardware         Mac's Service Center

Anthony’s Pizza                 Fin and Feather of Ashland

Jersey Mike’s                 re*funk*it

Herbert Insurance

Consistently, these businesses have supported Bluemont in Ashland by hanging posters, handing out flyers, donating door prizes and/or sustaining their membership.

Please stop by and visit one or all of these Ashland businesses- they'd love it! Thank You!

The Hula Honeys were terrific!

Hopefully, as you're reading this, you're reminded of your first (or maybe you're not a beginner!) hula lesson last week at our first summer concert with the Hula Honeys! We had such a great time and beautiful weather- the evening was a great success! Along with fabulous music, CJ's Thumbs Up Foundation and the Knights of Columbus sold sweet treats (and sold out I'm told!) and actors from the upcoming production of Fiddler on the Roof, opening this weekend at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center, sang and danced during the pre-show. It was so nice to see everyone having such a good time in our new location, enjoying both the grass and brick seating, some enjoying the late afternoon sun and some in the shade. Thank you Randolph-Macon College! We're even more excited for this week...hope to see you there!

We are SO lucky!

We are so lucky to have concerts in the beautiful town of Ashland for lots of reasons. We are so grateful to all of the businesses who support us by hanging posters in their windows, giving out flyers, providing door prizes and becoming members. While this list will continue to grow as the concerts happen, the following businesses have so kindly offered their help: Trackside Grill, Ashland Library, Shear Power, Hometown Realty, The Caboose, Ashland Coffee and Tea, Mac's Service Station, Anthony's Pizza, Fin and Feather, Ashwood Nursery, Starbucks Ashland, Ashland Ace Hardware, Jersey Mike's, and ReFunkIt
Make sure to visit as many of these businesses are you can and tell all of your friends!
Thanks everyone!!

Thank you Town of Ashland!

I love driving through town during the month of August and being welcomed to town by the Bluemont in Ashland banner! It's been in the same location on Route 54 west just before Route 1 for the past eight summers and we appreciate it very much. Thanks Town of Ashland for supporting Bluemont so well! Make sure you check out the banner each week for details about the band playing... can't wait to see the Hula Honeys!

so you may still be wondering about the new location...

I had the pleasure of spending the evening a few nights ago with my friends Jen and Ann at our new location, just in front of the Blackwell Auditorium on the campus of Randolph-Macon College.  We met there to check things out, specifically, the lighting, the sun, the lawn and the brick area just in front of the steps where the bands will play.  We were curious about the shade and wanted to figure out the new layout for the volunteer tables, community group tables, lanterns and how the seating might feel.  After spending about three hours there, the best way I can summarize all that we learned is: It's going to be wonderful!!  No doubt about it, we will miss being on the lawn at The Center as it has been our home for the past eight years and we are so thankful. However, our new location will be super great too- you'll see! Plenty of lawn for blankets and dancing (in your bare feet if you like!), plenty of brick space for your chairs (if you'd rather) and dancing too, beautiful large trees to provide lots of shade and drum roll please...indoor restrooms! (no more port-o-potties lurking behind trees!) So, as always, the concerts will be held outside unless the weather has other plans and if so, it's just a quick move right inside the auditorium. What could be easier?! If you're local and you have a chance, walk on by there and check it out! We think you'll like it too!

Our first concert of the summer: The Hula Honeys!

What a great way to start our ninth summer of concerts:
The Hula Honeys!  Come on over to Randolph-Macon's Blackwell Auditorium and sit in the grass or on the beautiful brick plaza and enjoy some music under the stars!

The Hula Honeys are known for performing the enchanting music of Hawaii’s territorial days, songs that take you back to Boat Days and Waikiki’s golden era. Blending vintage Hapa Haole songs with hip jazz classics, they create a swinging sweet sound all their own. Winners of the prestigious Na Hoku Hano Hano award 2010 for best Hawaiian Jazz album "Girl Talk."

The Hula Honeys have played at The Kennedy Millennium Center Stage, various Ukulele Festivals, and regularly perform in their hometown of Maui where they are also DJ Friday afternoons on Mana'o Radio.

For their Bluemont concerts, the Hula Honeys will be joined by bassist Ralph Gordon and multi-instrumentalist Marcy Marxer.
You can check out more about them as well as listen to a few songs on their website: http://www.thehulahoneys.com/