Evening Sponsors and Membership

We are ever so grateful to the local businesses and friends that have become members of Bluemont this year and for the past five summers. With the struggles that continue in the economy and the budget cuts that help fund Bluemont and many other important art and music programs, Jen and I are asking for your help more than ever.  The costs to bring music to Ashland are more than one could imagine- without more memberships and evening sponsors, there is great danger that Bluemont will be unable to return to Ashland next summer.  We were $3,000 short of reaching our $11,000 goal last year so it's even more important to go above and beyond this summer. We'd love your help!  Please visit us at the concert Welcome Tables to find out more information about joining Bluemont.  If your company or someone you know may be interested in becoming an evening sponsor, please let us know.  We appreciate you all so much and know you'll join with us to keep Bluemont in Ashland!

First Concert of 2010!

Yippee! The first Bluemont in Ashland Summer Concert is just a few days away.  This Sunday, August 1 is Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie- what a perfect way to start this exciting month of music.  Called "a banjo legend" by the "Washington Post", twice awarded "Banjo player of the Year" by the Muleskinner News Bluegrass Magazine, credited with giving start to the careers of both dobro legends Mike Auldridge and Jerry Douglas, credited by Ricky Skaggs as being responsible for his post Ralph Stanley musical career, Bill Emerson was also inducted into the "Virginia Folk Music Association" Hall of Fame in 1984 and June 10th was proclaimed "Bill Emerson Day" by the governor.  You can check out more about this incredible band by visiting www.bluegrassville.com/billemerson/
Also this week, the Hanover Concert Band will be opening the show at 5:30-so come on over to the center early and bring a picnic dinner. Double music- double fun! Can't wait to see you!

Summer Concert Schedule 2010!

Oh boy-the summer music schedule is here and we can't wait! Hurry, hurry- turn your calendar to August, grab your big BLUE pen and write these great bands on every Sunday evening for the month:

August 1: Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie
August 8:  The Taters
August 15:  Guy Mendilow
August 22:  Mandalele
August 29:  Last Train Home

How about that? Get ready for some sweet sounds on the lawn and lots of dancing with family and friends! See you at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center on Sundays at 7! If you'd like to volunteer at any of the concerts, please let us know!

Summer 2010

Yippee!  Hooray!  The 2010 Bluemont Concert Series is just around the corner and we can hardly wait!  We've been making plans and getting excited for five evenings of wonderful music on the lawn.  It's hard to believe that this will be our 6th summer for Bluemont in Ashland and it just keeps getting better.  If you'd like to volunteer at a concert, with mailings, fundraising or you'd like a little more information, let us know.  Looking forward to seeing you!

September

As I'm sitting here on my back porch, listening to the rain, it's still so hard to believe that my Sunday nights aren't filled with music and friends and the excitement of an outdoor Bluemont concert. It always seems to go by far too quickly! I'm also hoping that all of the mailings that went out last month, will bring lots of new memberships. We're still continuing to work on our goal of $11,000 and would love your help! If a mailing missed your house, let us know! We're happy to send some information! Summer in Ashland just wouldn't be the same without the sweet music and sounds, coming from the lawn of the Hanover Arts and Activities Center.

Summer's End

Wow-it's the end of summer already and it feels so strange to have celebrated the last of the Bluemont in Ashland summer concerts. What a wonderful, happy evening with The Daryl Davis Band!

The music was just as I had hoped-energetic, light-hearted, and two amazing long sets! Thank you, thank you to Daryl and his band. I danced so much that I had to sit down in the grass a few times just to catch my breath-by the end of night, my legs were rubbery and my dress felt as though I had just jumped out of the shower fully clothed! Kids were dancing, two brave gentleman sang their way through 'Leroy Brown' and everyone seemed to have an enjoyable night.

Thank you SO much to all of our volunteers-Lily and Hannah Dunning took some time during intermission to give flowers to the volunteers that have given their time and talents to making this summer such a big success. We couldn't do it without you! We certainly missed Jen Chambers, my faithful co-chair and look forward to more concerts next summer!

While there are no more concert happenings to write about, I'll be writing periodically over the next couple of months to update our fundraising news-at this point, we're about $5,000 towards our $11,000 goal. I'm hopeful that more donations will be coming in as everyone around Ashland and other similar communities receive fundraising letters-we'd really appreciate your support!

We'd sure miss Bluemont next summer...thanks everyone!

The Last Bluemont in Ashland concert for this summer...

I'm writing with mixed emotions as this Sunday is our last Bluemont in Ashland concert for the summer. It seems to go by so quickly-I can hardly believe that our summer of music is almost at its end. However, I can't think of a better way to end the series than with our friend, Daryl Davis and his band-get ready for some great tunes and bring your dancing shoes!

Boogie-woogie, blues, funk and rock-can you possibly pick a favorite? Well, no worries-you'll get to hear a little of everything this weekend-the Daryl Davis band brings it all and brings it all with energy enough for our whole town to enjoy! Not to mention that he's a super nice guy and did you know, he's even played with Little Richard?

Get out your gold lame and your attitude and come on over-we'll be waiting for you! Watch out too because you never know who you might meet! If you'd like to get a little hint of Daryl Davis, visit his website at www.daryldavis.com-check out those photos! Oh boy!

Another Lovely Evening on the Lawn

The Lindsay Family gave Ashland a look a what happens when musical talent runs in the family! It was wonderful to watch and listen as they played the french horn, drums, tuba, trumpet, piano and a coronet (I think!) with ease and truly a love for what they do. Wow-what musicians! The kids have mastered their instruments and to think that they are so young-I wonder what the future has in store for them?!

Thanks to everyone who shared in this magical night. While it was hot and humid as usual, the crowd seemed to enjoy the evening, the sweet treats from Henry Clay Elementary PTA and the sno-cones from the Knights of Columbus.

It's hard to believe that it was our fourth concert already with only one more to go. I often think of our Bluemont summer like a wedding-so much time is spent preparing and getting excited and then, it seems all too quickly, it's over. Well, almost...

Hope to see you this Sunday!

Our volunteers are the BEST!

What a day today! At 11:00 this morning, 1,300 fundraising letters sat on my dining room table, waiting to be signed, folded, stuffed into matching envelopes, stamped, sealed and mailed and at 9:00 tonight-done! Can you believe it?! Our volunteers really are the best!

Starting with coffee and a blueberry scone and in my PJs the fun began with Jen, Julia, Lee, Susan and Faith and rolled easily into the afternoon when Micheline and Jeremy joined the fun as Lee, Julia, Jen and Susan went to prepare for their exciting trip! Another knock on the door and Carolyn and Jerry came in to help with Susan later returning for more excitement as the day continued with coffee being replaced with iced tea and cranberry. Not long after, Jeremy and I found ourselves alone, signing and stamping but determined to forge ahead! Paige soon joined in and we were pleasantly surprised to find Faith and Jerry returning and Christiane coming along as well. On the homestretch, wine replaced tea and before we knew it, we were finished. I wish I could describe the wonderful conversation flow from travel to art to fundraising to movies to the environment to concerts....it was wonderful!

Thank you everyone for giving your time and sharing your thoughts and helping to make this letter signing day one to remember.

This Sunday the 16th-The Lindsay Family and we'll miss you Jen!

I can't believe this Sunday will be our 4th Bluemont in Ashland concert! Yikes, that means there's only one left after this week! Well, I won't think about that too much right now-I'll just get super excited to hear some great jazz by The Lindsay Family instead!

This family of five includes a 14 year-old trumpet and piano virtuoso, a "trombone and bass-wailing" 12 year-old and a "tuba toting drummer" 9 year old with their dad on trumpet and guitar and their mom on french horn and piano. Wow! They also sing and love every minute of it, according to the reviews.

So everyone, gather your family, your friends and all the kids you can find and come check out the Lindsay Family this week. I'm sure it will be a magical night!

There will be someone missing though and things won't be quite the same-Jen, the wonderful other half of this Bluemont in Ashland team, will be cruising the waters of Alaska! We'll miss you Jen, more than can be said in this post. Send lots of postcards and we'll take lots of pictures! ox

L'Angelus-what fun!

Our third Bluemont in Ashland concert with L'Angelus was so much fun! Ashland was quite a busy place today-the last of our Children's Theatre Camp production of Peter Pan was enjoyed by all, then a mad dash to clean up and get to the cast party, followed by driving back from the country to get ready for some of the best cajun music around!

Boy, it was hot though! We were a little worried that the temperature might have kept people home, basking in the cool indoors but to our delight, many dedicated Bluemont fans braved the heat and mosquitos to join us! Not only did they come, but many spent the evening dancing up front, with friends, children and family members. Fun, yes indeed!

If you were there, hopefully, you bought a CD or two to share with your friends. I did and I can't wait to listen to it tomorrow-it may be in my frosty cool kitchen though perhaps while looking for a wonderful cajun recipe to go along with it!
Check out the photo memories of L'Angelus

Hope to see you next Sunday for The Lindsay Family!