NEWS
Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs
An Appalachian Summer Festival
Appalachian State University
PO Box 32045
Boone, NC 28608-2045
828-262-6084 (ph) 828-262-2848 (fax)
July 13, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact: Anna Gaugert, director of marketing & public relations,
828-262-6084, ext. 107 or gaugertah@appstate.edu.
To download high-resolution images, visit www.appsummer.org/media.
An Appalachian Summer Festival Presents David Grisman
Sextet Featuring Special Guests: Bryan Sutton Band
BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA— An Appalachian Summer Festival will showcase an
exciting lineup of the best in music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film this July for
its 31st season in the mountains of North Carolina. This year’s Schaefer Popular
Series is comprised of big-name musical talents, including David Grisman Sextet on
July 17 at 8 p.m. This performance, as well as all Schaefer Popular Series events, is
sponsored by Westglow Resort & Spa and Rowland’s Restaurant, and made possible
through the generosity of Bonnie and Jamie Schaefer.
David Grisman is a long-time legend on the mandolin and a renowned innovator in
acoustic musical composition. Dubbed “Dawg” by cherished friend Jerry Garcia,
Grisman collaborated with the Grateful Dead on “American Beauty” and later
formed Old & in the Way with Garcia. Grisman is known to combine jazz, folk,
bluegrass and modern jazz-fusion to create what he calls “Dawg music.” The Bryan
Sutton Band, led by sought after guitarist Bryan Sutton with David Grisman’s son,
Sam Grisman, will open for David and his sextet.
David Grisman followed acoustic roots music from his native New Jersey to
Appalachia, playing with The Even Dozen Jug Band, Red Allen and the Kentuckians
and others. A disciple of folklorist Ralph Rinzler, David contributed to the vibrant
1960s Greenwich Village folk scene and later moved to the Bay Area, where he
recorded and collaborated with Garcia and the Grateful Dead.
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His original music attracted brilliant musicians (Tony Rice, Darol Anger and Mike
Marshall to name but a few) and the 1976 formation of the David Grisman Quintet
revolutionized acoustic string music. David has played with many of his heroes,
from Stephane Grappelli, Svend Asmussen and Jethro Burns to Doc Watson, Bill
Monroe and Earl Scruggs.
Grisman has also been a prolific producer of recording artists as diverse as Red
Allen, Frank Wakefield, Jethro Burns, Tiny Moore, Stephane Grappelli, Dave Apollon,
George Barnes and many others for Folkways, Rounder, Sugar Hill, Kaleidoscope
and his own company, Acoustic Disc. In 2010 he launched AcousticOasis.com, a
website devoted exclusively to the highest quality acoustic music downloads.
Today he tours regularly with the David Grisman Sextet, playing his original “Dawg”
compositions. The Sextet includes Jim Kerwin (bass), Matt Eakle (flute and bass
flute), George Marsh (drums and percussion), Chad Manning (violin, viola and
mandolin) and George Cole (guitar). David's 50+ years of playing, composing, and
producing attest to his indomitable creative spirit.
About Bryan Sutton Band
Bryan Sutton is one of the most sought after acoustic guitarists on the planet. Born
in Asheville, North Carolina, Bryan grew up in a musical family and was immersed in
the rich heritage of western North Carolina music. Sutton entered the bluegrass
world in 1995 as a member of Ricky Skaggs' Kentucky Thunder band, playing on
two Grammy award-winning records. After his tenure with Skaggs, Bryan went on
to build a career as a top studio guitarist in Nashville. His playing can be heard
alongside such names as Keith Urban, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, and Harry Connick
Jr. Always striving to keep his bluegrass roots strong, Bryan has also released four
solo projects and has toured around the world with artists like Bela Fleck and Chris
Thile, and as a member of the legendary bluegrass band, Hot Rize. Sutton has been
honored as a six-time winner of the IBMA's Guitarist of the Year, and received a
Grammy in 2007 for "Best Country Instrumental Performance" for his duet
recording with Doc Watson. Bryan now balances a busy schedule of recording,
touring, and teaching online as part of the Artist Works group. The Bryan Sutton
Band includes Bryan Sutton, Sam Grisman, Casey Campbell and Mike Barnett.
For more information on this show, visit
http://appsummer.org/schedule/id/david-grisman-sextet.
Additional Festival Events:
The festival has a spectacular line up of some of the nation’s greatest performers
between June 27 and July 31, including The Beach Boys (July 18), Rosen-Schaffel
Competition for Young and Emerging Artists (July 19), “Twenty Feet from
Stardom’s” Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton (July 23), In/Visible Theatre: “Without
Words” (July 24 & 25), 29th Rosen Sculpture Walk (July 25), Scott Bradlee’s
Postmodern Jukebox (July 31). Other special events offered by the festival: lunch
& learn lectures, workshops for kids and young adults.
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Tickets:
Tickets are $28 for adults and $20 for students. To purchase tickets, call or visit the
Schaefer Center box office at 800-841-2787 or 828-262-4046. Tickets can also be
purchased online at appsummer.org.
About An Appalachian Summer Festival
An Appalachian Summer Festival is presented annually in July by the university’s
Office of Arts and Cultural Programs. Beginning as a small chamber music series, the
festival has emerged as one of the nation’s most highly regarded, multi-disciplinary
art festivals, designated one of the “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” by the
Southeast Tourism Society. True to a university-based arts festival, educational
experiences such as lectures and opportunities to meet artists, artistic directors,
competition jurors and other experts, have always been an important component of
festival programming.
Festival Corporate Sponsors:
Westglow Resort and Spa, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, Northern
Trust, McDonald’s of Boone, Mast General Store, Storie Street Grille, Goodnight
Brothers, Boone Area Visitors Bureau, Sky Best Communications, Scholars
Bookshop at the University Bookstore, Hotel Equities, Holiday Inn Express-Boone,
Nationwide—Charles Eyler Agency, Peabody’s Wine & Beer Merchants, Chetola
Resort, Creekside Electronics and Boone Ford-Lincoln.
Festival media sponsors include:
WBTV, WCYB, Charter Media, Winston-Salem Journal, Greensboro News & Record,
PBS Charlotte, WNC Magazine, High Country Radio, WHKY AM 1290, WDAV 89.9FM,
WFDD 88.5FM, WETS 89.5FM, WASU 90.5FM and High Country 365.
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