IBMA 2023 Vocal Group of the Year, Authentic Unlimited, has been slated as the headliner band for the Winter Bluegrass Jubilee, our annual indoor music festival, taking place at Pickens High School on January 20th. This group also came away with the 2023 IBMA New Artist of the Year Award. As implied, this group is known for their “authenticity and unlimited supply of original material.” This powerful bluegrass/gospel group is comprised of former band members of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver’s touring band. Jerry Cole, Eli Johnston, and Stephen Burwell have combined talents with John Meador and Jesse Brock to produce a sound that will knock your socks off! Both Jerry Cole and John Meador are bluegrass vocalists and play the bass and guitar respectively, while gifted musicians, Eli Johnston will be on banjo, Jesse Brock will be on mandolin, and Stephen Burwell will be on fiddle. With this professional team of musicians, it is no wonder they are “taking the music industry by storm”!
Outstanding vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, the highly respected Shannon Slaughter and his top-notch band will also be performing at the Winter Jubilee. His band is comprised of Ron Inscore on the mandolin and vocals, Matt Wingate on guitar, mandolin, and vocals, Trevor Watson on banjo and vocals, and Cliff Bailey on acoustic bass and vocals. This band is rooted in the ear-pleasing sounds of bluegrass and traditional acoustic country music. As an artist, Shannon Slaughter’s songs feature a smooth contemporary sound, as well as featuring his originality as a writer and as a vocalist. His success has been proven by his three #1 songs on Bluegrass Today Top 20 Song charts, Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 Songs, and also other tracks appearing on Sirius XM Bluegrass Most Played Tracks and Albums charts.
Outstanding vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, the highly respected Shannon Slaughter and his top-notch band will also be performing at the Winter Jubilee. His band is comprised of Ron Inscore on the mandolin and vocals, Matt Wingate on guitar, mandolin, and vocals, Trevor Watson on banjo and vocals, and Cliff Bailey on acoustic bass and vocals. This band is rooted in the ear-pleasing sounds of bluegrass and traditional acoustic country music. As an artist, Shannon Slaughter’s songs feature a smooth contemporary sound, as well as featuring his originality as a writer and as a vocalist. His success has been proven by his three #1 songs on Bluegrass Today Top 20 Song charts, Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 Songs, and also other tracks appearing on Sirius XM Bluegrass Most Played Tracks and Albums charts.
The YAM Evening Music Programs are offering several exciting new classes in order to enhance their present efforts of offering enjoyable and educational musical experiences for their students.
The first class is a free jamming session each month, located at the Roper Building at 150 N. Main Street, Six Mile (across from Six Mile Baptist Church). Current students from all evening locations and YAM students wishing to learn the art of jamming are invited to participate in the first session on Monday, November 6th, from 6:00 - 7:00 PM, and every first Monday in succeeding months. The sessions will teach students the rules of jamming and jam session etiquette. These classes will prove to be super fun and are led by YAM alum, Logan Redding.
Secondly, the Pickens Evening site, located at The Hagood Community Center, 129 Schoolhouse St, will begin offering ukulele and dulcimer lessons, beginning Thursday, November 9th, at 6 PM. The fee for the lessons will be $50 monthly and a $20 instrument rental fee if needed, payable at the first lesson of the month. Classes are open to all students 3rd grade and up and adults of any age. Class instructor will be Janet Hardin, retired music teacher and current YAM Program Director.
Lastly, plans are to begin a clawhammer banjo class at the Easley Program after the first of the year. Students who already play the 5-string banjo may want to take on this form of banjo as enhancement to their present abilities. The instructor will be announced soon.
To register or for more information regarding each of these classes or for class times, you may contact Pauline at blackspm1@outlook.com.
The first class is a free jamming session each month, located at the Roper Building at 150 N. Main Street, Six Mile (across from Six Mile Baptist Church). Current students from all evening locations and YAM students wishing to learn the art of jamming are invited to participate in the first session on Monday, November 6th, from 6:00 - 7:00 PM, and every first Monday in succeeding months. The sessions will teach students the rules of jamming and jam session etiquette. These classes will prove to be super fun and are led by YAM alum, Logan Redding.
Secondly, the Pickens Evening site, located at The Hagood Community Center, 129 Schoolhouse St, will begin offering ukulele and dulcimer lessons, beginning Thursday, November 9th, at 6 PM. The fee for the lessons will be $50 monthly and a $20 instrument rental fee if needed, payable at the first lesson of the month. Classes are open to all students 3rd grade and up and adults of any age. Class instructor will be Janet Hardin, retired music teacher and current YAM Program Director.
Lastly, plans are to begin a clawhammer banjo class at the Easley Program after the first of the year. Students who already play the 5-string banjo may want to take on this form of banjo as enhancement to their present abilities. The instructor will be announced soon.
To register or for more information regarding each of these classes or for class times, you may contact Pauline at blackspm1@outlook.com.
Evening Music Program: Now Enrolling for November Classes |
Life in the small, rural Southern Appalachian community of Pickens, SC is centered primarily on family, church, the great outdoors and our heritage. What better way to celebrate and share our musical heritage than to pass on our community’s love and interest in preserving old-time mountain music?
Supported by Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music Inc. (POSAM), Young Appalachian Musicians (YAM) introduces children and adults to the music of their heritage through small group instruction in instruments common to the Appalachian region.
Many of our students could not afford the level of instruction they receive or to try out an instrument without a program like YAM. We offer affordable instruction, including lower rates for free and reduced-lunch students, as well as an instrument rental program that makes it possible for all children to play an instrument. None of this would be possible without the support of the community.
Supported by Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music Inc. (POSAM), Young Appalachian Musicians (YAM) introduces children and adults to the music of their heritage through small group instruction in instruments common to the Appalachian region.
Many of our students could not afford the level of instruction they receive or to try out an instrument without a program like YAM. We offer affordable instruction, including lower rates for free and reduced-lunch students, as well as an instrument rental program that makes it possible for all children to play an instrument. None of this would be possible without the support of the community.
The Winter Bluegrass Jubilee was funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the South Carolina Arts Commission.