Appalachian Trail and Teddy Helton

We had a great group of musicians this past Thursday at the "Pickin' Porch Show". One of my favorite bands, Appalachian Trail stopped by to pick for awhile. Band members include Tommy and Vickie Austin, Allen Hughes and Matthew Cruby. They've got a new album coming out soon and I can't wait.

Our good friend Teddy Helton got together with some of his pals and also put on a great show. Teddy plays bass with the band "Fast Train" and plays guitar, banjo and bass in Fire in the Kitchen. Jason Skinner played banjo for the impromptu group. You can usually find Jason playing banjo in the Skinner Family Band. Elmer Faust played a fantastic harmonica and Matthew Cruby helped out the guys on the guitar. Tommy Shortt was just back from a gig as opening act for the The Kentucky Headhunters and joined in for a couple of tunes.

Mountain Music Museum & Giftshop

Here is a picture of the front of our beautiful Mountain Music Museum and Giftshop in the Bristol Mall. If you love old-time music this place is a must see. We have many hard-to-find cds by artists like Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family and the Stoneman Family. We also have exhibits showcasing these wonderful musicians and singers.

Brittany Reilly and Gold Heart

This week Brittany Reilly and Almost Acoustic Band dropped by the Pickin' Porch on Thursday. They came to us by way of Ohio, Florida and North Carolina. They have been playing gigs all over the U.S. this year.

Gold Heart also stopped by the porch this week. They are down this way getting ready to perform at the "Pickin in the Gap" at the Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tennessee.

Tim took the stage and held a raffle for tickets to the Song of the Mountains special taping in Marion, Virginia.

My friends James and Cathy posed for a picture during a break from the music.

Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Rambler's

Larry Sparks and his Lonesome Ramblers spent this past Saturday evening performing at the Pickin' Porch on the lower level of the Bristol Mall in Bristol, Virginia.

Larry's "soulful" bluegrass style has been a mainstay in music for many years. He's been a musician since childhood and stepped onto the bluegrass scene in a big way when he joined Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain Boys after the death of Ralph's brother Carter.

Add the Lonesome Ramblers beautiful harmonies and masterful instrumentals you end up with a commanding musical performance.

Larry and the Lonesome Ramblers performed tunes from previous albums, including the lastest "I Don't Regret A Mile" and "The Last Suit You Wear". They also presented songs from the "Bound to Ride", a greatest hits CD. Several bluegrass "standards" were added to the set list including songs Larry performed as a "Clinch Mountain Boy". "Raw Hide", "Kentucky Chimes" and "Cherokee Shuffle" were some of the instrumentals played.

A Larry Sparks show would not be complete without the Stanley Brothers' gospel number "Going Up Home (To Live In Green Pastures)".

Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers paid tribute to the First Family of Country Music, the Carter Family. They treated the crowd to a medley that included "Single Girl/Married Girl" and "You Are My Flower".

Larry left the crowd wanting more but also with the promise that he'd be stopping back by "the porch" one day soon.

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