Programs for 2004

Saturday, January 17, 7:30 p.m.

Bedford Room - 540-586-8911 ext 18

CANDLEWYCK in Concert - Newgrass/Bluegrass

Suggested Donation - $5.00 per person

Candlewyck started as an acoustic duo founded by Chris Emerson and Ty Bennett in Charlotte, NC. The band which has grown to a quartet prides itself on being one of a very few bluegrass groups to write, record and perform their own material. While Ty composes most of the group’s material, several tunes are collaborations with Chris such as “Firemen”.  “This will always be one of our favorite songs and was actually our first single released to radio where it did well” says Chris. They called on Lonesome River Band alumni Don Rigsby to sing lead on the tune and it won Best Bluegrass Song at the 2002 Independent Music Awards—not a small feat considering the thousands of entries and the fact that the judges included Arturo Sandoval, Ricky Skaggs and Tom Waits.A live Candlewyck show guarantees excitement, variety and a lot of picking. The band performs music from the award winning CD as well as material to be released on a second record in 2003. Jon Cornatzer is impressive in how he is able to combine banjo parts performed on the CD (by Terry Baucom, Jens Kruger, Tony Furtado, etc.) with his own creative ideas and make it all work. He is a tremendous talent and will be featured heavily on the new Candlewyck record. Likewise, Rachel Moody is extremely versatile going from high-gear newgrass tunes to lush ballads with ease and sincerity. Recent sessions have included keyboard legend T. Lavitz (Dixie Dregs, Widespread Panic), Rob Ickes (Blue Highway), Moondi Klein (Chesapeake), Jon Randall (Emmylou Harris)  and John Cowan (New Grass Revival). “We’re just having fun and trying to make good music” says Ty

Wednesday, January 10 - February 17

Second Floor

Sandra Grey, An Art of Her Own Paintings and Quilts

The Friends of the Bedford Public Library, Inc. will host an exhibit of paintings and quilts by artist, Sandra Grey from Wednesday, January 14 through February 10, 2004 during normal library hours. The exhibit, titled, "Sandra Grey, An Art of Her Own Paintings and Quilts" is open to the public and free of charge. An opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Saturday, January 17 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Join Sandra on January 28 at 1:00 pm for a talk titled "Reflections with the Artist.” For more information please call 540-586-8911 ext 18 or www.sandragrey.com
There is no charge for the exhibit.
Sandra Grey has been quilting since she retired in 1996 and within the last two years has brought her love of color and design to oil on canvas. Previously this love was expressed through a variety of other mediums such as interior design and numerous craft projects. A financial planner by profession, Sandra received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Kansas State University where she taught family finance. She later became a Certificated Financial Planner working in the Washington, DC area. While there, she and her husband, Gene, discovered Smith Mountain Lake and purchased a second home at the Lake in 1989. They have three daughters and three granddaughters. Sandra's mother was a quilter and Sandra is hoping to pass this love on to her granddaughters.
“My mother, Opal Abrams Singleton Noell, started quilting when she retired at age 65. Although she was a lifetime needle worker sewing clothing, crocheting, knitting and doing appliqué work at a highly skilled level she had never made a quilt. Without a source of attractive fabric (she lived in a rural area in central Missouri) I began shopping for fabrics and patterns for her to use. I cut the fabric into individual pieces according to the shapes desired for the various quilt blocks. Then I placed all the pieces needed to form a single block between index cards and stacked the sets of index cards into a shoebox crosswise for her easy use. This allowed her to pick up all the pieces necessary to sit and hand sew a block together while she watched TV or traveled. She made 13 quilts in eleven years. Each quilt was hand quilted as well as hand stitched. She joined a small church-quilting group, which met each Wednesday (bringing a dish for a shared-lunch) where the members set up several frames and quilted all day. When my daughter Kristy visited during the summer, she would spend the day threading everyone's needles, the most time consuming task for these older women.”

Saturday, February 21, 7:30 p.m.

The Paddy Dougherty Quartet

Folk, Blues and Jazz

Back by Popular Demand

Bedford Room

Suggested Donation - $5.00 per person

Paddy Dougherty, former back up singer for national bluesman David Bromberg, will kick off a show of new music titled "Ballads & Blues". This is the the title for the soon to be released new CD Her debut CD "Let Love Have Some Time." met with great popular success  The CD blended elements of jazz, blues and folk that were powerfully written and soulfully expressed.  Described as "pleasing to the ears, warming to the heart and soothing to the soul," the Quartet showcases Paddy's talent as singer, musician and songwriter.  Performing with her will be Larry Scott on drums, Robin Tolley on bass, and Glenn Buck on keyboards, sax and flute. Paddy Dougherty rounds out the band on guitar, keyboard and singing. Members of the Quartet are also known as the key components of Mainstreet Rhythm & Blues, a funky 5 piece band known throughout the region, which was just voted Best Band by Lynchburg Living Magazine in the Jan/Feb 2004 edition.
Paddy Dougherty’s skill as a songwriter has received strong critical acclaim. The song "Blind to Love" won 1st place in the 1993 Pepsi Band Jam.  Actually out of 97 submitted songs from over 30 bands, Mainstreet's three submitted songs won 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place. Listening to this band is a great way to liven up a cold winter’s evening - sure to get the Bedford Room jumping! A band bristling with talent!

Tuesday, March 9, 7:30 p.m.

Bedford Room

téada in Concert - Traditional Celtic from Ireland

Suggested Donation - $5.00 per person

One of the most exciting traditional groups to have emerged in recent years, the young Irish band téada (pronounced tay-da) is stirring both critical and popular acclaim for their soulful, virtuoso playing and thrilling live performances. “A new and fresh face in Irish music,” says The Irish Voice, “téada are a band to watch out for.” The readers of Irish Music Magazine recently voted them “Best Traditional Newcomers of 2003.
téada is led by Oisin Mac Diarmada (Oh-sheen Mac Dermotta), called “one of the most talented fiddlers in Ireland today” by the Irish Echo. Playing the fiddle sine the age of six. Oisin was born in County Clare and raised in Sligo, learning from such great Clare fiddlers as John Keely, Joe Ryan and Bobby Casey and absorbing the rich musical traditions of both regions. He first teamed up with the London-born John Blake (guitar, flute), Seán McElwain of Monahan (banjo, bouzouki) and Dubliner Tristan Rosentock (bodhran) ins 2001, for the Irish-music TV series “Flosc”. The performance was so successful that it marked the unofficial debut of téada. An expanded musical vision later brought in fifth member, accordionist Paul Finn of Country Laois.
Though the band members are all in their twenties, téada’s fresh approach draws its inspiration from the past. The group plays with the unhurried assurance and elegant pace that belies its young age, and their tune selections include little-played gems from the great Irish masters of the 20th century. Says the Irish Times, “the group imbues their music with a decidedly Old World feeling...satisfied to let the music breathe.”

Saturday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.

Bedford Room

Jan Smith Duo in Concert - Country/ Folk/ Bluegrass

Suggested Donation - $5.00 per person

A native of Louisville Kentucky Jan Smith traveled from San Francisco to Seattle to Main’s Mount Desert Island before she settled in Charlottesville, Virginia where she quickly made a name for herself. In 2003 she released nationally her debut album, Tin Heart, an acoustic collection of original tunes rooted in folk, country, bluegrass and pop. Her songwriting skills and musical compositions make her music compelling, passionate and wonderfully fresh.
Jan Smith’s “traditional” songs are about the hazards and joys of modern times. Her lyrics are straightforward and simply poetic – not a pretentious obscurity in the batch. Her singer’s voice is the natural extension of her writer’s voice: beautifully clear, sure and honest. And the music; the melodies are uncluttered and gorgeous, played by a band of accomplished musicians who obviously love what they do “Her smoky vocals give her songs a warm patina, making them sound somehow timeless, like a sepia-toned photo. “ Jefferson Hemmings, 9X Magazine
“The group has a full rootsy sound…All the band members are accomplished instrumentalists, and Smith's breathy, relaxed vocals are just icing on the cake…”Mark Grabowski, The Hook

Saturday, April 3, 7:30 p.m.

Bedford Room

Brooks Williams in Concert - Acoustic Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter

Suggested Donation - $5.00 per person

Born in Statesboro, Georgia, Brooks took up the guitar at age 10 (he had been playing violin since the age of three) and had a hunger for music that was never satisfied. He crept into his older brother’s rooms, when they were away, and secretly listened to their albums: Hendrix, Tuna, Yes, Clapton and Morrison, to name a few. Brooks listened with all the naivete of youth and taught himself to play the overdubbed parts on a single guitar. You’re not supposed to be able to do that, but Brooks did. Still does. Audiences hear it. Brooks with one guitar comping chords, walking bass lines and chiming in lead riffs. One instrument. One player.
Critics and writers hail Brooks “an acoustic guitar god,” and a “fret monster,” saying his music is “electrifying”, “dazzling,” and “breathtaking,” and that he sings like the “Angel of Soul.” With millions of touring miles and thirteen albums to his credit, the fans have seen and heard it for themselves. Brooks has a warm affable stage presence. His voice, one of the most purely pleasing in the business, can caress, or it can have muscle. His guitar reinvents works by the likes of Joseph Spence, John Martyn, Buddy Miller, T-Bone Burnett, Aztec Camera, Sam Phillips, The Blue Nile, and Memphis Slim. His huge and growing catalog of original songs is “exquisite,”says MOJO, a UK magazine. The whole package rides in on rich melodic hooks and the heartbeat of compelling rhythm. It’s hard to sit still in a Brooks Williams concert!

Saturday, April 10, 7:30 p.m.

Bedford Room

Terri Allard in Concert - Country/ Folk/ Pop Acoustic

Back by Popular Demand!

Suggested Donation - $5.00 per person

Terri Allard has an extraordinary talent for capturing the human spirit in her songs. With power-packed vocals and infectious energy she has the uncanny ability of moving her audiences to pin-drop silence. The Virginia based singer-songwriter has taken her rootsy blend of folk, country, and acoustic pop to countless clubs, coffeehouses and festivals throughout the U.S.
“On her self-titled debut album, she mixes poignant balladry and boot-kickin' honky-tonk in a manner that's sometimes reminiscent of Mary Chapin Carpenter."

Saturday, May 8, 7:30 pm

Bedford Room

Al Petteway and Amy White in Concert - Contemporary, Celtic-influenced, Original and Traditional

Suggested Donation - $5.00 per person

Al Petteway and Amy White perform an exciting blend of contemporary, Celtic-influenced, original and traditional instrumental music on acoustic guitars, mandolin, piano, Irish bouzouki, vocals and world percussion. During their live shows, this husband and wife team captures the hearts of their audiences with colorful stories about the places and events that inspired their music.

Al and Amy first began performing and recording together as a duo in 1995 and proceeded to win the 1995 Washington Area Music Association Award (WAMMIE) for "Best New Artist." Since then, they have become one of the most respected acts in the acoustic music scene. They were awarded the 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 WAMMIES for Best New Age Group and the 1998 and 1999 WAMMIES for Best Irish/Celtic Group. They were also Artists in Residence at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage.

Saturday, June 5, 7:30 pm

Bedford Room

Old School Freight Train - Bluegrass, Jazz, Celtic, Classical,
Afro-Cuban, Rhythm and Blues

Suggested Donation - $5.00 per person

Old School Freight Train (OSFT) has been creating new sounds in acoustic music since September of 2000. Conceived as an outlet for the diverse musical interests of its members, OSFT explores bluegrass, jazz, Celtic, classical, afro-Cuban, and Rhythm & Blues. Their self-titled album, released in February of 2002 by Courthouse Records, features 11 original compositions. OSFT has earned awards at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival (2001) and the Rocky Mountain Bluegrass Festival (Rockygrass, 2002)

“Old School Freight Train is fresh, new music...and EXCITING!” - Ricky Skaggs, musician/President of Skaggs Family Records
“These guys stopped me in my tracks. The musicianship and creativity was extraordinary.” - Cliff Audretch, Artist Rep, Sony Records
“It does my heart good to see so many young musicians turning to this music and giving it such a fresh new feel. Whether it’s straight-ahead bluegrass or a Grismanesque jazzgrass instrumental, the Freight Train pulls it off with a musical maturity well beyond its years.” - Tim Timberlake, Emcee of Merlefest/Fieldcrest Music Rep.
“Whether traditional or improvisational, the music of OSFT is a stunning set, rich in beauty, depth and texture.” - Tim Walsh, Bluegrass Now (Feb. 2003)

Saturday, June 26, 7:30 pm

Bedford Room

Viktor and Andrej
Classical, European Folk and Rock

Suggested Donation - $5.00 per person

Victor Uzur and Andrej Kurti are a cello and violin duo that brings classical, folk and rock music together. From Handel and Ravel to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Pink Floyd’s’s “The Wall,” Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir,” and Eastern European folk songs the duo finds the perfect intersection of passion and refinement that reaches every audience. Yugoslavians Uzur and Kurti met in the early 1990’s at the Hotel Prague in Moscow. Kurti received his master’s degree at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and his Doctorate in Violin Performance from Michigan State University. Uzur will complete his Doctorate in Cello Performance at Michigan State University in the Spring of 2004. Although both have a deep love for classical music, they have translated their sense of orchestration to sophisticated duo arrangement of pop and rock tunes for their instruments.

“You have to hear it to believe it. Incredible stuff.” - Ballard Lesemann, Flagpole Magazine
“Viktor and Andrej clearly love the opportunity to present music with equal parts joy, charm, and wit. As their new album The Entertainers offers, they are the real deal.” - Erik Hinds, Solponticello Records, Athens, GA
“It is a marvelous collection of music played by two young guys who are truly alive and vital. What a way to start the new millenium with so much joy and love. The Entertainers is a must for any world music collector. - Fred Mills, Canadian Brass

Wednesday, July 21 - 27
Eighth Annual Quilt Show with
The Peaks and Pieces Quilt Guild
and The Friends of the Bedford
Public Library, Inc.

The Peaks and Pieces Quilt Guild and The Friends of the Bedford Public Library will co-host the Eighth Annual Bedford Quilt Show 2001 from Wednesday, July 21 until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27 on the second floor of the Bedford Central Library. This event is made possible through the generous participation of the Peaks and Pieces Quilting Guild with the support of Friends of the Bedford Public Library, Inc. The exhibit of contemporary quilts showcases the work of dozens of talented quilt makers who use fabric to express their creativity. The Guild is also recognized in the community for the volume of charity quilts which the members create and donate each year. Over 100 quilts were created and donated in 2003.
This exciting exhibit will be open for viewing during normal library hours. Ribbons will be awarded to top quilts in the show, based on viewer’s choice. The public is invited to come learn more about quilting and this rich aspect of Bedford’s heritage. The Annual Quilt Show continues to be one of the most anticipated art shows at the library each year. The show is open to the public and free of charge.

For more information or directions please call Bedford Central Library at 540-586-8911 or check the Friends web-site at www.friendsofbedfordlibrary.org .

Saturday, July 24, 7:30 p.m.
Sparky and Rhonda Rucker
American Music
Appalachian, Blues, Civil War, Gospel,
Railroad and Work Songs

Suggested Donation - $5.00 per person

“Sparky and Rhonda Rucker have performed throughout the U.S. and internationally, singing songs and telling stories from the American tradition. Sparky Rucker has been performing over thirty-five years and is internationally recognized as a leading folklorist, musician, historian, storyteller, and author. Rhonda Rucker is an accomplished harmonica and piano player, and also adds vocal harmonies to their songs. She has developed her own unique style of playing harmonica, which complements their music, whether they are playing railroad songs, Appalachian music, blues, slave songs, Civil War music, gospel, work songs, cowboy music, ballads, or Sparky Rucker's original compositions.
Together and separately, they've won numerous awards including the 2001 Storytelling World Award Honor Title and a nomination in 1991 for the W.C. Handy Award for Best Traditional Recording for "Treasures & Tears". Together they've recorded four albums, toured extensively, appeared at festivals, on radio and TV, including an appearance in the Time-Warner TV miniseries "The Wild West".
Pete Seeger says ""Sparky Rucker is unique! He'll make you glad to be alive and struggling," and Loyal Jones of Berea College in Kentucky says "Sparky and Rhonda put on a good concert, with plenty of heart, soul, and good feeling. It is always a joy to see and hear them." “

Saturday, August 14, 7:30 p.m.
Debi Smith
Exquisite Folk - Back by Popular Demand

"A multi-instrumentalist with a three-octave vocal range, Debi Smith writes songs with the craftsmanship of an artisan and the insight of a poet”  (All Music Guide). Debi Smith does it all: she sings using a three octave voice, writes, performs, plays guitar, piano, and bodhran (an Irish drum), records, cooks, mows her own lawn, is raising a son, and as rumor has it, knows by name every piece in a Sears Craftsmen tool kit. Debi has recorded eighteen albums and compilations, including three solo recordings for which she has won seven Wammies (Washington, D.C. Music Awards), six ASCAP composer awards, American Music Festival Awards, and American Library Awards. Her songs have been recorded by a growing number of artists, including Tom Paxton. She has appeared at theatres across the U.S., and on such radio and television programs as Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion" and "CBS Sunday Morning."  She is a long-standing member of THE FOUR BITCHIN' BABES, and half of the sibling duo, THE SMITH SISTERS.
As a performer, Debi has graced many stages ranging from NYC’s Bottom Line and Harvard’s Saunders Theatre to UCLA’s Wadsworth Theater and Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theatre, and all points in between. She’s been seen and heard on TNN’s “New Country,” National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” with Noah Adams and Susan Stamberg,,” Sunday Morning,” and ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Saturday, October 9, 7:30 p.m.
Bradley N. Litwin
Singer/Delta Blues/Stride & Jazz Guitar