Greater Napanee and area music fans are in for a treat as Bob Burtch and his ace bluegrass band bring their toe-tapping roots music to Adolphustown’s historic St. Alban’s on Saturday, May 25th.
The Friends of St. Alban’s are launching their inaugural series of four concerts in 2024 and are going big with their first show. Bob Burtch and his fellow players have been acclaimed across North America for their picking and plucking prowess.
Burtch on mandolin, guitar and vocals will be accompanied by Ted Pelow on banjo, Bill Lansdell on bass and vocals, Shawn Kellett on fiddle and Darren Johnson on guitar and vocals. Burtch, known as a top bluegrass mandolin player, plays to sold-out shows everywhere.
Bluegrass is described as combining elements of old-time mountain music, square dance fiddling, blues, gospel, jazz, and popular music. Like jazz, bluegrass allows performers to improvise and take turns playing lead. Its distinctive timing surges slightly ahead of or anticipates the main beat, creating an energized effect. These are the fewest words the U.S. Library of Congress could find to describe multi-textured bluegrass music which arose from and derived its name from the seminal Blue Grass Boys band, formed in 1939 with Bill Monroe as its leader. Bluegrass is said to have become popular post-World War II and was given its name in the 1950s; it now inspires some of the most devoted music fans in the world.
Admission is $25, tickets are available at stalbanscentre.ca or call Sharon at 613-373-9401 to reserve tickets and pay at the door. The acoustically superb church venue is located at 10419 Loyalist Parkway (Hwy 33) in the historic village of Adolphustown.
Founded by United Empire Loyalists in 1784, Adolphustown produced early Canadian leaders, and is now part of Greater Napanee.
The Friends of St. Alban’s was formed by local volunteers to preserve the former St. Alban’s Church; it’s an open group, with new volunteers always welcome.