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NRG Gallery to host inaugural Music on the Lawn
(by Jillian Span, staff writer - August 13, 2012)
Residents will gather blankets, chairs and coolers on the grounds of Hoge Memorial Presbyterian Church on Aug. 25 for the inaugural Music on the Lawn.
Hosted by the NRG Gallery, the event features a line-up of four central Ohio acts performing bluegrass, country and folk music.
“People have been asking me to have these big music concerts,” said Nicholas Gonzalez, NRG Gallery co-owner.
Gonzalez secured the bands for the concert, opening at noon with acoustic artist Sheri Dean.
Dean said her love for down home bluegrass and country music was born at an early age. She grew up in a family of musicians on the Hilltop.
“The fact that I wanted to play guitar at 9 was unusual,” Dean said. “And wanting to play more instruments was just something girls didn’t do at that time.”
In 2008, Dean survived a car accident and was told by doctors her guitar career was over due to the significant damage in her hands.
Dean said she never gave up and last year began experimenting with a variety of string instruments to make her lifelong dream come true.
With an instrumental portfolio including the guitar, dobro, mandolin, autoharp, banjolin, ukulele, dulcimer and bass guitar, Dean said her inspiration to play multiple instruments comes from years of being a Barbara Mandrell groupie.
Dean said she is excited to open Music on the Lawn.
“I try to put on a show that I would like to go see,” Dean said.
The second group is the Elizabeth Bolen & The Freedom and Folk Revival Band at 1:30 p.m. Bolen played regularly on Friday nights at the NRG Gallery.
“They were really a big draw,” Gonzalez said.
Elizabeth Bolen also comes from a musical family. She has played guitar since she was 16 years old and her talents extend to the piano, banjo and Djembe African hand-drum.
According to Bolen, she and her band mates, guitarist and singer Julie Kronenberger and percussionist Blair Davis, are working on a set of songs for the event that include original work and well-known covers.
“I really put a lot of time into the words when I’m writing a song,” Bolen said, “so I really love it when people can connect with the words and the message of the song and that’s what I’m hoping for.”
Their lyrics reflect themes of social change, empowerment, ecological mindedness and personal transformation, Bolen said.
The concert also includes performances by Erika Hughes & The Mild Mannered Band at 3 p.m. and The Jefferson Leonard Band at 5 p.m.
Members of the Hoge Memorial Church will sell refreshments and local craftsmen are expected to attend. There is also a performance scheduled for Jeanna-GoGo and her hoop dance company.
Admission is $8 for one ticket or $14 for two. Children under age 12 are admitted free.
| Comments (1) |
On August 29, 2012 Stephanie said:
Great article. It was easy to pull the information from and great background on the entertainers. |
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