Bluegrass and BBQ

MIDDLEBURG, VA — Sunday, June 30, promises to be a special day for all those who love bluegrass music and all the “fixins.” Middleburg United Methodist Church will present “Bluegrass and BBQ,” featuring musicians Wally Hughes, Lisa Kay Howard, Shannon Bielski, and Robbie Benzing. The foursome is performing for this event as the group Generations. The program will also include solos on an antique violin.

The bluegrass concert will begin in the church at 11 a.m. The concert will be followed by a musical Sunday church service at 11:30 a.m. consisting of bluegrass music, hymns, scripture readings, and prayers. Following the bluegrass service, at 12:30 p.m. a barbecue lunch catered by Hammerdown BBQ will be served. All are welcome to join the concert, the service, and the lunch.

Wally Hughes is a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, fiddle, and dobro. He grew up with music, beginning his career playing with the Hughes Family Band in the ‘70s when he was only 11 years old. He has played with greats such as Mike Auldridge, Bill Emerson, and Mike Munford. Lisa Kay Howard started singing and playing the mandolin in central Virginia in the late ‘80s with her family band, Crooked Run. Later she began fronting the Lisa Kay Band. Howard also works as an emcee and disc jockey. Howard and her partner, Hughes, are currently members of two bands: Level Best and Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, who primarily tour across the U.S. Howard and Hughes have numerous recording projects available from both groups.

Shannon Bielski has been performing bluegrass professionally since she was 14 years old and eventually won a scholarship to study at the famous Bluegrass, Country, and Old-Time music program at East Tennessee State University. Bielski has led her bluegrass band Shannon Bielski and Moonlight Drive since 2018, and has performed at numerous venues and festivals in the area. Bielski has won awards for her songwriting as well as several band competitions. She has performed all over the D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia area. She is partnering with Robbie Benzing, who is recognized as one of the best of the younger generation of bluegrass instrumentalists. Benzing has been featured in articles and reviews in publications such as Banjo Newsletter and Bluegrass Unlimited for his recent solo CD. Benzing starting playing banjo at age 12. Benzing is also a member of Moonlight Drive, and they have a new CD available through Patuxent Records.

At the barbecue lunch, members of Middleburg United Methodist Church will welcome their new cooperative parish pastor, Reverend Tae Won Kang, to the church and to the community.

For more information, contact (540) 687-6492 or visit middleburgvaumc.org.

Posted on: May 17, 2024