Charger Arts & Entertainment

Good times and great bluegrass

Dana Johnson, Charger Staff

Hundreds of cheers, stomping feet, music, dancing, whoops and whistles. Is this a sight you would expect to see at a fine arts center? If not, you should have attended the Bluegrass Jamboree on Feb. 7 at the Cookeville Drama Center.

The event was held to benefit the Cancer Care Fund which gives financial support to patients and their families during their time of treatment and recuperation .

The night included performances by Rhythm -N-Motion, Sierra Hull, and Stoney Lonesome.

Rhythm -N-Motion is a Cookeville-based clogging team with members from Nashville to Livingston and all over in between. It is composed of at least four teams that are grouped according to their experience. The most advanced teams have been together for as long as ten years. Cloggers include some familiar names such as 2002 CHS graduate Brittany McDaniels, and CHS junior Amanda Ebersole.

The teams displayed a variety of clogging styles including acapella, square, pop, line, and old -fashioned appalachian dance routines. The music was fun and you could tell the teams were passionate and excited about what they were doing. I had an urge to make use of my four months of clogging lessons from many moons ago and join them onstage.

Next up was the incredible Sierra Hull. She plays the mandolin , fiddle, guitar, and uses her own voice with so much ease and precision that its hard to believe she is only eleven years old.

She began music training with the mandolin at eight years old and has continued to improve ever since to reach a quite an impressive level.

She recently performed at the Grand Ole Opry with country music star Alison Krauss. Her aspirations still include, but are certainly not limited to, having her own bluegrass and gospel band. Accompanying her Friday night were her brother on the bass guitar and her father on the acoustic guitar.

Not only is her talent amazing, but her wit and charm get an A+as well. The final display of bluegrass brilliance was a grand performance by Smoky Lonesome. The voices of these five men are crisp, clear, and exceptional. Fiddle player Jimmy Bilbrey is from Cookeville.

They performed beautiful pieces including “I Never Once Stopped Loving You,” and “Georgia Rose.” The grand finale was a act with all three groups and really gave a spectacular finish to a wonderful show. The cause was admirable, the music was lovely, and the fun did not stop ‘till the last bow.