IN THE NEWS

LRCT Bluegrass Afternoon at Castle to Feature Amy Gallatin and Stillwaters, New England Bluegrass Band, and The Goodtime Charlies
June 30, 2006

The Lakes Region Conservation Trust’s second annual Afternoon of Bluegrass at the Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough, NH, on Saturday, July 22 will feature well-know and popular Bluegrass bands Amy Gallatin and Stillwaters, the New England Bluegrass Band, and The Goodtime Charlies, as well as Southern Rail.

Amy Gallatin and her band Stillwaters have taken the stage at some of the most prestigious venues in the U.S., Mexico, and Europe, and they represented the United States as the featured performers at the European World of Bluegrass convention in The Netherlands in May '98. Their most recent performances in Europe drew extremely enthusiastic crowds at house concerts, music clubs, theaters, and country and bluegrass festivals, and on national radio. Amy is at home singing various musical styles -- country, folk, bluegrass, and western swing--branding each song with soulful sincerity. Her influences are diverse, ranging from old and contemporary cowboy tunes learned out West, to great country artists like Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, and the Everly Brothers, with even a dash of blues influence thrown in. This will be the band’s second appearance at the Castle.

The New England Bluegrass Band (NEBB) is recognized as one of the most talented bluegrass groups performing in New England today. With recognized master intrumentalists and a top shelf vocal ensemble, the band includes members who are recognized far and wide for having paid their dues. The band members have credentials that include national and international touring and collaborations with such national bluegrass luminaries as J.D. Crowe, Tony Rice, Auldridge, Bennett & Gaudreau. With flatpicking championships and IBMA Instrumentalist of The Year nominations, the band is truly on the very highest level of musicianship and entertainment. Always approachable and entertaining with any audience, these fellas have a fantastic stage presence, can rip it up and tear it down and keep a crowd entertained. This band is one of true bluegrass professionals. This is also the second appearance for NEBB at the Castle.

The Goodtime Charlies is a local Bluegrass group from Manchester. The Goodtime Charlies play raw traditional bluegrass with lots of fast fiddling, banjoing, speedy stomps, and ripe hollers. This will be their first appearance at the Castle in the Clouds.

As previously reported, nationally known Southern Rail will headline the Bluegrass event. Southern Rail’s music is high-energy exuberant fun, with riveting harmonies, irreverent humor and sparkling banjo and mandolin solo work. Their songs have graced Bluegrass Unlimited's Top Thirty Singles Chart for a combined total of 32 months, receiving heavy national airplay.

To purchase tickets for the Afternoon of Bluegrass, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to LRCT, PO Box 1097, Meredith, NH 03253-1097, along with your check: $20 for adults, $5 for children 5-14, under 5 free. For more information, please call Kitty Boyle at 603-279-3246 or e-mail lrct@metrocast.net. Five hundred seats will be available inside the tent on a first come, first served basis. Additional seating will be available outside in the meadow, and food and drinks will be available for purchase. Proceeds of the event will go to support the LRCT’s land protection and stewardship efforts.

The Afternoon of Bluegrass will honor the LRCT’s Land Stewardship Volunteers, who provide valuable service caring for the Trust’s protected properties. Their work includes building and maintaining trails, monitoring conservation easements, developing maps, and otherwise working to ensure that the lands protected through the generosity of thousands of people can be enjoyed by year-round and seasonal residents and visitors to the Lakes Region.

Among the key properties stewarded by these volunteers are the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area in Moultonborough and Tuftonboro, the Red Hill Conservation Area in Moultonborough, Sewall Woods in Wolfeboro, Stonedam Island and Five Mile Island in Meredith, the Red Hill River and Dinsmore Mountain Conservation Areas in Sandwich, and Knights Pond in Alton.

The Lakes Region Conservation Trust is an independent, non-profit, member-supported organization that protects key wildlife habitat, preserves freshwater and wilderness resources, and provides for public access to conservation lands for thoughtful recreation in the Lakes Region. The LRCT has protected more than 17,000 acres of conservation land in the Region, including more than 19 miles of shore frontage on the region's lakes and ponds.

Using only funds donated by individuals, families, businesses, and other non-governmental sources, the Trust is now the largest conservation landowner in the Lakes Region and the third largest owner of conservation lands in the State of New Hampshire.