Gritty Blues at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market Saturday April 23, 2016

"Greensboro, NC - The Greensboro Farmers Curb Market, 501 Yanceyville St., will be hosting Gritty Blues out on the lawn, Saturday April 23, 2016 beginning at 8 am.  This tasty event will honor two southern staples, grits with a side of blues!  

Chef Felicia McMillan of Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen will be preparing a southern array of toppings from foods grown by local vendors that will top a piping hot bowl of Old Mill of Guilford Grits.  Patrons will get to choose from tomato chutney, collard slaw, tasso ham, Neese’s Country Sausage & bacon, kale, sweet potato butter, Goat Lady Dairy cheese, and a creamed honey as toppings.   

The cost of the Gritty Blues breakfast is $5 per bowl, while supplies last.  This exclusive menu is specially prepared for market patrons from ingredients found within the farmers market therefore toppings will be limited in supply and available for first come, first serve.  All proceeds benefit the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market. 

Enjoy the sounds of Andy Squint who takes the stage at 9:00 am.  Bring a blanket or lawn chair and spend the morning at the market!  

Gritty Blues is a collaboration of the Greensboro Farmers Market, Inc, and Piedmont Blues Preservation Society celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Carolina Blues Festival and to help raise awareness of local heritage foods and traditional music in the area.

The Greensboro Farmers Curb Market operates year round on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Wednesday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., April 20 – Dec. 28.

About the Market

The Greensboro Farmers Market, Inc. (GFM) operates the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on behalf of the City of Greensboro. GFM is a 501c3 nonprofit.

GFM provides greater Greensboro with opportunities to purchase and learn about local food and setting. GFM encourages and supports the growth of local foods and artisan goods businesses to improve greater Greensboro’s economy, support better health through healthy eating and build social and community connections.

About Piedmont Blues Preservation Society

From our love of music and our belief that music is best shared in a community, came the founding of the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society in 1985. Our non-profit organization works to cultivate and preserve the tradition of blues music. Our mission is to help the youth of our community discover the wonder and joy of music by raising awareness and providing music education to our community and schools."

- A Press Release

YES! Weekly Donates $15,000 in Advertising to Greensboro College's Healing Blues Project

"GREENSBORO, N.C. -- YES! Weekly, a Piedmont Triad-based arts and entertainment publication, has agreed to donate $15,000 worth of advertising to an effort organized by Greensboro College to benefit the homeless.

The advertising will support and promote the college's Healing Blues Project, which seeks to raise money to benefit the nonprofit Interactive Resource Center, a day center in downtown Greensboro for people dealing with homelessness and related issues.

The Healing Blues Project unites local homeless people, called "storytellers," with area musicians, including the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society, to turn the storytellers' life stories into blues songs. A CD of the songs was released in October 2014.

The Healing Blues Project Vol. 2, which will include both songs and spoken-word compositions, is scheduled to be released in June 2016.

Proceeds from sales of the CDs, as well as concert performances of the music, benefit the Interactive Resource Center. Storytellers also receive songwriting credit and a portion of the royalties.

"The Healing Blues Project is something that is near and dear to my heart," YES! Weekly publisher Charles Womack said. "As a long-time supporter of the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society and the annual (blues) festival, a blues music fan and someone who wants to do anything and everything I can to help those in need, this is something we wanted to get behind in a big, big way."

He added, "It made sense to me that promoting and creating awareness of The Healing Blues Project to the generous and caring readers of YES! Weekly would make a significant impact and bring in some needed donations."

Kim Thore, the college's marketing director, says the college will use the advertising to promote Healing Blues benefit concerts and the release of the Healing Blues Vol. 2 CD.

"We are very grateful for this support from YES! Weekly," Thore said. "Advertising is very important to the success of any project, and this gift will help ensure that the Greensboro community and beyond are informed of all of the exciting events that will be coming from this next phase of the Healing Blues Project."

Greensboro College provides a liberal-arts education grounded in the traditions of the United Methodist Church and fosters the intellectual, social, and, spiritual development of all students while supporting their individual needs.

Founded in 1838 and located near downtown Greensboro, the college enrolls about 1,000 students from 29 states and territories, the District of Columbia and seven foreign countries in its undergraduate liberal-arts program and four master's degree programs. In addition to rigorous academics and a well-supported Honors program, the school features a 17-sport NCAA Division III athletic program and dozens of service and recreational opportunities."

- A Press Release

YES! Weekly sponsors Gritty Blues at Greensboro Farmers Curb Market with The Piedmont Blues Preservation Society, Saturday April 25, 2015

"Greensboro Farmers Curb Market, 501 Yanceyville St., will host "Gritty Blues”, April 25, 2015 from 8-11:30 am, an event honoring southern favorites staples, grits with a side of blues!  YES! Weekly is a sponsor of the event. We will serve Old Mill of Guilford Grits with a variety of savory and sweet toppings from market vendors including shrimp from  George Smith's NC Seafood, bacon, sausages, kale, scallions, spring onions, butter, cheese, garlic scapes, and honey.  Tracy Lamothe, owner of Blue Spoon Cooking School, will be the guest chef for the day.   

Enjoy the sounds of Peter May, Piedmont Blues Preservation Society’s 2014 Solo Blues Challenge winner who takes the stage from 9:30 am - 11:30 am.

The cost of the event is $5.00 per bowl with proceeds benefiting Greensboro Farmers Curb Market.  Bring a blanket or lawn chair and spend the morning at the Market!  

Peter May, the son of a Dixieland-style, trumpet-blaring preacher and a hymn-singing, piano-playing teacher, plays original and classic blues, and gospel. Emphasis is on his North Carolina Piedmont style.  Trips to the Delta literally and metaphorically, infuse his personal style with an edge of raw desolation. His classically trained hands mete out precise fingerstyle blues, while his voice belts out something between a holler and a howl.

Gritty Blues is a collaboration to help raise awareness of local foods and music in our area.

About the Market

Greensboro Farmers Market, Inc. (GFM) operates Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on behalf of the City of Greensboro. GFM is a “501c3” nonprofit.

GFM provides greater Greensboro with opportunities to purchase and learn about local foods in a friendly and diverse socialsetting. GFM encourages and supports the growth of local foods and artisan goods businesses to improve Greater Greensboro’s economy, support better health through healthy eating and build social and community connections.

www.gsofarmersmarket.org

About Piedmont Blues Preservation Society

From our love of music and our belief that music is best shared in a community, came the founding of the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society in 1985. Our non-profit organization works to cultivate and preserve the tradition of blues music. Our mission is to help the youth of our community discover the wonder and joy of music by raising awareness and providing music education to our community and schools."

- A Press Release

High Point's Third Thursdays featuring Andy Squint

ANDY SQUINT

"The next Third Thursdays concert at the Centennial Station Arts Center features Andy Squint on February 19! The concert is from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. with a $7 cover charge and a cash bar. The doors, bar and Zeko's food truck open at 6:00 p.m. for those that want to indulge in food and beverages before the concert. People celebrating a February birthday will be admitted at no charge and will receive one complimentary beverage at the bar!

Third Thursdays feature regional musicians and songwriters. With Louisiana roots, blues and jazz artist Andy Squint is a songwriter steeped in tradition. As a member of the Swamp Cats, Andy was a house guitarist at Tabby's Blues Box in Baton Rouge. Andy has played with Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame members and has also recorded his own original blues songs. After relocating to High Point in 2010, he was awarded runner up at the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society's solo/duo blues competition. In 2011, he kicked off the 25th anniversary of the Carolina Blues Festival and released his second CD, Down by the River.

For upcoming Arts & Entertainment events, save the dates of March 19 for the Third Thursdays concert featuring Seven Roads and March 21 for an evening of dinner and music with the Red Head Express. Join us downtown at Centennial Station for arts and entertainment!

For more information, contact Debbie Lumpkins at the High Point Arts Council at 336-889-2787 ext. 22 or dlumpkins@highpointarts.org or visit the Centennial Station Arts Center, 121 S. Centennial Street, High Point, NC  27260."

- A Press Release

Greensboro College's Healing Blues Project Delivers $9,000 to the Interactive Resource Center

From left: Storyteller Shannon Stewart; Ted Efremoff, assistant

professor of art at Greensboro College; Michelle Kennedy,

executive director, Interactive Resource Center; Dave Fox,

professor of music, Greensboro College; and

Chip Berry, director of development, ArtsGreensboro.

"GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Greensboro College participants in The Healing Blues Project today delivered a check for $9,000 to the Interactive Resource Center, a day center in downtown Greensboro that serves people who are homeless.

The check is the first of many payments the project hopes to make as it raises money to benefit the IRC and raise awareness and understanding of homelessness and related issues.

"We are grateful for this and for how far out The Healing Blues Project has stepped" in raising awareness, said Michelle Kennedy, executive director of the IRC. "Thank you so much!"

The project was co-founded almost a year ago by Ted Efremoff, assistant professor of art at Greensboro College, and Dave Fox, professor of music at the college.

The project teamed local homeless people, called "storytellers," with local musicians to turn the storytellers' lives into blues songs. The songs were recorded, with proceeds from the sales of CDs and from several live performances going to the IRC.

More live performances are being planned, and more than 350 copies of the CD have been sold to date. Copies of the CD can be ordered online

In addition to faculty, staff, and students of Greensboro College, project co-sponsors and major contributors have included ArtsGreensboro, the Open Art Society, the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society, and Elsewhere Living Museum.

Individuals or organizations wishing to co-sponsor the project may contact Efremoff at 336-272-7102, ext. 5312, or email him at ted.efremoff@greensboro.edu.

Greensboro College provides a liberal arts education grounded in the traditions of the United Methodist Church and fosters the intellectual, social, and, spiritual development of all students while supporting their individual needs.

Founded in 1838 and located near downtown Greensboro, the college enrolls about 1,250 students from 32 states, the District of Columbia and 24 nations in its undergraduate liberal-arts program and four master's degree programs. In addition to rigorous academics and a well-supported Honors program, the school features a 16-sport NCAA Division III athletic program and dozens of service and recreational opportunities."

- A Press Release

The 29th Annual Piedmont Blues Preservation Society's Band Blues Challenge Sunday at the Blind Tiger

"The 29th Annual Piedmont Blues Preservation Society's Band Blues Challenge will be held Sunday, Oct 26, 2014 at the Blind Tiger, 1819 Spring Garden Street.  This year's challenge will host twelve (12) bands, five of which are from outside North Carolina; with entrants from Virginia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. The remaining bands are from Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Charlotte, North Carolina.

The nonprofit group, Piedmont Blues Preservation Society, as part of it's affiliation with the Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN has been holding Solo/Duo and Band blues challenge talent contests since it's inception in 1985. Winners of the talent contest advance to the International Blues Challenge held every year in Memphis. This past year over 250 International acts filled the venues on Beale Street to vie for top honors.

Two preliminary rounds of six acts will get underway at 1:00pm at the Blind Tiger, with the top three acts moving to the final round. Admission to the event is $5.00 for PBPS members, $7.00 for general public until 5:30 when general public admission rises to $10.00. Additionally, we are selling raffle tickets for a custom built Ambrosia Maple snare drum crafted by David Kindred valued at $1200.00. Raffle Tickets are available at the challenge and online at http://piedmontblues.org. All proceeds from the ticket sales, raffle, and food sales at the blues challenge  will be used to defray the costs of travel for our first-place finalists in Solo/Duo and Band Challenges to Memphis, TN for the International Blues Challenge in January.

Here are the acts and preliminary round timeslots for each.  The top three places in each round will draw for their time slots in the Final Round after the second round has been tallied.

Round 1-

1:00 - Bobby & The Good Times

1:25 - 3 Cylinder Dynamo

1:50 - Amy & The High Lonesome Boys

2:15 - Marvelous Funkshun

2:40 - Flying High

3:05 - Smokestack Lightnin' Blues Band - Virginia

3:30 - Break for Score Tallies and announcement of top 3 advancing to Final Round

Round 2 -

4:00 - The Bell Hornets - Virginia

4:25 - Jake & The Comet Conductors - Tennessee

4:50 - Gene Gene and the Blues Machine

5:15 - Peter May & The Rough Band

5:40 - Raisin' Cain Band - South Carolina

6:05 - The Bush League - Virginia

6:30 - Break for Score Tallies and announcement of top 3 advancing to Final Round

The Piedmont Blues Preservation Society held it's Solo/Duo Challenge last Sunday with 12 solo/duo acts. First place in the solo/duo competition went to Peter May from Winston-Salem, Second place went to Todd Verts & Danie Jones of Greensboro, and Third place went to Morgan Geer, from Asheville.  We congratulate all that competed."

- A Press Release

Greensboro native Matt Hill wins Blues Music Award

Blues artist Matt Hill has won a Blues Music award in the category of best new artist debut. A Greensboro native, Hill now lives in St. Louis.

Press release after the jump:

From Piedmont Blues Preservation Society

MATT HILL WINS BMA!

YES! WEEKLY PRESENTS THE 25TH ANNUAL CAROLINA BLUES FESTIVAL

Congratulations to Greensboro's Matt Hill, winner of the 2011 Blues Music Award in the category of Best New Artist Debut.

Matt received his award last night in Memphis, TN during the annual Blues Music Awards, presented by the Blues Foundation.

Matt will perform with Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin tomorrow night (May 7) at 7:30 as YES! Weekly presents the 25th Annual Carolina Blues Festival.

Matt Hill won the BMA on the strength of his debut CD On the Floor. Visit his website at www.matthillblues.com.

This was Matt's first Blues Music Award nomination.

Matt will join drummer Chuck Cotton during Bob's set, which will also include performances by another red-hot young blues artist, vocalist Gina Sicilia. Guitarist Dave Gross will also be on stage during that segment.

Today is the last chance to purchase advance tickets for the 25th Annual Carolina Blues Festival presented by YES! Weekly. For tickets, schedule information and all things festival, go to www.piedmontblues.org.

Be there, Saturday, May 7 (tomorrow!) as YES! Weekly presents the 25th Annual Carolina Blues Festival, at Festival Park. Gates open at 1 p.m. Festival Park is located at 200 N. Davie St., downtown Greensboro.