By Taylor Boyd
The Patrick County Music Association (PCMA) will end the year strong with the annual Sammy Shelor’s Banjorama on Saturday, December 13.
Sponsored by Hopkins Lumber, the event is free to the public. However, donations are appreciated and used to help the PCMA continue to support local musicians and provide free shows for the community.
The group is also partnering again with the Patrick County Food Bank, with non-perishable food items collected during the show to help those in need during the Christmas season.
The show will be held in the Patrick County High School (PCHS) Auditorium with doors opening at 5 p.m. and music starting at 6 p.m.
PCMA President Denny Alley said the annual event that features Shelor and the Lonesome River Band is the organization’s show of the year. He described Shelor’s band as a contemporary, bluegrass group.
“The Lonesome River Band is one of the top performing acts in the country, and you don’t get cheaper than free” to see them, he said.
Formed in Meadows of Dan in 1982, the group has released 15 recording projects. Shelor, the group’s leader, is a Virginia Country Hall of Fame member and a five-time International Bluegrass Music Association Banjo Player of the Year recipient.
Last year’s Banjorama garnered over 500 attendees.
“I think we got 640 seats in there. We just need people in each one of them,” Alley said. But “it depends on the weather. Right now, the weather’s the factor in everything. I’m not used to seeing snow and sleet this early in December,” he said.
Nick Goad, Kyser George, & Friends will open the show.
“Right now, Kyser has one of the hottest touring bands in the country. He’s a phenomenal musician,” Alley said.
Jay Adams, Clyde Bailey, Danny Bowers, Barry Collins, Ronny Harrison, Nessie Hunt, Doug Joyce, Tim Lineberry, Larry Mabe, and Tommy Morse are also expected to take the stage.
Alley said musical acts are also lined up for the first three monthly shows of next year.
Concessions will be available for purchase from the Patrick County Shooting Education Team, with proceeds supporting firearm safety education for local youth.
For more information or to watch past performances, visit Facebook.com/PatrickCountyMusicAssociation.
