Marion, VA — Grammy Award winner Kathy Mattea will headline the public television taping of Song of the Mountains at the Lincoln Theatre in Marion, Virginia on Saturday, February 6th at 7:00 pm. On the same show will be Robin and Linda Williams, Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice and the old time music of the New North Carolina Ramblers.

About Kathy Mattea

Kathy Mattea

Twice named Female Vocalist of the Year by the Country Music Association, Kathy Mattea carved out a role for herself in the late 1980s and 1990s as a sensitive yet energetic artist at ease both with country tradition and free-ranging innovation. In 1990, the West Virginia native won the first of her two Grammy Awards, earning the Best Female Country Vocal Performance award for her moving “Where’ve You Been,” co-written by husband Jon Vezner. Mattea is among the most successful women in the genre’s history, yet her creative spirit has led her to explore musical territory extending well beyond its confines. Her recent recordings have intertwined Celtic, gospel, and bluegrass influences with the folk and acoustic music that have always served as her artistic anchor.

About Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice

Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice

Junior Sisk has lived most of his life in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where he listened to and played the music that was born there. His songwriting helped The Lonesome River Band in its ascent to bluegrass stardom in the early 1990’s, but it was his lonesome, haunting singing that earned him the devotion of traditional bluegrass fans a few years later as a member of Wyatt Rice and Santa Cruz. Subsequently, he assembled Ramblers Choice, which released the acclaimed “Sounds of the Mountains” in 1998, and contributed to the IBMA award winning “The Stanley Gospel Tradition”. A brief stint with The Lost and Found followed before Junior took over the lead vocal role for BlueRidge. Junior has been nominated many times for Songwriter and Male Vocalist of the year.

About The New North Carolina Ramblers

The New North Carolina Ramblers

The New North Carolina Ramblers perform old-time string band music in the tradition of such legendary artists as Charlie Poole, The Carter Family and The Floyd County Ramblers among others. The band features Kirk Sutphin on fiddle and banjo; Jeremy Stephens on fiddle and guitar; Darren Moore on guitar and autoharp and Kinney Rorrer on banjo. They are inspired by the rural traditional recording artists and the back porch musicians who have entertained throughout the Piedmont and Blue Ridge Mountains for generations. The band has performed at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, MerleFest, the National Folk Festival, The Ferrum Folklife Festival, the Wayne Henderson Festival, and the Barter Theatre among others.

About Robin & Linda Williams

Robin (2nd from Left) & Linda Williams with Jimmy Gaudreau (left) and Jim Watson (Right)

Robin and Linda Williams are outstanding contemporary artists with musical sensibilities deeply rooted in traditional country music. Their repertoire is built upon original material and those gleaned from the rich musical heritage of Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family. Filled with timeless songs about the land and its people and their joys and tribulations, their music spans the idioms of classic country, gospel, blues, bluegrass and folk. Robin and Linda showcase their exquisite harmonies and instrumental arrangements with Their Fine Group. For February 6, Their Fine Group will be Jim Watson on bass and harmony vocals and Jimmy Gaudreau on mandolin.

About Song of the Mountains

Song of the Mountains features bluegrass, old time, Celtic and Americana Music and is currently airing on over 170 Public Television outlets across the United States. The series is hosted by Tim White. Tickets for the concert at the Lincoln Theatre on Friday, February 6th are $25. Tickets may be purchased at the Lincoln Theatre Box Office in Marion, VA or online at songofthemountains.org. The concert begins at 7:00 pm. For information or tickets by phone call 276-783-6093.

Song of the Mountains is underwritten for public television by the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, Mountain States Health Alliance www.msha.com, GrahamFest www.grahamfestusa.com, Bryant Label Co. of Blountville, TN, TEDS, the General Francis Marion Hotel in Marion, VA, Deering Banjos, the Carter Family Fold, The Bank of Marion, Alpha Natural Resources, and Emory & Henry College. Special support from Marion, and Smyth County, VA.

Memberships and Song of the Mountains merchandise are available at the website and your purchases help support the concert series.

Song of the Mountains / The Lincoln Theatre is a non-profit organization.