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| Virginia's Jeanette Williams |
About this time every year the Bluegrass Jubilee rolls around and all bluegrass fans head for the Harbourfront Jubilee Theatre in Summerside. This year's Jubilee features the Jeanette Williams Band from Danville Virginia. Jeanette and her husband Johnny are no strangers to PEI as they appeared at the Jubilee a couple of years ago to a very appreciative audience. The group has had a number of personnel changes since they were here last and we don't doubt that this is a strong unit.
Chase Johner, from Chilhowie, VA, joined the band in March 2006 on mandolin and vocals and, although young in years he's long in experience, having played with a number of groups before joining the Jeanette Williams band at eighteen years of ago.
Jody King is on banjo. Jody is a teacher, songwriter and a brilliant instrumentalist. He has played with such groups as Lost and Found, and Melonie Cannon and Tennessee Road. Some folks will remember him as banjoist with Lou Reid and Carolina who performed at Rollo Bay a few years back.
Jeanette's husband Johnny Williams plays guitar and sings with the group and is a veteran of many years in bluegrass. Johnny has released a number of CDs on his own as well as playing on Jeanette's musical ventures.
Jeanette Williams holds it all together with her velvety vocals and fluid, on the beat, bass playing.
These are fine folks and you can't go wrong going to one of their concerts.
The Jubilee concert on November 3 also features, PEIs own favourites Bluestreak as well as country honky tonkers, Nudie and The Turks, and Blue Horizon from Amherst, Nova Scotia.
In conjunction with the Bluegrass Jubilee the second annual Laurie Blue Memorial festival is being held at The Loyalist Lakeview Resort just across the street from the Jubilee Theatre. This event had it's inception last year and was a very enjoyable event. Many of the groups that will be playing at the Jubilee will also be performing at the Laurie Blue Festival plus a number of local favourites as well as The Douthwrights from Moncton.
This promises to be a great weekend for bluegrass fans with lots of jamming, in hotel concerts and a gospel concert on Sunday morning. We all know how most bluegrassers love to jam and this year's jamming facilities are top notch. Bring your instruments and join in.
For more information on this event you can call Guy Cormier at 902-436-6943 or for rooms call the Loyalist Lakeview Resort at 902-436-3333. There may still be a few Jubilee tickets available and to get more information on these you can call the Jubilee theatre at 1-902-888-2500 or 1-800-708-6505.
Until next time don't forget to support live country and bluegrass music and listen to Bluegrass Island every Sunday evening at 9:00 on CFCY 95.1 FM, the Island's Country.
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