Local Laurels...

I had to put up a quick post to acknowledge a couple of significant milestones for two local folks we've mentioned in past blogs.  The first kudos go to young Harper Speagle-Price from Mary Munford and student of Adam Larrabee who just became the Junior Mandolin Champion at the 85th Fiddler's Grove Festival in North Carolina last month.  She was the one who impressed us and Bryan Bowers last fall as she picked out a quick Monroe tune on his vintage Martin bowlback.  She's pictured above at Union Grove with proud pop Terry (Paul Zalinsky photo) and at right with Bryan in his van at Munford after the JAMinc in-school performance.  So exciting to watch the young ones so engaged in this music.

Last week I got an understandably enthusiastic email from former Richmonder Parrish Ellis who's been tirelessly pounding the pavement with the retro string swing band The Wiyos for the last five years.  (Parrish is 3rd from the left-Tommy Kearns photo)

The woodshedding and the persistence has paid off as they've just been picked to open 28 dates across America this summer for, hold tight, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp!  It's the minor league ballpark circuit again and the closest they come to here is Harbor Park in Norfolk on July 25th.  It was just a matter of time boys...now knock it out of the park.  Patience is a virtue, Martha Anne.

TT