Josh Slone and Coal Town

Josh Slone and Coal Town will perform a concert of bluegrass music on Monday, March 22, at 7 PM at Atkins Celebration Hall, 101 South Pruett Street, in downtown Paragould, Arkansas. Concert is part of the Bluegrass Monday concert series presented by KASU 91.9 FM.

Admission is free, but KASU will literally “pass the hat” to collect money to pay the group. Suggested donation: $5 per person.

Coming from the small, rural towns of Eastern Kentucky and Southwest Virginia, the members of Coal Town take pride in their roots, and that pride is demonstrated in their music. Their original songs reflect the sometimes difficult life of rural coal miners as well as the joys of country living. They cite the Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe and Larry Sparks as musical influences. The band describes their concerts by saying that they “sing songs of who they are and hang their hearts out on stage.”

Coal Town released their first self-produced CD in 2009, and their debut release for the Rural Rhythm record label will be released later in 2010. The band will be touring to 14 states and into Canada this year, and their appearance in the Bluegrass Monday concert series will be their first concert ever in Arkansas. For more information about the band, visit http://www.myspace.com/coaltown08.

In addition to the concert by Josh Slone and Coal Town at 7 PM, area bluegrass musicians are invited to come to Atkins Celebration Hall beginning at 5 PM for an open jam session. Musicians are asked to bring only acoustic instruments and to play only bluegrass music. The jam sessions will end promptly at 6:45 PM prior to the beginning of the concert.

Also, Simply Delicious Catering will provide a country-style buffet meal featuring hickory smoked chicken and country vegetables beginning at 5 PM for a cost of $10 including tax and a drink. Seating at the venue will around tables or in auditorium-style seating.

Bluegrass Monday concerts are held on the fourth Monday night of each month. These concerts are presented with support from the Posey Peddler, Southwind Heights, the Northeast Arkansas Bluegrass Association and KASU. Bluegrass Monday’s website is www.myspace.com/bluegrassmonday.

KASU, 91.9 FM, is the 100,000 watt public broadcasting service of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. For more information, contact KASU Program Director Marty Scarbrough at mscarbro@astate.edu or 870-972-2367.