Shindig on the Green presents "Christmas in Appalachia" annual fundraising concert - Dec. 7th

One of the area’s most beloved and authentic cultural traditions, Shindig on the Green presents its annual fundraising concert, an evening of traditional bluegrass and seasonal holiday music, Saturday, December 7th, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. in the Upper Anderson Auditorium at Montreat Conference Center. The Folk Heritage Committee’s annual fundraiser features headliner Whitewater Bluegrass Company plus The Griggs, and Master of Ceremonies Glenn Bannerman. The fundraising concert is a key element in securing necessary funding for the free and beloved Shindig on the Green summer Saturday evenings in Asheville.

Headliner – Whitewater Bluegrass Company: The Whitewater Bluegrass Company features “Uncle Ted” White on bass, Bill Byerly on guitar, David Pendley on mandolin, Steve Sutton on banjo, and Danielle Bishop on fiddle. Whitewater Bluegrass has captivated audiences throughout the Southeast for over 30 years with their blend of bluegrass music, country ballads, mountain swing, good old foot stomping and down-home humor. The band has been the featured entertainers for Folkmoot USA, the Smoky Mountain Folk Festival, Kanuga Conference Centers, the Historic Horse Barn on the Biltmore Estate, the Carter Family Fold, the North Carolina Bar Association, The Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University, and the Grove Park Inn.

The Griggs:  From their hometown of Stanley, NC, The Griggs brings their award-winning bluegrass gospel throughout the region with a sound akin to The Lewis Family and the Paul Williams Trio. The Griggs is Pete Grigg on vocals, Terry Grigg on guitar, Wayne Billings on mandolin, Arnold Clayton on banjo, and Zolia Clayton on bass.

Over 30,000 people attend Shindig on the Green for free throughout the summer. While the crowds of locals and visitors at Shindig have grown over the years for the free evenings, so have the costs. The non-profit Folk Heritage Committee must raise funds to cover the sharply rising costs at Shindig on the Green for goods and services such as security, sound equipment and technicians. The December concert has a $6000 monetary goal, with all of those funds needed to help cover the “free” Shindig’s very real operating costs, which average several thousand dollars per evening. The Folk Heritage Committee produces Shindig on the Green and the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival in order to support the preservation and continuation of the traditional music, dance and storytelling heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Shindig takes place in the heart of downtown Asheville at Pack Square Park’s Roger McGuire Green, on the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Stage.  Dedicated to the celebration and preservation of the region’s rich cultural heritage, Shindig on the Green’s 48^th summer season in 2014 is scheduled for June 28; July 5, 12, 19; and August 9, 16, 23, and 30.

The Upper Anderson Auditorium: The December 7th fundraiser takes place in the Upper Anderson Auditorium, the 300-seat theatre at the beautiful Montreat Conference Center, 401 Assembly Drive, in Montreat, NC (Exit #64 off of I-40). Parking for the event is located next to the Upper Anderson Auditorium.

Tickets: Adults $20; Children 12 and younger $10; Group Rate (10 or more adults) $15 per person.  To reserve tickets, e-mail info@folkheritage.org or call the Folk Heritage Info Line and leave a message: 828-258-6101 x345. For more information, visit www.folkheritage.org.