The Bluegrass Gospel Project Returns to Lebanon Dec. 13

Featuring seven of the Northeast’s premiere bluegrass, country and folk musicians, The Bluegrass Gospel Project will perform at the Lebanon Opera House this Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Steeped in the tradition of this powerful and uniquely American form of Appalachian string band music, the BGGP has a special fondness for gospel inspired bluegrass songs and the sublime vocal harmonies. For the third straight holiday season, Lebanon Opera House is proud to welcome back this exceptional assemblage of acoustic talent as they pay authentic homage to the high lonesome sound of gospel inspired-bluegrass music.

The Bluegrass Gospel Project first began as a twinkle in Burlington musician Gene White, Jr.’s eye in early 2001, following a discussion with First Night’s programming director, Jimmy Swift. The chat centered around steps that might be taken to replace the popular but newly defunct bluegrass band Breakaway (White was the band’s fiddler) in the next year’s First Night lineup.

After some hard thought, and a session or two listening to vintage Stanley Brothers gospel recordings, White had a musical epiphany. He contacted his friend Taylor Armerding, a co-founder of the popular New England bluegrass band Northern Lights, and drafted ex-bandmates Paul Miller and Andy Greene, Plattsburgh banjo ace Steve Light, country music veteran Jim DiSabito and prizewinning Duxbury singer-songwriter Patti Casey. That’s six top-notch singing voices—White’s the only non-vocalist—and superlative bluegrass instrumentalists.

After months of rehearsals and miles of road trips, the band, dubbed the First Night Bluegrass Gospel Project, debuted at the Flynn Center Dec. 31, 2001 (following an auspicious dress rehearsal at Lebanon Opera House), and knocked the socks off bluegrass fans and everyone else. The band is still going strong. They’ve played a number of venues in Vermont and New Hampshire over the past year and will perform once again this year for First Night Burlington.

The Project’s first eponymous CD, released in 2002, is a live recording of that maiden voyage at the Flynn. For those not lucky enough to attend on that magical night, the disc provides a sense of the excitement that vocal and instrumental excellence can bring to live acoustic music. The 12 selections of the recording, released on White’s homegrown Vital Records label, range from old-time classics ("Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown," "Down in the Valley to Pray") to classy originals written by Greene and Armerding. It seems only right that the religious songs by both Carter and Ralph Stanley are included on this recording, as it was Stanley’s white-gospel tradition that inspired White in the first place.

A sophomore recording, "On Our Way Home," appeared earlier this year to widespread critical acclaim. For more information, visit www.vermontbluegrass.com

For tickets call the LOH Box office at 603-448-0400.

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