It’s time for bluegrass on The Village Green

||| FROM BETHANY MARIE for ORCAS CENTER |||

This Thursday, August 10 at 6pm, the Village Green stage  comes alive with LIVE Bluegrass music! And it’s all part of the FREE Summer Concert Series presented by Orcas Center, OrcaSong Farm, Country Corner, and The Outlook Inn.

Like the powerful mandolinist and composer at its helm, John Reischman and the Jaybirds fashion a stylish take on bluegrass that seamlessly blends original songs and instrumentals with Appalachian old-time music for a truly unique band sound. Now in their 20th year, with seven acclaimed albums and two Juno nominations, the Jaybirds are simultaneously innovative and unadorned, sophisticated and stripped-down, happily old-fashioned and 21st-century
contemporary.

Bluegrass Unlimited calls John Reischman “one of the world’s undisputed masters” of the mandolin, famed for outstanding tone and taste. Many of his dozens of original instrumentals have become popular favourites for sessions and covers, such as the jam standard Saltspring. He has three critically-acclaimed solo instrumental albums and has recorded on many other projects, including the Grammy-winning True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe. John also plays Latin-based jazz and choro music with highly regarded finger-style acoustic guitarist/composer John Miller; the duo has released three superb albums. Joining John Reischman on the stage is guitarist Patrick Sauber, vocalist Trisha Gagnon, 5-string banjo player Nick Hornbuckle, and world-class bluegrass fiddler, Greg Spatz.

Opening for The Jaybirds are local favorites, The Litch Brothers – a progressive bluegrass group that draws on traditional influences, with each band member bringing their own unique musical voice. Consisting of brothers Tashi and Kaj Litch, with Evan Snoey and Ben Lewis, on a combination of mandolin, guitar, fiddle, bass and vocals, the band delivers an eclectic mix of original music, traditional tunes and songs, and folk inspired covers.

Orcas Center’s Summer Concert Series on the Village Green is FREE thanks to donations from local businesses including Salish Sea Medical and Savi Bank. More information and full concert lineup can be found at www.OrcasCenter.org.