Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 7, 1994 TAG: 9401060021
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Donna Alvis-Banks
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Let it snow.
Let it . . . NO!
It's time to get Out & About!
The New River Community College Fiddle, Banjo and Dance Club is getting ready for its next jamboree. It's happening Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. at the New River Valley Fairgrounds in Dublin.
Come early for the jam sessions and recorded music at 5. Live performances start at 6.
The pickers 'n' grinners include James Lindsey and the Mountain Ramblers, The Rockbridge Pickers and The Blackburn Brothers.
As always, the club will have a dance contest and award cash prizes to the winners.
Admission is free but donations are appreciated to help pay traveling expenses for the bands.
\ SONGS OF HEAVEN: They speak of the "Beulah Land," of the land "Where We'll Never Grow Old," of the place "Where the Roses Never Fade."
Southern gospel music represents the faith, hope and charity of rural America. From songs calling up the memory of mother and the old home place ("What a Friend We Have in Mother") to those evoking visions of the suffering savior ("The Old Rugged Cross"), gospel music appeals to Christian virtues.
The gentle voices of three popular Southern gospel groups will fill the Christiansburg High School auditorium Saturday. The Primitive, The Southern Statesmen and The Victorians will perform in concert, starting at 7 p.m.
The Primitive is a six-member group from Asheville, N.C. Three of its members, brothers Regan, Larry and Mike Rittle, have been singing together for 20 years. They specialize in the older hymns of the church.
The Southern Statesmen of Roanoke and The Victorians of Richmond perform a variety of contemporary and traditional religious songs.
Advance discount tickets are $7. They are available at three Christiansburg businesses: McNeil Real Estate, First National Bank and Blue Ridge Heating. Admission at the door Saturday night is $10.
St. John's Fellowship Church is sponsoring the concert.
\ MORE GOSPEL: The monthly gospel sing at the OCAW building in Fairlawn is Saturday, too.
The event features local talent, including The Gospel Strings and The Highland Gospel Singers. Guests at this month's sing are Young at Heart and The Otis Linkous Family.
Saturday marks the 46th month of the continuing concert series. The music starts at 7 p.m. Admission is free and video cameras are allowed.
The OCAW hall is on Peppers Ferry Road. For more information, call Carl Ratcliffe at 382-7571 or 382-4654.
\ SILVER SCREEN: Gallop over to Radford University Saturday. You'll find some great old movies there.
"Nickelodeon Films," a monthly series, features classics you can't find at the corner video store. This week's movies are "The Old Corral" with Gene Autry, "Prescott Kid" starring Tim McCoy and "American Empire" with Richard Dix.
The films are shown in room 108 of Russell Hall. Admission matches your after-Christmas budget - it's free!
\ MEET THE ARTIST: Frank Murphy, a regional artist and native Roanoker, has an exhibit of his recent paintings at the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley in Pulaski. The pieces are mostly landscapes done in pastels, acrylics and oils.
Murphy, who retired from Norfolk Southern Corporation in 1986, first studied art at Hollins College under professor John Ballator. Later, he worked with Peyton Klein at Virginia Western Community College.
An award-winning artist, he has had work accepted in various juried art shows, including Artemis XII in 1989, Artemis XIII in 1990, the Roanoke College Biennial Show in 1992 and the League of Roanoke Artists shows from 1990 to 1993.
Murphy paints realistic natural scenes and some impressionistic scenes.
A reception for Murphy will be held in the gallery Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. You're invited to come enjoy the refreshments and social time with the artist.
The Fine Arts Center is at 21 W. Main St. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
\ FINE DINING: The Fund for Cultural Exchange in Floyd is putting out a spread Saturday. The organization will sponsor a gourmet dinner from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Floyd VFW Hall.
In addition to the food and drink, there will be entertainment and a services auction.
Advance tickets, $14, are available now at the Harvest Moon Health Food Store. Tickets are $16 at the door.
For more information, call Jody Hale, 745-3295.
by CNB