Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 20, 1994 TAG: 9405210017
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Donna Alvis Banks
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
For the past 20 years, they've been making beautiful music together.
As a couple in the world of folk and country music, they are known for their perfect harmonies.
Together they have produced 11 albums of their own and have written tunes performed by some of the big stars in country music. Emmylou Harris recently released their "Rollin' & Ramblin','' a tribute to Hank Williams, as a single and a video. Tom T. Hall's 1984 version of their "Famous in Missouri" made it to Billboard's country music charts.
For many years, Robin and Linda worked with Garrison Keillor of National Public Radio's "Prairie Home Companion." Last year they and their band (appropriately named Their Fine Group) opened 16 concert dates for Grammy Award winner Mary Chapin-Carpenter.
The couple also wrote the music and lyrics for two popular musicals, "Stonewall Country" and "Virgil Powers, The Black Life." Both played at the Lime Kiln Theater in nearby Lexington. The pair is currently working on a new musical with Circle Repertoire Company in New York. The show, "Streets of Gold," will be completed later this year and will begin regional touring in 1995.
The Williamses are headlining this year's American Music Fair, held by the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley. The fair opens tonight and runs all day Saturday at New River Community College in Dublin. The duo will perform in two concerts Saturday.
Country Current, the U.S. Navy's country-bluegrass group, will kick off the event with two performances Friday night at 7 and 9. Both will be held in Rooker Auditorium.
Saturday's lineup features a variety of local talent. Concerts will be held throughout the day in Rooker Auditorium and Martin Hall. Here's the schedule:
10 a.m. Clogging by Melanie Ondich in Rooker Auditorium.
10:30 a.m. The Pulaski County High School Jazz Band in Martin Hall.
10:45 a.m. The Pulaski County Melodies of Riverlawn Elementary School in Rooker Auditorium.
11:30 a.m. Sweet Adelines, singing barbershop harmony, in Rooker Auditorium. Also, the Blacksburg High School Jazz Band in Martin Hall.
12:15 p.m. No Strings Attached, folk and dulcimer music, in Rooker Auditorium.
12:30 p.m. The Riverboat Ramblers, Dixieland jazz, in Martin Hall.
1 p.m. Greg Trafidlo and Laura Pole, folk duo, in Rooker Auditorium.
1:30 p.m. Southbound, contemporary country band, in Martin Hall.
1:45 p.m. Trillium, folk trio, in Rooker Auditorium.
2:30 p.m. Acoustic guitarist Jon Benfield in Rooker Auditorium. Also, Branchin' Out, old-time country music, in Martin Hall.
3:15 p.m. Acoustic guitarist Mark Litteral in Rooker Auditorium.
3:30 p.m. Harmony workshop with Robin and Linda Williams in Martin Hall.
4:30 p.m. Bluegrass music by Jack Hinshelwood in Martin Hall.
5:30 p.m. The Little Symphony Orchestra in Martin Hall.
6:30 p.m. The Allegheny String Quartet in Martin Hall.
7 p.m. Robin and Linda Williams and Their Fine Group in Rooker Auditorium.
8 p.m. The McKenzies, folk duo, in Martin Hall.
9 p.m. Robin and Linda Williams and Their Fine Group in Rooker Auditorium.
In addition to the musical entertainment, the fair will offer activities for children, a crafts fair and plenty of good food.
Tickets for concerts Friday night and during the day Saturday are $5. For $10, you can buy a ticket for the whole shebang, including the Robin and Linda Williams concert.
The tickets are available at the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley at 21 W. Main St. in Pulaski. Call 980-7363 for more information.
TASTE FULLY: "Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used."
The third annual wine tasting at Mountain Lake Resort is Sunday. Rain or shine, it runs from 2 to 5 p.m.
Shakespeare would approve.
Six Virginia wineries will send representatives with samples of their latest vintage. They include Chateau Morrisette of Meadows of Dan, Montdomaine of Charlottesville, Rapidan River of Culpeper, Prince Michel of Leon, Oasis of Hume and Barboursville of the Central Virginia community by the same name.
A $10 admission at the door covers the wine tasting, cheese and crackers and musical entertainment by The Riverboat Ramblers. Those attending also receive a complimentary Mountain Lake wine glass.
Proceeds will benefit the New River Arts Council and Progress in Narrows Now, local organizations that promote community arts projects.
HEARTS ON A STRING: Music lovers everywhere love Virginia Tech's quartet-in-residence, The Audubon Quartet.
The four musicians will perform Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in Squires Student Center. The performance marks the opening of a seminar for young musicians from Brown University, Carnegie-Mellon University, The Eastman School of Music and Oberlin Conservatory. The string players will be at Virginia Tech through May 31 to study with the Audubon Quartet.
Sunday's performance is open to the public, as are several workshops and another concert on May 30. All will be held in Squires Recital Salon. Check the calendar in Friday's Arts & Entertainment listings for details.
On Sunday, the Audubon Quartet will perform works by Beethoven, Wolf and Barber. David Ehrlich and David Salness are the violinists, Doris Lederer is the violist and Clyde Shaw is the cellist.
Admission is $3 at the door.
BOOTS & COWBOY HATS: Skyline Ford of Floyd is putting on a country western square dance to benefit the American Cancer Society Saturday. Put on your boots and cowboy hats and head for Floyd County High School. The dancing runs from 7 to 11 p.m. in the cafeteria.
The Plum Sideways Band will provide the music, and line dance teachers will be there to assist those of us with two left feet.
Advance tickets, available at Floyd Pharmacy, E-Z Stop and Skyline Ford, are $4. Admission at the door is $5. Kids 6 and under get in free.
NOSTALGIA: Don & The Deltones, the local feel-good band, will play this weekend at the Blacksburg Holiday Inn. The group performs music of the '60s and '70s, including pop songs, Motown tunes, soul music and beach music.
The band has opened for big-name oldies groups such as The Drifters; The Platters; Blood, Sweat & Tears; and Clarence Carter and The Impressions.
Don & The Deltones will appear at Frizbee's lounge Friday and Saturday. The music starts at 9:30 both nights. The cover charge is $5. Women are admitted free Saturday, "Ladies' Night."
by CNB