THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 16, 1997 TAG: 9701160030
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 80 lines
GRASS IS growing.
``Bluegrass is gaining in popularity all the time,'' said Scott Vestal, the International Bluegrass Music Association's 1996 banjo player of the year. ``More people are getting involved with it all the time.''
If you are involved with it, or would like to give it a try, take a leisurely Saturday drive to Southampton Academy in Courtland.
In addition to the year's top banjo player, the association's guitarist of the year, Tony Rice, will also be on hand.
Both men have won numerous awards and, as Vestal puts it, ``it's a nice feeling to know people appreciate your hard work.''
Vestal's band, Continental Divide, will also appear - and so will dinner.
It is Southampton Academy's fourth annual Bluegrass & BBQ, with proceeds going to fund school projects.
Another Vestal project is making banjos, something he has been doing for six years.
``Each one takes about six weeks,'' he said during a telephone interview from his Hendersonville, Tenn., home. ``Old instruments are really popular. One guy bought a 1930s Granada for $60,000. He's trying to sell it for $100,000.
``It'll end up going to Japan,'' said Vestal, who spent six months there, performing with the Texas Rangers - neither bluegrass nor country.
``It was an acoustic jazz ensemble,'' the 34-year-old performer said. ``We did a lot of different kinds of music, including some grass, some western swing.''
Vestal, who performed with different groups in Asia, Europe and Canada, settled down nearly three years ago when he and David Parmley formed Continental Divide. The group features pickers and singers who had performed with some of the country's most prestigious bluegrass groups.
In 1995, the International Bluegrass Music Association presented the Divide with the Emerging Artists Award.
However, accolades do not help bluegrass get radio air play.
While it is growing in popularity, ``it's still hard to get played on radio on a commercial level,'' said Vestal, who has been picking since he was 13. ``There's no money behind it like there is with country music - no advertising.''
There were a lot of tributes recently after the death of Bill Monroe, rightfully known as ``Daddy Bluegrass,'' but the music quickly slipped from the limelight.
Ricky Skaggs and Alison Krauss do their best to keep it alive. Artists like Marty Stuart and Vince Gill sometimes play it in concert, usually to enthusiastic applause.
Saturday's schedule includes two sets by Continental Divide, guitar-mandolin duets by Rice and fiddler Rickie Simpkins, and a guest appearance by local lad Mo Canada, who has recorded with Rice.
Vestal and Continental Divide expect to begin recording their next album in February. month.
``I have my own recording studio - Acoustic Image. I opened it about two months ago, and I've already recorded other bands,'' said Vestal, who performed with several bands before Continental Divide, playing jazz and rock.
Ask him about his favorite music and you expect to hear - ``blue-grass.''
You don't.
``I like all kinds of music,'' he said, ``bluegrass no more than anything else. I listen to everything from Pat Metheny to Yes.''
But, yes, Vestal will be hot and heavy into bluegrass Saturday. ILLUSTRATION: ROUNDER RECORDS
Tony Rice is bluegrass guitarist of the year.
IF YOU WANT TO GO
What: Continental Divide with Scott Vestal, and Tony Rice, Rickie
Simpkins, Mo Canada at Southampton Academy's fourth annual Bluegrass
& BBQ.
When: Dinner starts at 6 p.m.
Where: 26495 Old Plank Road, next to the 7-Eleven in Courtland,
just off U.S. 58 Business.
Cost: Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students, $5 for
children 10 and under. They are available at the Southampton
Academy, Parker Drug and Fred's Restaurant in Franklin; Isle of
Wight Instrument Co. in Smithfield; or by calling 653-2233.
Infoline: To hear music by Tony Vestal and Continental Divide,
dial 640-5555 and press VEST (8378).