PARAGOULD – The Edgar Loudermilk Band is set to perform at the upcoming Bluegrass Monday concert hosted by KASU-FM. The event will take place on Monday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. at the Collins Theatre, located at 120 West Emerson Street in Paragould.
Edgar Loudermilk, a widely accomplished bluegrass musician, has earned recognition throughout his career, including the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America’s Bass Fiddle Performer of the Year award twice and the 2024 Josie Award for Bass Player of the Year. Over the past two decades, his work as a vocalist, songwriter, and performer has garnered more than 50 music industry award nominations.
Before forming the Edgar Loudermilk Band in 2015, Loudermilk performed with notable acts such as Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Marty Raybon’s band, and Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, the latter of which won seven consecutive Vocal Group of the Year awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association during his tenure. As a songwriter, Loudermilk has penned tracks for prominent bluegrass artists including Rhonda Vincent, the Spinney Brothers, the Wilson Banjo Co., and others.
The Edgar Loudermilk Band features a skilled lineup of musicians. Banjo player Eddie Hoyle has a career dating back to his childhood and appeared in the 1971 documentary *Bluegrass Country Soul*. Guitarist Tucker McCandless, who performed with Loudermilk nearly three decades ago, brings experience from his time as a musical director and performer in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Clint Coker, another guitarist in the group, previously toured with Loudermilk and recently returned to his band following performances with Terry Baucom’s Dukes of Drive. Mandolinist Bryce Griffin, who began playing bluegrass music as a child, has played with groups such as Remedy Tree and the Florida State Bluegrass Band.
Tickets for Bluegrass Monday are $10 and can be purchased at the door on the night of the concert. Admission is free for individuals 18 and under. Groups of eight or more can request reserved seating through Marty Scarbrough, KASU’s program director, while all other attendees will have access to first-come, first-served seating when theatre doors open at 6 p.m.
Ahead of the concert, acoustic musicians are invited to join a bluegrass jam session beginning at 5 p.m. in the Joe Wessell Building, adjacent to the Collins Theatre. A section of seats will be reserved for participants and their guests to enjoy both the jam session and the main performance.
Bluegrass Monday is a non-profit concert series organized by KASU-FM and held on the fourth Monday of each month, except for July and December. Proceeds from ticket sales directly support the performers. The series receives sponsorship from local entities including the Paragould Advertising & Promotion Commission, Bibb Chiropractic Center, and Gardner-Milner Law Firm, among others.
For more information, attendees can visit the Bluegrass Monday Facebook page, contact Marty Scarbrough by email, or call 870-972-2367.