Nothin’ Fancy, an acclaimed bluegrass band from Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, will perform on Monday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Collins Theatre in Paragould, located at 120 West Emerson Street. The concert is part of the Bluegrass Monday series presented by KASU 91.9 FM, Arkansas State University’s public radio station.
Formed in 1994, Nothin’ Fancy has built an international reputation with performances at venues such as the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and the Lincoln Center in New York City. They have released 19 CDs under the Mountain Fever label and are celebrated for their bluegrass standards, gospel songs, unique arrangements, and original compositions. Six-time winners of the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America’s “Entertaining Group of the Year” award, Nothin’ Fancy was inducted into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015.
Mike Andes, the band’s lead vocalist, mandolinist, and emcee, founded the group and has performed professionally since his teens. He has been nominated for numerous individual honors by SPBGMA, including Songwriter and Male Vocalist of the Year. Chris Sexton, a classically trained violinist and the band’s fiddler since 2000, holds a master’s degree in violin instruction and has worked as a professor and recording artist. Other band members include banjo player Jacob Flick, guitarist Curt Gausman, and bassist Jenkins, each of whom has deep ties to bluegrass traditions.
The concert admission fee is $10 per person, payable in cash at the door. Attendees aged 18 and under are admitted free. Advance tickets can be purchased online at www.kasu.org/tickets, and all proceeds go directly to the musicians. Doors open at 6 p.m., with first-come, first-served seating unless groups of eight or more request reserved seats through KASU Program Director Marty Scarbrough.
Before the concert, acoustic musicians are invited to participate in a bluegrass jam session starting at 5 p.m. in the Joe Wessell Building, adjacent to the Collins Theatre. A reserved seating area in the theatre will be available for jammers and their guests.
Bluegrass Monday, a non-profit initiative by KASU-FM to provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment, takes place on the fourth Monday of each month. It is made possible by support from sponsors, including the Paragould Advertising & Promotion Commission, Bibb Chiropractic Center, Gardner-Milner Law Firm, the Posey Peddler, Kiss The Cook, and Holiday Inn Express and Suites of Paragould.
For more information, contact Marty Scarbrough at mscarbro@AState.edu or call 870-972-2367. Details about upcoming concerts and events can also be found on the Bluegrass Monday Facebook page.