PARAGOULD — Nothin’ Fancy, a celebrated bluegrass band from Virginia, will perform at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26, at the Collins Theatre, located at 120 West Emerson Street. The concert is part of the Bluegrass Monday series presented by KASU 91.9 FM.
Formed in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley in 1994, Nothin’ Fancy is a full-time, professional band known for its energetic performances and wide-ranging repertoire, which includes bluegrass standards, gospel music, original compositions, and unique renditions of songs from other genres. The band has played at prominent venues such as the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the Lincoln Center in New York City, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, and Silver Dollar City in Branson.
To date, the group has released 19 albums, recorded under the Mountain Fever label. Heavily influenced by legendary bluegrass groups the Country Gentlemen and the Seldom Scene, Nothin’ Fancy blends tradition with innovation. Over the years, the band has been named “Entertaining Group of the Year” six times by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA), and in 2015, it was inducted into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame.
The group’s lead vocalist and mandolin player, Mike Andes, formed the band and has been performing since his teens. A seasoned bluegrass artist, Andes has earned various award nominations, including SPBGMA’s Mandolin Player of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year. He also released a solo album in 2013.
The band features highly accomplished musicians, including fiddler Chris Sexton, who officially joined in 2000. Sexton, a classically trained violinist with a master’s degree in violin instruction from Shenandoah University, has performed with symphony orchestras and produced solo albums in both classical and old-time fiddle styles. His work has appeared on programs for channels such as PBS, the Discovery Channel, and National Geographic.
Other members include banjo player Jacob Flick, a Virginia native with a degree in Appalachian studies from East Tennessee State University; guitarist and vocalist Curt Gausman, a veteran of bluegrass bands since the 1980s; and bassist Jenkins, a South Carolina native who has toured internationally with Frank Solivan’s band.
Concert admission is $10 per person, payable by cash at the door. Attendees aged 18 and under will be admitted free. Advance tickets can be purchased online at www.kasu.org/tickets, and all proceeds will go to the musicians. Groups of eight or more may request reserved seating by contacting KASU’s Marty Scarbrough. Doors to the Collins Theatre open at 6 p.m., with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
A pre-concert bluegrass jam session will begin at 5 p.m. in the adjacent Joe Wessell Building, and a section of the theater will be reserved for jammers and their guests.
Bluegrass Monday is a monthly event hosted by KASU-FM, the public media service of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. Supported by local sponsors such as the Paragould Advertising & Promotion Commission and other area businesses, the series aims to provide an affordable, family-friendly concert experience. Additional details about the event are available on the Bluegrass Monday Facebook page or by reaching out to Marty Scarbrough at mscarbro@AState.edu or 870-972-2367.