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>> CHERRYHOLMES BRINGS NEW BLOOD TO GENRE FAMILY BLUEGRASS BAND ON THE RISE
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Cherryholmes, winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association's highest honor in 2005, is up again this year.
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Family band brings new vitality to bluegrass
Date published: 8/23/2007
BY JONAS BEALS
In 2005, Cherryholmes collected bluegrass' highest honor: the International Bluegrass Music Association's Entertainer of the Year award. It was a stunning achievement for this family of six, who, just six years before, were living outside of Los Angeles without a lick of musical training.
That sort of meteoric rise in the music world is the stuff of legend. Sure, bluegrass has its share of prodigy stories, from Ricky Skaggs to Alison Krauss to Chris Thile--all of whom were getting standing ovations before they turned 10. But in a genre where tradition is king, Cherryholmes sprang to life fully formed, like a banjo-playing Athena from the head of Zeus.
For music lovers, the Cherryholmes story is as confounding and inexplicable as any myth. This isn't just The Jackson 5 or The Mickey Mouse Club; this is Robert Johnson coming back from the crossroads. From the parents down to Molly Kate, who was only 6 years old when the band started, every member is blessed with sublime skill. As a group, they are transcendent.
The band is currently making its way around the country, playing the standard summer run of bluegrass festivals. This Saturday is the perfect chance for local fans of any music to see what the buzz is about when Cherryholmes plays at Mr. B's Bluegrass Park in Ladysmith.
What you will see is perhaps the greatest two hours of acoustic entertainment on Earth. "It's a show--that's just what it is," family patriarch Jere Cherryholmes said.
"It's not just a concert where you're only going to hear music; it's something you need to experience. It's very high-energy and nonstop, but it has a flow. We like to engage the audience for the entire time."
A highlight of the Cherryholmes set is when the kids put down their instruments midsong and dance. Yes, the family has also been blessed with the gift of clogging.
"It came about because of necessity," Jere Cherryholmes said. "We'd been playing together for three months when we got hired for a job. It ended up being about six hours every Saturday and, frankly, we needed things to entertain people with. We started doing everything we could, and that's where the dancing came in. We found out that if we got some people out there and started dancing, it would bring a whole lot of people in."
The dancing has the same effect at bluegrass festivals, drawing standing ovations almost every time. The suits and the sideshow are part of the charm of Cherryholmes, but their vocals and instrumental skills are even more stunning.
"We didn't want to wear the moniker of a family band," Jere Cherryholmes said.
"That sort of has a connotation to it that says mediocre music, cute kids. We wanted to be a band that people would respect."
| What: Mr. B's Bluegrass Blowout, a three-day festival, features a slew of bands including Cherryholmes.
Where: Mr. B's Bluegrass Park, off U.S. 1 in Ladysmith
When: Today through Saturday
Cost: $25 to $30 (single day); $75 (three day); camping services available at additional cost
Info: 804/449-6350
Web: mrbsbluegrass.com
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Date published: 8/23/2007
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