BPL@Night Welcomes Birmingham Bluegrass Group, Shades Mountain Air

The Birmingham Public Library’s popular BPL@Night presents Homewood-based bluegrass group, Shades Mountain Air, on Thursday, November 15. This dynamic bluegrass group has been playing that high, lonesome sound for nearly a decade collectively.

Composed of five members, the group was formed in 1998 and played their first banquet a year later. According to their members, Shades Mountain Air is a self-proclaimed “family band” and they take their name from the Birmingham mountain that surrounds their homes.

Gary Furr helped found the group and he contributes vocals, guitar, and lyrics. He and husband and wife team, Nancy and Greg Womble, started the group when they discovered they enjoyed playing bluegrass together. Nancy plays the stand-up bass and sings lead, while Greg plays the five-string banjo, guitar, and sings. Don Wendorf plays the mandolin, hammered dulcimer, and banjo, and his son Paul rounds out the band with some fiery fiddle playing, while both father and son help sing. Paul was the final member to join the band, as he was busy playing backup for such stars as Smoky Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and Ray Charles.

The group has recorded two CDs, the self-titled Shades Mountain Air as well as Sky’s A Clearing. The albums feature the band’s unique blend of blue-grass, “newgrass,” and gospel.

The hammered dulcimer that Don Wendorf plays gives this band a unique flavor that most bluegrass bands do not have.

This is a must-see, free concert in one of the warmest and most pleasant night spots in downtown Birmingham, the library’s Atrium. It begins at 6:30 and will last approximately an hour. The library encourages everyone to come early to get a good seat. CDs will be available for purchase.

Details:

Where: Central Birmingham Public Library Atrium
When: Thursday, November 15th, 2007
Time: 6:30 p.m.

For more information about Shades Mountain Air, visit their Website at http://www.shadesmountainair.com/.