As an exciting part of the Freight's educational program for traditional/roots music, "closet musicians," grouped into bands, have been busy honing their performance skills in a weekly series of Take the Stage band performance workshops created and directed by Nell Robinson Music. The lead instructor is bluegrass musician Dave Zimmerman, joined by Jacob Groopman and Dan Booth, with guest instructors Tom Rozum, Kathy Kallick, and Jim Nunally. The workshops allow aspiring players to explore performing music in a bluegrass or country band, culminating in tonight's concert in which the these groups "take the stage" to showcase the skills they've learned.

Tonight's show presents four bands for your listening pleasure: FOUR COLD WALLS (Wendy Fiering, TJ Carskadon, Lou Giddings, Terry O'Neill, Geoff Sargent, and Jon Steel); UNCLE MILTY AND HIS BAND OF GOLD (DJ Hamouris, Gabe Weiland, Ken Bellingham, Milton McClaskey, Paul Martinez, Tim Kieschnick, and Dan Booth); 6 FLOORS UP (Lisa Cooper, Scott Peterson, Geoff Sargent, John Steel, Dick Mason, and Curtis Young); and LAST EXIT (Chris D'Andrea, Mike Lerner, Don Will, Stephanie Brown, Terence O'Neill, Paul Supton, and Jacob Groopman).

The goal of the workshops is to provide a fun environment for musicians of all levels and instruments to play and perform with a group, while gaining confidence with their instrument, themselves, and their overall musicianship. Check it out for yourself: next time it could be you on the stage!

For information on future workshops and shows, please contact hilary@nellrobinsonmusic.com and see our workshop page.