For decades The Embers have been making music by playing a mix of rhythm and blues and heart and soul. In Virginia the name that applies best to the Embers' genre is "Beach Music." Bobby Tomlinson, drummer and leader of the band, believes that Beach Music is music with a memory. Others believe that Beach Music is simply lyrics that are easy to sing with simple melodies and pretty harmonies that accompany them.
After seventeen albums and many singles, The Embers are one of the most popular and active bands in the USA. They've played for presidents and princes, students and bankers, at the beach and in the city, on record and in concert.
The Embers will take the stage on July 4th at Bernard's Landing at Smith Mountain Lake as one of the country's most entertaining bands. They've opened for the Rolling Stones, done commercials for Budweiser, and played the Olympics and President Clinton's inauguration.
The Embers latest album, Beach Music, Super Collaboration, an album of well-known recording artists, received international acclaim. Pepsi released a commercial performed by The Embers featuring that album's title tune.
Fescue is a five piece bluegrass band that has endured, like the grass it is named after, through more than 20 years of presenting their style of bluegrass music to fans in Virginia and other Southeastern states. Fescue's stage show features a wide range of bluegrass music, from slow ballads to hard driving energetic bluegrass tunes.
Fescue has received many awards at Bluegrass festivals, including first place awards in the Bluegrass Band competition at the prestigious Galax Fiddlers Convention in 1997 and 2000.
This year's music festival starts at 3:00 PM and ends at 8:00 PM on Friday, July 4th 2008. A full complement of food and beverages will be provided at the music festival by local non-profit organizations. All proceeds from the festival will be returned by the non-profit Smith Mountain Lake Rotary Club to the local community.
Festival attendees should bring appetites for great beach music and food, plus their own folding chairs and blankets. Please don't bring picnic baskets -- food and drinks are available for purchase at the festival from local non-profit organizations. An ID is required if you wish to consume beer or wine.
Tickets are $15 per person at the door -- or $12 per person in advance until July 2. Discounted tickets are available in advance from the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce (540-721-1203) at Hales Ford Bridge. Discounted tickets are also available from three retail outlets near Westlake Corner: Hager Insurance (540-721-8822), Hot Shots Golf (540-719-1547), and Radio Shack (540-721-0017).
For directions to advance ticket sales locations, call Steve Miller at Radio Shack, 540-721-0017.
Bernard's Landing -- and the 4th of July Music Festival -- is located at 775 Ashmeade Road, Moneta, Virginia 24121 (see: Google map & driving directions).
Rotary Clubs throughout the world are involved every day in humanitarian projects like the development of local parks. Rotary Clubs have made a $100 million commitment worldwide to eradicate polio as a crippling childhood disease. Local Rotary Clubs offer scholarships to high school students -- and honor teachers for their work in educating our children. The Smith Mountain Lake Rotary Club is actively involved in these efforts and many others.
Current projects of the Smith Mountain Lake Rotary Club include:
Smith Mountain Lake Rotary Club
Steve Miller, VP & President-Elect
540-721-0336 or 540-721-0017
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