Free bluegrass concert Friday night

Blue Carolina will perform Friday night downtown. Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce announces an evening of bluegrass music at the Michael Gaffney Cabin on Friday, April 25th, from 6:00 until 8:30 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the music of J. Max McKee and Blue Carolina. Food will be available from Logan Street Hot Dogs, Bruster's Ice Cream and Haines Funnel Cakes.

Sponsors for the event are Buford St. Drug / ACE Hardware, Duke Energy Carolinas, Hames Music, Print Depot and Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.

J. Max McKee is known for his hard driving banjo picking, entertaining audiences with a high energy show and a variety of bluegrass music. Max credits his early influences to Earl Scruggs and his mentor, the late Hubert Davis.

Performing since 1968, Max has been featured in Bluegrass Unlimited and is a North Carolina banjo champion. In 2005, he was inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame.

Max and his wife, Teena, own and operate the Bluegrass Inn in Shelby where several shows are held each year during the winter months.

Accompanying Max in the band are, Teena, who plays rhythm guitar and sings lead vocals. Susan Sizemore plays rhythm guitar and gives the band its full sound. All band members are full time touring musicians.

The J. Max McKee Band promises a traditional, family oriented show packed with excitement and surprises. On Saturday, April 26th, there will be an all day bluegrass gospel event at Hames Music beginning at 10:00 a.m. Tickets for this event are available at the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, Hames Music and White Columns in Blacksburg.

For more information, call the Chamber at 489-5721.