Bristol, TN/VA -- The Appalachian Cultural Music Association will present the 18th Annual Leon Kiser Memorial-Tribute Concert on Saturday, February 22nd at the Foundation Event Facility in Bristol, Tennessee. Proceeds from the concert go to two scholarships at East Tennessee State University for their bluegrass, old time and country music program. The scholarships are the Benny Sims Scholarship and the ACMA Leon Kiser Memorial Scholarship. The concert will feature bluegrass, old-time, gospel and country bands performing.
Each year the ACMA honors individuals who have contributed to the performance and preservation of the music from the southern Appalachian region. Honorees this year are G.C. Matlock a master guitar player and instructor from Kingsport, TN, the late Will Keys who was a tremendously gifted old time banjo picker and entertainer and the late W.A. Wilson who started the first radio station, WOPI in Bristol in 1929. Also a special segment of the concert will pay tribute to the music of Gospel Grass a bluegrass gospel band who has contributed many years of great music throughout our region.
Scheduled to perform at the concert is the Kiser Family, ETSU Bluegrass Band, the ETSU Old Time Band, Raymond McLain and the Morehead State University Mountain Music Ambassadors, Breaking Tradition, Trey Hensley, Appalachian Trail, G.C. Matlock and Tennessee Skyline, Lightnin’ Charlie, and the Gospel Grass. Tim White president of the ACMA and host of Song of the Mountains on public television across America and the syndicated Tim White Bluegrass Radio Show will emcee the concert.
The 18th Annual Leon Kiser Memorial-Tribute Concert will begin at 7:00 pm at the Foundation Event Facility located at 620 State Street in downtown Bristol, TN-VA. For information visit www.pickinporch.org. Ticket outlets are Morrell Music Stores in the Tri-Cities, Capos Music Store in Abingdon, and at the ACMA Pickin Porch on Monday evenings at the Foundation Event Facility in Bristol. Tickets are $15 advance and $20 at the door.
The ACMA is a non-profit 501c3 organization www.appalachianculturalmusic.org and www.mountainmusicmuseum.org.