'BLUEGRASS at the Plaza' Feb. 13

WAITSBURG – "Bluegrass at the Plaza!" a benefit concert for the Touchet Valley Acoustic Music Project will take place Friday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at Waitsburg's historic Plaza Theater (208 Main St.). The concert will feature the bands Switchgrass; Rock, Salt & Nails; the Kuykendall Family and Kate & The Bluegrass Gentlemen.

Proceeds from the event go to support TVAMP, which is directed by Kate Hockersmith and operates under the umbrella of the nonprofit Rural Youth Enrichment Services. TVAMP is a music education program for children and teens with a focus on acoustic string music, bluegrass in particular.

The program is free, but students are required to provide their own instruments. Hockersmith works with children ages 4th grade through 12th grade, mentoring both the newest beginners and advanced students.

Hockersmith says the proceeds from the concert will allow her students to see talented musicians in concert. "Seeing live music can be a powerful inspiration for young musicians and many of the children involved in TVAMP have never been to a concert before," she said.

The Powerhouse Theater in Walla Walla is bringing the Lomax Project – a review of the songs collected by Alan Lomax in the hills of Appalachia – on Feb. 28. Hockersmith is hopeful that TVAMP will be able to provide tickets for the younger members of her group to attend that performance and possibly meet with the performers before the show for a short workshop.

The high school-age TVAMP members will once again attend the Wintergrass Music Festival in Bellevue, Wash. at the end of February. "Wintergrass has world-class bluegrass performers on stage, and after performing, those same professional musicians teach workshops," said Hockersmith. Last year, several TVAMP members attended the event and Hockersmith is hopeful that TVAMP will be able to provide tickets for the older students as well as providing some help in covering travel and hotel costs.

The group's main fundraising event is "Bluegrass at the Plaza," a bluegrass concert performed by TVAMP youth members and the local, adult musicians that mentor them.

"Many of the valley's local musicians attend the weekly bluegrass jams held in Dayton, Waitsburg and Walla Walla," said Hockersmith. "The jams have been a regular event in the valley for over eight years now and many of the seasoned musicians offer their help and talents in producing and performing in this fundraiser."

The historic Plaza Theater was built in 1929, and originally opened as The Neace Theater. It has been lovingly renovated by Robbie and Marilyn Johnson.

Tickets for "Bluegrass at the Plaza" are $10 and may be purchased at Waitsburg Hardware Store or at the door. For more information call Hockersmith at (509) 337-8789.