Boograss Concert a Big Success

WAITSBURG-The Plaza theater was haunted by all sorts of spirits Sunday during the annual Boograss concert held by the Touchet Valley Acoustic Music Project (TVAMP).

About 80 people attended the concert to see performances from local musical groups and bid on donated items in a silent auction. The lineup began with the youngest musicians: the TVAMP kids fronted by Noah Moser who sang classic "I'll fly away."

Noah said he was not nervous to play in front of so many people. "I've been doing it all my life," he pointed out.

The musical lineup continued with the Whippersnappers, Two Steps Back, Paul Gregutt, Jasper Mountain, and was headlined by Switchgrass Delta.

"They were on last night, really tight," said Lane Gwinn who sat in the front row.

Event organizer Kate Hockersmith said, "It went really, really well. We made close to $2,000, and it was a super success. I couldn't believe the community support. It was really nice. The attendance was good, and the auction went well."

The Boograss Concert's goal was fundraising to send Switchgrass Delta to Ireland. "Our goal is $5,000," said Hockersmith," so we still have about $3000 to go." The group will visit an Irish music school as well as the Westport, Ireland bluegrass festival.

TVAMP is a project of the non-profit Rural Youth Enrichment Services based in Waitsburg. TVAMP teaches local kids to play stringed instruments with an emphasis on bluegrass music. The group currently has enrolled 22 youth aged 7 to 21.

More information can be found at the TVAMP/RYES website at http://www.ruralyes.org.