The Marlborough Arts Center hosts the “Eight Mile River Band” playing Blue Grass at this month’s 4th Friday @ the Arts Cafe on Friday, July 25, 2014, from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. in the Arts Center’s beautiful Charles W. Hall Gallery at 231 North Main Street in Marlborough, CT.
The “Eight Mile River Band” has a long history and was once led by a well-known country musician by the name of Dick Lee back in the early eighties. Don Urbanik was also a founding member and Tom Vernon occasionally played with them. After Dick Lee’s death in 1995, the band was dormant for a few years. However, Tom Vernon and Don Urbanik have been playing together off and on as far back as 45 years. Bill Hawthorne began playing with them quite frequently as a bass player about ten years ago and the “Eight Mile River band” was reborn. Now leading the group is Tom Vernon from Salem on mandolin and vocals, Don Urbanik of Salem on a 5-string banjo, Bill Hawthorne of Hadlyme on the acoustic bass, Marsh Dubaldo of Manchester on guitar and vocals joined five years ago, and Rachel Crafton also of Salem on the fiddle and vocals came on board three years ago. The group is well-known throughout the area and has loyal fans who follow them to various venues to continue enjoying their very particular Blue Grass harmonies and instrumentations. They mix traditional and modern songs, some of them original to the group. They love talking about the music and audiences love hearing about the background of the songs in each concert. This promises to be a warm and interactive evening between the musicians and the music lovers in attendance.
Admission at the door is $8 per individual and $15 for two. BYOWine. Other refreshments are available. The concert begins at 7:30 but doors open at 7:00 p.m. Plan to arrive early, choose your seats, view the art works on exhibition, peruse the Gift Shop, choose refreshments, and settle in for a musical treat.
The Marlborough Arts Center is a non-profit regional center for the fine arts, performing arts, and fine crafts. Details about membership, classes, exhibitions, and various artistic activities can be viewed on their website www.marlborougharts.org or on Facebook/Marlborough Arts Center, or by telephoning (860) 295-9389.