October 17th Front Porch Picking

Our July , August, and September Front Porch Pickings were held at the Watkins Community Center Auditorium in Honea Path, SC. This recently rennovated venue easily holds 250 guests and offers a beautiful hardwood dance floor, nice stage setting, a snack bar, and climate controlled. . . . and has become our TCMA Upstate Front Porch Picking Home. These pickings have seen more and more upstate families attending as they learn about this monthly event where, at no charge, all come to enjoy traditional country music and learn about it's roots through the performers who share their stories.

An invitation has gone out for all traditional country musicians / singers, who would like to participate to contact us by e-mailing TCMAUpstate@aol.com or calling 864-940-6555 to get on the schedule. And many have done just that! The past few months have seen those who have their roots deep in traditional country music take the stage and share their talent and their stories about this music and those who made their mark through it. Even more exciting are the young people who have been joining us. Last month we had an amazing 5th grader from Anderson County who joined the Rowdy Friends guitarist - Jesse Brown, on stage and shared several songs he has learned to play. While his interest has been in rock . . . that afternoon he learned more about traditional country and how his gift can help tell stories that can live forever.

This coming event - October 17th, will see another day packed full of performers, including a young college student who writes and performs her own material. She will be introduced and join the other performers taking to the stage to educate and entertain. Those confirmed to date are Nashville's Ron Campbell, Mayberry, Tn Mayberry Porch Players, Greenwood's own Tina Haralson, and JD Brown and the Rowdy Friends. Several other groups are currently checking their schedules and hope to join us. The music begins at 2 p.m. and goes to 6 p.m., with the Rowdy Friends taking the stage at 6:30 p.m for a 2 hour traditional country music concert with a huge dance floor just waiting to be filled.

Please mark your calendar and plan to join us . . . and let others know about this FREE event. There will be all ages there . . . from toddlers to seniors - often spanning 4 generations, all brought together through traditional country music.

Please join us in Honea Path on the 17th to enjoy the day from 2 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There will be a snack bar open and TCMA Upstate front porch picking t-shirts available.

August Front Porch Picking Scheduled

Our July Front Porch Picking was held at the Watkins Community Center Auditorium in Honea Path, SC. This recently rennovated venue easily holds 250 guests and offers a beautiful hardwood dance floor, nice stage setting, a snack bar, and climate controlled. Although there is a fee involved, the convenience is such through the hot summer months that it has been decided that the August 22, 2009 Front Porch Picking will also be held there from 2 pm. to 6 p.m.

The picking is open, at no charge, for all to come and enjoy traditional country music. Any traditional country musicians / singers who would like to participate can do so by e-mailing TCMAUpstate@aol.com to get on the schedule.

There will be a snack bar open and TCMA Upstate front porch picking t-shirts available.

Hope to see you on August 22nd!

TCMA Upstate Front Porch Picking T-Shirts

There are still Front Porch Picking t-shirts available for a minimum $10 donation for kids and adult sizes, and $12 donation for the XXXL size. These shirts proudly display our new logo as designed and donated to TCMA Upstate by David Locke of David Locke Design of Greenville, SC / Anderson, SC / and New York, NY. Here is TCMA Upstate Board Chair, Jesse Brown, and wife Stacy, and sons Dakota and Zach in theirs! If you would like one, please e-mail TCMAUpstate@aol.com with your contact info and we will get back with you! TCMA Upstate is a 501(c)3 charity, therefore all donations can be tax deductible.

Front Porch Picking a Big Success!

Porch Picking at the Watkins Community Center was a big success yesterday, seeing lots of Upstate families in and out throughout the day to enjoy the great line up of traditional country music. The host band, JD Brown and the Rowdy Friends planned the event, led by Board Chairman, Jesse Brown (seen on drums). In the group from left to right are Roseanne Brown, David Nabors (Board Member), Jesse, JD Brown, "Friend" Keith Jones from Athens, GA and "Brother" Bob Williams.

Playing for the second time for TCMA Upstate, is pictured here - Joe Berry, Traditional Country Music Hall of Famer, and his Berry Pickers. Joe tours internationally but was sure to save the July date for this event where traditional country music is being preserved through education and introduction to the younger generaiton.

Harris Folk Heritage Award winner, Alda Smith (black hat) and Ron Smith to his left, perform as part of their Side Track band which included Norma Hughes-Smith, and joined on stage by other Traditional Country music musicians.

The goal of TCMA Upstate is to make a difference through the music. . . and to introduce it to the youngest generation while entertaining the older generations. This pictures really show the difference our organization can make. These two toddlers literally met on the dance floor and enjoyed each others company throughout the day as they learned to dance to traditional country music along side the older generation - truly representing four generations.

Please e-mail us if you have any questions about this organization, or would like to help sponsor our monthly Front Porch Pickings!

Line Up is set for our July 18th Front Porch Picking at the Historic Watkins Auditorium

Front Porch Picking
at the Historic Watkins Auditorium
204 S. Main - Honea Path, SC
864-940-6555 for more information on
Traditional Country Music Assn of the Upstate

FREE ADMISSION
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Noon - 6 p.m.

Enjoy an entertaining and educational day for the entire family. A day full of the music of traditional country music artists.

Performances by Traditional Country Music Hall of Fame member Joe Berry, Ron Campbell - host of Nashville’s Ole Time Gospel Hour, members of the Knoxville, TN Mayberry Pickin’ Porch players Wally and Minnie, Harris Folk Heritage Award Winner Alda Smith, and local favorite - JD Brown and The Rowdy Friends.

Stay for the Traditional Country Music Concert & Dancing

A free performance of classic country music
by The Rowdy Friends
JD, Roseanne, Bob, Jesse, and David
from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

SNACK BAR WILL BE OPEN ALL DAY

TCMA Upstate is a 501(c)3 Charity
www.TCMAUpstate.org

Instructors and instruments Needed

One major component of TCMA Upstate is to provide traditional country music education and enjoyment to all generations. One aspect of this is providing music lessons on traditional country music instruments to our youth.

We need musicians who can give of their time on a regular basis to pass on their talents to our youth to keep traditional country music alive, AND donations of instruments for youth to have for this process.

Please e-mail us at TCMAUpstate@aol.com if you are interested in learning more.

Thanks! RJ

Storms Predicted for Saturday

As you know, our Front Porch Pickings are done on the front porch of a 100+ year old Farm House. The weather is being predicted to include rain and thunder storms for tomorrow, our scheduled Front Porch Picking. At 1 p.m. if the weather looks threatening there will not be a Front Porch Picking.

Next scheduled Picking is for April 18th. IF you know of an indoor location in the Belton-Honea Path, SC area where we can hold these pickings indoors during bad weather, please let us know! RB