Wheeling Jamboree Signs Acts for Upcoming Shows

The Wheeling Jamboree announced two upcoming shows to kick off the 2008 season. On April 19th The Wheeling Jamboree will originate from John Marshall Center for the Performing Arts in Glen Dale, WV. The April 19th show will feature Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top X-Press and our headliner, Earl Thomas Conley. Conley was a major force in contemporary country music in the 80s and has resumed touring after an extended break. He has a long list of hit records many of which were number one on the charts. "Fire and Smoke," "Holding Her and Loving You," "Love Out Loud," and "Right from the Start" are just a few of his most popular hit recordings. Tickets for this show are at www.wheelingjamboree.org or 1-800-875-8702. This event will be a fund-raising event to kick-start the Wheeling Jamboree to host future shows.

In addition, Wheeling Jamboree, Inc. president Jeff McCamic announced that the Wheeling Jamboree has signed the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for their first Wesbanco Arena show scheduled for Saturday night, May 24, 2008. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was selected to open the large venue show for the newly formed Wheeling Jamboree "because of their long standing prominence in the music industry" said Bud Forte, Wheeling Jamboree's Operations Director. The shows will air live on WWVA-1170 AM beginning at 7:00 P.M. "Cherryholmes, the International Bluegrass Associations Entertainers of the Year for 2005 will also wow the crowd on Memorial Day weekend in Wheeling," said Forte.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is best known for their hit songs: "Mr. Bojangles," "Dance Little Jean," "Fishin' in the Dark," "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," and others. They have released over thirty albums in their 40 years together. The faces and names of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band may not always be immediately recognizable to the general public – vocalist/guitarist Jeff Hanna, drummer/harmonica player Jimmie Fadden, banjo/fiddle/mandolin/guitar player John McEuen, vocalist/keyboardist Bob Carpenter – but fellow musicians young and old know exactly who they are. It would be no exaggeration to say that much of what falls under the umbrella term of roots music these days bears the mark in some way of NGDB's influence, from folk-rock to alternative country, contemporary bluegrass to neo-hippie jam bands. "We've been fortunate that no matter what happened with our recordings, we always had people who wanted to come and see us play," says Carpenter. "And that's the thing that really kept us together. I know it may sound trite, but we really have our fans to thank for that. We've got a loyal fan base that comes out to see us make music."

"We've kept it alive, kept it a growing thing," McEuen explains. "With the Dirt Band, you think of certain integrity in the songs, not a single focus. What has connected our various work is the 'Americana' instrumentation and playing songs that are accessible to people. Our songs aren't just about one thing and neither are people's lives."

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's pioneering spirit, its eagerness to experiment and desire to explore the by-ways and gravel roads of America's musical past, has exerted a profound effect on our present-day pop culture. They defied the conventional hit-driven approach to record-making by undertaking the ambitious three-LP set Will The Circle Be Unbroken, cut live to two-track in Nashville over six days, for the sum of just $22,000. Thanks to the band's unfettered creative energy and the palpable excitement of playing with their country and bluegrass music idols, the 1972 album became a landmark, genre smashing hit. Circle remains such a significant effort that it was one of 50 recordings honored this year – and to be preserved -- by the Library of Congress.

"The May 24th show is shaping up to be a very dynamic stage presentation with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and with the addition of Cherryholmes," added Forte. Until 1999 the dynamic family band known as Cherryholmes did not exist, and half of its youthful members had not even picked up an instrument. With-in five years they were named IBMA's Entertainer's of the Year and nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006.

Father, Jere (pronounced Jerry) Cherryholmes, and his mandolin-playing wife Sandy Lee have been able to mold themselves and their four children -- sons Smash and B.J. and daughters Cia Leigh and Molly Kate -- into one of the most cohesive, creative and soulful acoustic bands on the continent in the span of just eight years. "Rounding out the show will be additional great acts and possibly a few surprises," continued Forte.

Jeff McCamic said that tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster at 304-233-3535, on line at www.ticketmaster.com or in person at the WesBanco Arena Box office. There is also a link to Ticketmaster on the Jamboree web site at www.wheelingjamboree.org.Reserved floor seats are $35.00 and all other seating is only $25.00.

"Even though the May 24th show is the first of our large arena presentations at Wesbanco, Wheeling Jamboree is set for a great season of performances at some other great venues in the area. We will premier April 19th show at John Marshall Center for the Performing Arts in Glen Dale also live on WWVA," McCamic continued. "This is an historic event because, to our knowledge, there has never been a Jamboree show that originated in Marshall County and we are very much looking forward to this event.

"We are absolutely thrilled with the support of a few of our more progressive community and business leaders who have contributed to Wheeling Jamboree, Inc. and who understand how important this is to our community. Their contributions have permitted us to achieve this great milestone in the restoration of the show. However, we need the financial support of others now. Wheeling Jamboree is a non-profit corporation and our primary purpose is to promote music education, performing arts, and tourism through the operation of shows and by support from the public," said McCamic. "We need others to step up to the plate and support this, including other community leaders who will help us and follow suit with those who have."

In addition to financial support, Wheeling Jamboree is seeking volunteers who want to be involved. "We are forming the Wheeling Jamboree "Mountaineers" Committee and anyone who can help is asked to call Cindy Hall, a local volunteer, at 304-336-3005 as soon as possible," said Forte. More information is available with show schedules and ticket information at www.wheelingjamboree.org.