Friday, December 4, 2009

Concert is Doyle Lawson’s neighborly nod to hometown


TOM NETHERLAND SPECIAL TO THE HERALD COURIER
Published: December 3, 2009

BRISTOL, Va. – Welcome home, neighbor.
When bluegrass legend Doyle Lawson stepped inside Java J’s downtown Bristol location Monday afternoon, he smiled and waved and shook hands like a neighbor would.
But the welcome home also applies to Lawson’s annual show at the Paramount Center for the Arts. Scheduled for Dec. 5 and featuring Lawson and his always-superb band Quicksilver, the show serves as a neighborly nod to his beloved hometown.
“My wife Suzanne and I have lived here since 1984,” Lawson said over coffee and conversation. “The slogan it’s a good place to live is true. Bristol is a good place to live.”
And for the leader of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Vocal Group of the Year from 2001 through 2007, Bristol has also proven a good place to stage a sell-out show. Per tradition for about two decades now, Lawson caps his year of widespread touring with a show at the Paramount.
“Last year was the 15th straight year we sold it out,” he said. “This year, I’ll have about an hour and a half planned.”
Now listen up Lawson fans. Come ready to hoot, holler, and hallelujah as loud as you can and maybe, just maybe Lawson will stretch the show beyond its planned point.

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