LEWISBURG (WVDN) – Carnegie Hall’s Ivy Terrace Concert Series presents Long Point String Band Thursday, July 28, at 6:30 p.m. Sponsored by City National Bank, the concerts take place outside on Carnegie Hall’s Ivy Terrace as attendees watch from the expansive lawn in front of New River Community and Technical College. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket and pack a picnic to enjoy live music. All Ivy Terrace concerts are free, open to the public, and alcohol free.
Long Point String Band is an old-time Acoustic “Neo-Traditional” outfit from southern West Virginia who blend the authenticity of old-time mountain music with the flare of bluegrass, regularly playing musical selections from West Virginia old-time and bluegrass pioneers.
The group consists of the virtuosic stylings of Hunter Walker, Brian C. Bell, Lewis Prichard and Lars Swanson with the occasional guest support of Phillip Perry, Barbara Rosner and Robert “Doc” Davis. Most recently, the LPSB was honored to take home the first-place blue ribbon in the old-time Band category, at the 2017 Tazewell old-time and Bluegrass Fiddler’s Convention.
Walker is a multi-instrumentalist, champion mountain dulcimer and clawhammer banjo player. Hi is a native Appalachian who became enamored with old-time music at an early age. His love and perseverance of the music has garnered him some prestigious awards, including: four-time West Virginia state mountain dulcimer champion, three-time Galax Old-Fiddlers Convention mountain-dulcimer champion, Mid-Eastern regional mountain dulcimer champion, and numerous others. He is also a decorated clawhammer banjo player having won numerous awards and recently taking the first-place blue ribbon in the old-time banjo category at the 2017 Tazewell old-time and Bluegrass Fiddlers’ Convention.
Bell is also a native Appalachian, who has cut his teeth on the bluegrass circuits over the last several years. He performed as a cornerstone member of prominent regional bluegrass bands for over 10 years, having played well over a thousand shows and produced and played on numerous recordings. Brian is a first-call veteran guitar player whose rhythmic capabilities are sought after by respected figures in the Bluegrass, and now, old-time music genres.
Prichard started playing guitar at age 8, and mandolin at 15. He grew up in a musical family, and is originally from Charleston, W.Va. Lewis played in old-time and bluegrass bands while in college, and later played in the Virginia bands Mando Mafia and Wildgrass. Lewis learned to play the fiddle when he was in his twenties, a time when he also traveled extensively in Colorado and Norway playing acoustic music. Today Lewis lives in Beckley and offers his virtuosity on fiddle and mandolin in the bands Planetary Boardwalk, Greenhouse, and now, Long Point String Band.
Swanson is an upright bassist from Beckley. He is a favored session and performing musician in various bands in southern West Virginia and the tri-state area. He currently studies jazz double bass at Marshall University. Swanson has played recitals with many prevalent jazz teachers, and frequently performs with the Marshall University Jazz faculty group, as well as the Huntington Symphony.
The Long Point String Band released their debut, self-titled album in 2016, a collection of old-time, Appalachian tunes and band/festival favorites. Guest musicians that appeared on their debut album include Barbara Rosner (upright bass), Cat Deck (bass guitar) and Jason Lockart (percussion). Their album release has been met with success and positive feedback from top musicians of the genre.
The 2022 Carnegie Hall Ivy Terrace Concert Series is a “must do” for visitors and locals alike. Concerts may be canceled due to inclement weather.
