The Live Acoustic Venue Association - or LAVA - will present a 10-show concert series featuring many of the most popular acts from LAVA's first seven seasons at Abounding Grace Sanctuary, 2450 S. Kolb Road.
The series opens Saturday with popular Minnesota bluegrass band Monroe Crossing.
Named in honor of Bill Monroe, "the father of bluegrass music," Monroe Crossing dazzles audiences with a blend of classic bluegrass, bluegrass gospel and heartfelt originals. The group is an audience favorite across the United States and Canada.
Week two will see the return of Arvel Bird, one of LAVA's most popular Abounding Grace acts. Bird is a fulltime touring musician who has logged more than 500,000 miles on tour. He has released 20 CDs and two DVDs. Bird is an accomplished violinist, Native American flutist and four-time Indiana State Fiddle Champion. His style blends the traditions of Indian fiddle with influences from his Celtic/bluegrass roots.
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Bird holds the record for the best-attended show in LAVA's history at Abounding Grace Sanctuary.
Other out-of-state acts that have been invited back for LAVA's all-star season are bicoastal trio Big Wide Grin and the young, energetic California trio Salty Suites, which features the mandolin playing of Scott Gates, vocals by Chelsea Williams and bass playing of Chuck Hailes.
The season will also feature local favorites Sabra Faulk and the Angel Band, The Redhouse Family Jazz Band, Dreadnutts, Stefan George, Bright and Childers and Ice-9.
Three musicians from Phoenix will be back at Abounding Grace for encore performances, including Arizona's official state balladeer, Dolan Ellis.
Here's the schedule for LAVA's Spring 2013 series at Abounding Grace Sanctuary:
• Saturday: Monroe Crossing
• Jan. 19: Arvel Bird
• Jan. 26: Big Wide Grin
• Feb. 9: Sabra Faulk and the Angel Band performing folk, rock, country, and blues
• Feb. 16: Dolan Ellis, Arizona's state balladeer
• Feb. 23: The Redhouse Family Jazz Band
• March 2: Salty Suites
• March 16: Dreadnutts, performing bluegrass, folk and rock
• April 6: Stefan George and Hans Olson: History of the Blues
• April 13: Bright & Childers and Ice-9, two local folk/rock/country/blues groups
The Live Acoustic Venue Association is a registered nonprofit organization.
If you go
• What: LAVA concert series
• When: 7 to 9 p.m. most Saturday evenings through April 13
• Where: Abounding Grace Sanctuary, 2450 S. Kolb Road
• Tickets: $15 in advance online at www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/98302 or $20 at the door. A limited number of season tickets are available for $100 per person.
• Info: Email bonnie@lavamusic.org, call 647-3234 or go to www.lavamusic.org
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