After the Christmas parade Saturday night, community members are invited to warm up and boogie down with some fiddlin’ good tunes at the Betsy Bluegrass Bash, a benefit concert for the Elizabethton High School baseball and softball teams.
The concert will take place at the EHS gymnasium at 7 p.m., and concessions will be available from J’s Corner.
“This will greatly help our athletic programs and it’s something fun where the community can get together and enjoy some good music for a great price,” said Softball Coach Kenneth Hardin.
The lineup includes Fiddlin’ Carson Peters, Jamie and Joe Booher and Josh Miller from NewFound Road, Boots on the Ground, and Siam Symphony.
Hardin is excited to have bands with local roots performing at an event for a community cause.
Two members of Siam Symphony have played important roles in local athletics and education: Jerry White is a former Hampton High School basketball coach, as well as being in the TSSAA Hall of Fame, and Grady Johnson of is a former EHS auto instructor.
The members of Boots on the Ground are former members of the famed ETSU Bluegrass Band.
Only three members of NewFound Road will be present, but Hardin said they are very talented and their upbeat musical style will really appeal to young people.
Eleven-year-old Carson Peters is well-known not only regionally but on the national level as well as a bluegrass prodigy that began picking at the ripe age of 2. Peters has performed in such renowned venues as the Grand Ole Opry and has garnered numerous awards at his young age.
Business sponsors for the event include Horace Mann, Beef ‘O’Brady’s and others.
The fundraiser will help purchase equipment and cover travel expenses for athletes, as well as helping to fund the indoor hitting facility. Hardin said if the event is a success, they hope to make it even bigger next year and to hopefully have an outdoor concert earlier in the year.
Tickets are $10 and may be purchased from baseball and softball players, at the door, or online at betsybash.brownpapertickets.com.
“I hope everyone will come out after the parade to enjoy the evening together with good food, friends and music,” said Hardin.