Consider yourself warned: there are only two Bluemont concerts left this summer! This past Sunday was another beautiful night, almost cold, and we listened to John McCutcheon wearing jeans and long-sleeves. The stage looked as though it was set up for a dozen musicians, but it was just him and he moved from instrument to instrument as the night went on. The best part was at the very end when he pulled out a fiddle to play a medley of Virginia bluegrass, and a long freight train came into town. Did he stop? No, he actually turned towards the rumbling hunk of steel and began to play with it! His bow kept time with the wheels and the train seemed to be singing back to him. The shadows from the bright stage lights danced across the box cars and McCutcheon looked like some kind of wizard, a “Lord of the Trains.” Very cool.
This Sunday is Dawn Drake and ZapOte, who will bring some dancing music to the lawn of the Arts and Activities Center. Playing samba, jazz, salsa, and funk, this promises to be a fun evening. The show begins at 7pm, so get there at 6:30 to find a good spot to put your chair or blanket. Tickets are available at the door and are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and Bluemont members, and $2 for kids under 12. Refreshments will be provided by the Ashland Community Theater Group (thank God someone is still trying to open that theater) so come out and buy lots of cookies! No alcohol, smoking, or pets, please. See you there! 
As soon as you read this, run, don't walk, to the Hanover Arts and Activities Center to buy your ticket to this weekend's performance of The Wizard of Oz, staged by the kids from Lorie Foley's Theater Camp. Do you remember how wonderful last year's Pale Pink Dragon was? It's only bigger and better this year. You could be watching future Hollywood or Broadway stars! Shows are August 15th at 6:30 pm, August 16th at 1:00 and 6:30 pm, and Sunday, August 17th at 1:00 pm. Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door. Seating is limited- hurry.
Next Friday, August 22nd, come to a free concert at the Ashland Library at 7:00 pm for their Summer Reading Celebration, featuring my favorite band, The Godfearin' Snake Handlers! Not only is the music free, but there will be free ice cream as well. Aren't those librarians swell? Sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Library, who are swell as well. (Couldn't resist.) We have been really lucky the past few weeks- I can’t remember a nicer August around here. Blue skies, free from the haze and cool evenings make everyone want to stay outside all day long. Take advantage of it; you never know when the heat will return or a hurricane decide to visit. Call or email me with your Ashland news: 804-310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. You can find a record of these columns at http://www.ashlandnews.blogspot.com/. Cheers!
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