PRESS RELEASE
22 September 2005

The Lincoln Theatre and Blue Ridge PBS
Team to Produce "Song of the Mountains"

A unique concert series showcasing the best talents in old-time and bluegrass music from the heart of the region where it all began.

This summer marked the beginning of a unique partnership between the Lincoln Theatre in Marion , Va. , and Blue Ridge PBS. "Song of the Mountains," a concert series with old-time and bluegrass music performers, features live concerts at The Lincoln Theatre, many filmed for later broadcast on Blue Ridge PBS and for distribution to PBS stations nationwide.

"Song of the Mountains" captures the essence of the region's musical heritage in a live concert setting - similar to the enormously popular Austin City Limits and Soundstage concert series on PBS. Audience members and their enthusiasm for the region's music are integral to the success of the broadcasts. Behind-the-scenes film of the performers and producers will also be included in the DVDs and CDs of each program.

The series began in May, with back-to-back blockbuster shows July 22 and 23 videotaped for the initial broadcasts. The broadcast premiere of performances captured in July is set for Thursday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. on Blue Ridge PBS. It will feature two episodes, "Young Guns of Bluegrass " with ETSU Bluegrass Band and No Speed Limit, and "In Harmony with the Hills " with Fescue and The McPeak Brothers.

Thereafter, "Song of the Mountains" will air on Blue Ridge PBS Thursdays, Oct. 27 at 10 p.m. , Nov.10 at 10 p.m. , Nov. 17 at 10 p.m. , and Nov. 24 at 10 p.m. Those episodes will include:

• "The Tradition Moves Forward" with Lonesome River Band, Trey Hensley & Drivin ' Force and the VW Boys
• "Celtic Connections" with Celtic Air and Fire in the Kitchen
• "Old School Spirit" with Mac Puckett & the Good Company Band and Appalachian Trail
• "Family and Friends" with the Booher Family and Twin Springs

In addition to regional broadcasts on Blue Ridge PBS, the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) will distribute "Song of the Mountains" to more than 90 PBS member stations nationwide.

"Song of the Mountains" showcases the region's best musical talents, incorporating both traditional and contemporary performance styles. Daveena Sexton, executive director at The Lincoln Theatre, heads the live concert series. The concerts are produced for broadcast by Jack K. Neal , president and general manager of Blue Ridge PBS. Tim White , a Bristol-based performer, radio personality, artist, and co-founder of the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance in Bristol , Va. , hosts the shows. The series pilot has been funded by The Ellis Foundation , The Bank of Marion, and BurWil Construction , with additional support provided by WMEV-FM94! and WGOC AM 640.

The Lincoln Theatre was selected one of eight winners this year in The Appalachian Regional Commission grant competition for asset-based economic development. The grant competition is part of ARC ' s regional initiative to build on existing resources - natural, cultural, structural, and leadership - to create valued products and services for sustainable economic growth. Support for "Song of the Mountains" is incorporated within this grant award.

The Lincoln Theatre recently has also received an economic development grant from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. The purpose of this grant is to continue production in the "Song of the Mountains" series, and the partners have announced live concert dates through January.

Upcoming live concert dates at The Lincoln Theatre in the "Song of the Mountains" series include Oct. 8 and Nov. 12. Additional concert dates are planned for 2006.

Shows begin at 7 p.m. each night. Tickets are $15, general admission seating, for each show. Seating begins 45 minutes prior to showtime. For more information, to request a program calendar of events, or to purchase Song of the Mountains tickets by VISA or MasterCard, call The Lincoln Theatre Box Office at (276) 783-6093. Pending availability, tickets may also be purchased at the door.

The Lincoln Theatre , a 500-seat theatre in Marion , Va. , re-opened in May 2004 following a $1.8 million renovation. Originally built in 1929, the theatre is on the National Register of Historic Places, has been designated a Virginia Historic Landmark, and is one of only three existing Mayan Revival-style theatres in America . Once known as the "finest showplace in Southwest Virginia ," The Lincoln has been restored to its former grandeur, now fully accentuated by state-of-the-art computerized sound and lighting systems. Murals depicting American and local history line the concert hall. Both a presenting organization and a programming facility, The Lincoln Theatre is dedicated to providing quality educational and entertainment offerings for Smyth County and Southwest Virginia .

Blue Ridge PBS is comprised of WBRA-TV in Roanoke , WSBN-TV in Norton, and WMSY-TV in Marion . Blue Ridge PBS provides the only Public Television signal for the 14,000 square-miles that it serves. Its coverage area includes the 68 th and 89 th largest media markets in the nation. Total population for Blue Ridge PBS's coverage area is 2,032,215. Blue Ridge PBS serves 29 counties in Virginia as well as six in Kentucky , four in Tennessee , four in West Virginia , and two in North Carolina .

Blue Ridge PBS is known for its award-winning local programs specifically designed to address the needs, issues, and interests of the people of Central, Southside, and Southwest Virginia , and Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee . Many of these local productions, like "Song of the Mountains," preserve the culture and heritage of the Blue Ridge region and make it available to PBS stations nationwide. Open Mic' , which showcases local musicians, and the Telly Award-winning Blue Ridge Excursions , a weekly trip featuring people and points of interest in Southwest, Southside, and Central Virginia and surrounding states, are Blue Ridge PBS's highest rated local productions.

Visit the "Song of the Mountains" website at http://www.songofthemountains.org/ for

• Concert dates and ticket information
• Television broadcast dates
• Broadcast preview party plans
• A behind-the-scenes blog on the production
• Show photos
• DVD and CD availability
• Links to regional musical attractions
• and information on unique tourist destinations in Southwest Virginia .

Videotaping at a July Song of the Mountains concert

CONTACTS:
The Lincoln Theatre
(276) 783-6092 office; (276) 608-3241 cell

Sandy Siemens Broughton
Blue Ridge PBS
(1 888) 332-7788
sbroughton@wbra.org