Band News Archive
Here's what's been happening to Loose Gravel!
6/28/08 - Celebrating the Wedding Singer
The historic Wayside
Inn in Middletown, VA was the setting for a "rockin' reception" on Saturday, June 28, 2008 for newlyweds
Sarah and Steve Singer of Front Royal. Loose Gravel provided a bluegrass sound track for the occasion and
presented the smiling couple with autographed Loose Gravel logo baseball caps. (lookin' good there, Steve!)
"You guys didn't just play wedding music," said the elegantly-attired groom. "You played a whole concert!"
Kudo's to the those in attendance for making this one of the most enjoyable experiences we've ever had and a big "Shenandoah Valley Shout-Out" to the folks from New York and Staten Island -- "You Rock, Dudes!"
This was our first trip to the Wayside Inn and it certainly lived up to its reputation as one of Virginia's finest destinations.
6/4/08 - Loose Gravel Guest of Virginia Farming TV Show
Loose Gravel was excited to "return to the airwaves" as musical guest on
Virginia Farming with
host Jeff Ishee on Wednesday, June 4 at the studios of WVPT-TV in Harrisonburg, VA.
Jeff very generously featured six Loose Gravel songs, five of which were original band compositions.
The program is scheduled to air on WVPT-TV on Friday, July 4th at 7:30 pm and will be repeated
at noon on the following Saturday and Sunday.
"Virginia Farming" is re-broadcast over many
other stations throughout the Commonwealth and nationally on RFD-TV.
Check your local listings!
"It's amazing how quickly the 22 minutes went by," said mandolinist Jim Gallaher. "It's very unlike a public appearance, where we all have a much greater sense of time. Even more amazing was [banjo player] Dale's ability to change his capo so quickly! I told him just before the taping that he would have to change keys for every song -- all of the instrumentals were in one key and the songs other keys -- but he managed to stay ahead of me throughout."
5/16/08 - Gravel Guys Entertain Antique Car Enthusiasts
Loose Gravel was proud to provide the musical entertainment for the May 18 Friday Night Social of the Antique Automobile Club of America's 2008 Eastern Division National Spring Meet near Cumberland, MD at the beautiful McCagh Farm.
The event was hosted by the Queen City Region of AACA with meet headquarters at Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort in nearby Flintstone, MD. Shuttle buses and trolleys were provided for 600 club members and their guests.
The AACA is an international organization with members in all 50 states and in more than 50 countries of the world. Loose Gravel extends its warmest thanks to AACA Spring Meet Director Don Reid for his gracious hospitality and congratulates the Queen City chapter on a successful event.
4/16/08 - Brain Freeze Tour 2008 Gets Cranked!
Loose Gravel has completed the schedule for the 2008 version of the Brain Freeze Tour! Stops this year include What's The Scoop in Grottoes, Sarah's Ice Cream and Coffee Shoppe in Penn Laird and all three Klines Dairy Bar locations in Harrisonburg and Staunton. Each 6:30 pm stop features a 2-hour concert with the lactose-tolerant bluegrassers and assorted cone-heads.
"Last year's Tour was a blast!" said mandolin picker Jim Gallaher. "I've been waiting all Winter to shake off the cold and do some more taste-testing. The search for the ultimate Chocolate Chip continues!"
Check the Schedule page for dates and details.
2/12/08 - Loose Gravel Fiddler Featured in Magazine
Loose Gravel fiddler Anthony VanPelt graces the cover of the Spring 2008 issue of Shenandoah Living, a quarterly magazine available at many Valley locations from Winchester to Lexington. The article "Classically Bluegrass" focuses on Anthony's considerable success at mixing classical and bluegrass music. The feature was written by Kathryn Parker and includes photographs by Holly Marcus.
(See a closeup of the tattoo mentioned in the article by visiting our Pix page and selecting "Photo Shoot - Humpback Rocks - 4.1.07" from the drop-down menu!)
2/2/08 - Loose Gravel On the Road in Franklin, WV
Loose Gravel was the guest of the Pendleton County Chamber of Commerce (www.visitpendleton.com) for their First Annual Whistle Pig Jamboree at the Pendleton County High School auditorium in Franklin on February 2. We were honored to share the stage with the Rough But Natural Old Tyme String Band, the Moats Town Choir and The Country Store Opry. Thanks to all the folks who made the evening such a rousing success!
12/10/07 - Loose Gravel Bassist Recovering From Recent Surgery
Loose Gravel bass player Pat Velanzon is recovering at home from his recent hip replacement surgery and thanks everyone for their kind wishes. The operation went well and Pat expects a complete recovery. He's already been relieved of the pain symptoms that had persisted for many months.
11/29/07 - Loose Gravel Bassist Under the Knife December 7th
Loose Gravel bass player Pat Velanzon and reigning IBMA Bass Player of the Year Missy Raines have something else in common -- a hip replacement! Missy had hers done in early 2005 and Pat will undergo a right hip replacement on Dec. 7, 2007 courtesy of Dr. Thomas E. Brown at the University of Virginia Health System. Pat is still ahead of Missy, though -- he had his other hip replaced 18 years ago! If you'd like to send Pat a card, use the mailing address on our Contact page.
10/11/07 - Loose Gravel Opens for Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain
Loose Gravel took the stage at Harrisonburg's Court Square Theater on Thursday, October 11 as the opening act for Rural Rhythm recording artist Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain, whose self-titled CD has been climbing the Bluegrass charts since its 2006 release.
Okay, most of our band members have t-shirts older than these guys, but it's worth noting that Carrie, her band and her family are genuinely warm and friendly people -- in addition to being flat-out hard-drivin' bluegrassers! They rocked the house! Be sure to catch them if you have the chance.
We'd like to publicly thank sound man Jason Misterka for his efforts at making us sound as good as possible and making the evening low-stress and smooth-running. Anyone who's ever attending a show at Court Square knows that the sound is always top-notch!
10/7/07 - Loose Gravel Subs For Rough & Natural
Loose Gravel was pleased to be able to help out on Sunday, October 7 at Humpback Rocks when the Rough and Natural
String Band was forced to cancel their appearance due to the passing of a family member.
We feel a strong bond with the other members of the musical family who
perform "under the walnut tree" at Humpback and express our thanks to volunteer Ted Hughes, Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the representatives
of the National Park Service for their continued hospitality and support.
9/26/07 - Loose Gravel On Television!
Loose Gravel was excited to be the guest of "Virginia Farming" host Jeff Ishee on Wednesday,
September 26 at the studios of WVPT-TV in Harrisonburg, VA. Jeff did us the great honor of featuring Loose Gravel for
the entire show!
Additional thanks are due the very gracious and professional staff at WVPT, who made the
event a memorable experience for all of us. The show will air locally on WVPT-TV on Friday, September 28 at 7:30 pm,
and will be repeated at noon on the following Saturday and Sunday.
"Virginia Farming" is re-broadcast over many
other stations throughout the Commonwealth and nationally on RFD-TV. Check your local listings!
9/13/07 - Brain Freeze Tour 2007 Concludes
Loose Gravel concluded its successful "Brain Freeze Tour 2007" on Sunday afternoon,
September 23 at the Kline's Dairy Bar Wolfe Street location in downtown Harrisonburg, VA with a 2-hour concert
that featured spirited versions of traditional and contemporary bluegrass covers, original tunes and waffle cones
featuring the flavor of the week -- "Cherry and Chocolate Chip".
"Man, that's tasty!" remarked mandolin player Jim Gallaher after consuming mass quantities of the local favorite. "I think this flavor compares to the best that Kline's has to offer, and that's saying a lot!"
The Tour featured a series of concerts at the Kline's locations in Staunton and Harrisonburg during the month of September.