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Carroll Cummings Duo courtesy of PCAC
Appalachian Travelers courtesy of PCAC
Jack and Gin courtesy of PCAC
Vic Chestnutt courtesy of "Don't Suck, Don't Die -
Giving Up Vic Chesnutt" By Kristin Hersh
ZEBULON - Pike County is proud to celebrate its Bicentennial this year! Celebrations are ongoing all year long, all over the County, and on Saturday, August 20, 2022, Pike County will celebrate this 200th birthday with a County Fair Around the Courthouse Square in downtown Zebulon. The Pike County Arts Council, Inc. is sponsoring the music for this full day event; and a delightful array of food trucks & booths, arts and craft booths, and edutainment booths are sure to abound around the square as well.
Think Floyd Sound Production. Beginning with the stage sound management, Matthew Floyd is a native of Pike County who owns and operates Think Floyd Sound Production out of Macon, Georgia. Matt and his company will, literally and figuratively, “set the stage” for our bicentennial celebration with clear, vibrant sound.
10 a.m. Opening Ceremonies. Pike County’s Board of Commissioners, The Pike County School Band(s), and The American Legion Post 197 will unite to begin Pike County’s County Fair Around the Square Bicentennial Celebration. Bryan Richardson of the American Legion will be reading Zebulon Pike’s Biography along with the unveiling of Pike’s Shadow Box; and, along with the Sheriff’s Office Color Guard Team, will be presenting the U.S., Georgia, Armed Forces and Sheriff’s Office flags. Post 197 will also be offering additional programs throughout the day and invite all to drop by their booth as well.
10:30 a.m. Appalachian Travelers will strike up at 10:30. Their living legend and musician Bennie Rose is a double Pike County native … he started out in Pike County, Kentucky, and relocated to Pike County, Georgia, as soon as he could! Bennie enjoys a successful career in music no matter where he goes…. His name appears on The Country Music Highway sign in Kentucky, and he was inducted into the Atlanta Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame in 2014, and performs in the Netflix series Sweet Magnolias, just to name a few of his accomplishments. Bennie and his groups, Due South and/or Appalachian Travelers, have contributed to our music community in many ways over the years, and we are proud to feature them in our Bicentennial Celebration. Members of the band now are: Bennie Rose - lead vocal/ guitar; MaryAnn Moss - backup vocals/ mandolin; Nick Tolbert - banjo; and Dan Kilgore - backup vocal/ bass.
11:30 a.m. The American Legion Post 197 will present the POW/MIA Full Tribute. The setting of the POW/MIA Table and Chair and explaining the significance of every item on the table setting.
12:30 p.m. The American Legion Post 197 will present the Flag Folding & Wreath Ceremony. Flag Script: Steve Golias; reading of the poem Ragged Old Flag, written by Johnny Cash; Stefan Huckaby Flag Folding Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial: Post 197 Honor Guard Wreath Posting, and playing of Taps by Will Busby.
12:50 p.m. Pike County Arts Council Junior Players. The PCAC Junior Players, who are about to begin their 14th year of the Pike County Art Councils performing arts group as the Jr Players, are sure to dazzle with their current production. Over the years, the Jr Players has established itself as a top group that imparts skills and knowledge for beginners and seasoned performers. The excellence of the program is a direct result of the outstanding young people who audition for the group each year. Some of The Junior Players’ alumni are now employed as signed music label artists, Disney cast members, health care professionals, educators, pilots, and in business, ministry, military, and as artists attending SCAD.
Their show includes choreography and showmanship in an upbeat 30-minute performance. Jr Players perform at local festivals throughout the school year. In the past the PCAC Jr Players have auditioned and performed as part of the Disney Youth Performing Arts Program in Disney Springs. Last year they were honored to partner with the Upson Art Council Glee group and perform for the Lighting of Christmas Lane. Their goal is to encourage young performers to grow into their talent!
1:30 p.m. Elijah Paschal / Mod20. Elijah Paschal and Mod20 attended and graduated from Pike County High School in 2021 and 2022. Elijah has been playing guitar and creating music since he was in 6th grade, while Mod20 started in their junior year of their high school careers. Mod20’s members include Hayden Pugh on guitar, Will Pitts on piano, Jackson Bush on percussion, and Elijah Paschal on bass guitar. Mod20 all participated in the Pike County theater department, and they all performed in the school musicals. They have put on several concerts to raise money for the theater department. Elijah Paschal has been playing shows since freshman year of high school and is excited to announce his new single “Under the Moon” is out on all streaming platforms.
2:40 p.m. Carroll Cummings Duo. The Carroll Cummings Duo is a modern classical music duo consisting of cellist Kate Carroll and guitarist Ryan Cummings. Over the course of many years Kate and Ryan have developed a sound and presentation that has been described as both unique and beautiful. Their sound is a seamless blend of traditional classical repertoire and modern pop hits that is sure to please concertgoers of all tastes. Both Ryan and Kate are Pike County natives. Ryan is also the manager of The 1828 Coffee Company, Director of the Griffin Academy of Music, as well as The Academy’s guitar teacher. (Fun Fact: As a young adult, Ryan played in a heavy metal band that opened for Mötley Crüe!)
3:50 and 7:15 p.m. Vic Chesnutt Tribute, performed by Kirk Lancaster. History has a place for Pike County’s Vic Chesnutt, and as with all extraordinary musicians, his music has preserved his name and work well beyond his days on earth. Vic was a student at Pike County Schools, graduating in 1982. Vic moved to Athens after graduation to attend UGA and became very involved in the music industry. Vic released 17 albums during his career, including two produced by Michael Stipe (lead vocalist for R.E.M.). Vic had quite a career as a prolific singer-songwriter. Wikipedia reports on Vic: He recorded with many other groups and artists. He made two albums with fellow Athens group Widespread Panic, under the name of brute. Chesnutt wrote "Aunt Avis" and co-wrote "Blight" and "Protein-Drink/Sewing-Machine," which are often performed live by Widespread Panic.[13][14] "Aunt Avis" appeared on WSP's album Bombs & Butterflies, and Chesnutt made a guest appearance as well.[15] The 1997 video for "Aunt Avis" was directed by Billy Bob Thornton and featured Chesnutt.[15]
Vic also appeared in Sling Blade, starring Billy Bob Thornton; the National Public Radio listed Vic in the top 5 best living songwriters of 2006; The Rotary Club of Athens, Georgia, sponsors the Vic Chesnutt Singer/Songwriter Workshop and awards a Vic Chesnutt Scholarship each year in Vic’s Memory, and his name appears on the Athens Georgia Walk of Fame in front of The Georgia Theater. Bryan Carroll of allmusic.com is quoted as describing Vic’s music as “a skewed, refracted version of Americana that is haunting, funny, poignant, and occasionally mystical, usually all at once.”
The Vic Chesnutt Tribute will be presented by musician, long-time fan and admirer, Kirk Lancaster, who covers Vic’s music in Part I of the tribute on stage beginning at 3:50; and will also moderate a memorial journey of Vic’s music career, life and times, hosting an open mic to Vic’s friends, family, and many avid fans who wish to contribute in words or music in Part II of the tribute in The 1828 Coffee Company beginning at 7:15 p.m.
5:00 p.m. Eli J. Ingram / Jack and Gin. Eli J. Ingram was born in Pike County, Georgia, and graduated from Pike County High School in 2012. Eli has been writing music and performing since childhood, and his music reflects the pain and wonder of the human experience with a refreshing twist of hope and perseverance through the inevitable pain. Eli is a 2016 UGA graduate who, along with fellow UGA senior Wil Savage, worked on creating a Pike County Bicentennial Business Plan as their senior project, and thus the ideas for this Country Fair around the Courthouse Square were born. Eli moved to Panama City Beach after graduation and explored the corporate world … until COVID stood the world as we knew it on its head. Making lemonade from those and other lemons has been, and continues to be, a journey well documented in his music. After releasing his first solo album, Eli Effect 2020, Eli met musician Sandi Marlisa of Panama City, and they formed a duo, Jack and Gin. Although these two talented singer/songwriters/performers met less than a year ago, Jack and Gin have already written and released one album together, self-titled Jack and Gin, as well as several singles. Eli has since released a second album, Blackout, as well as recording and producing Sandi’s recent solo album, Haven. Eli and Sandi also continue to write, produce and perform individually, as a duo, and for full band projects. Jack and Gin have played popular locations along the Emerald Coast such as Pineapple Willies, Salty Goat, Hangar 67, Shore Dogs Grill, Oyster City, Half Shell Dockside, Scallop Republic, Krazy Fish, Cat 5 Raw Bar and many resorts around the Emerald Coast.