Po' Ramblin' Boys to Perform at KASU-FM's Bluegrass Monday April 23
JONESBORO – The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys will perform a concert of bluegrass music on Monday, April 23, at 7 p.m. at the Collins Theatre, 120 West Emerson Street, in downtown Paragould. The concert is part of the Bluegrass Monday concert series presented by KASU 91.9 FM.
The Po' Ramblin' Boys
Based in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys formed in 2014. The four members of the group share a love for “old time” bluegrass music as played by pioneers of the genre such as Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley. The band performs music that is reminiscent of the style of bluegrass that was played in the 1940s and 1950s. The group has become known for their high-energy, authentic and entertaining stage shows.
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys serve as the house band at Old Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Gatlinburg, Tenn. The group also appears each week as the hosts of the Farm and Fun Time radio show broadcast each Friday at noon on Radio Bristol, an outreach of the Birthplace of Country Music Hall of Fame in Bristol, Va.
The band tours throughout the U.S. and Europe, and the group is scheduled to perform numerous concerts in Australia in 2019. The ensemble also toured extensively with 10-time bluegrass male vocalist of the year award winner James King, serving as the backing band for that acclaimed singer.
The group released its debut CD in February 2016. A second all-gospel-music CD will be released next month. Earlier this year, the band was signed to the prestigious Rounder record label, the top purveyor of recorded bluegrass and acoustic music in the world. The group’s debut CD for Rounder Records will be released in 2019.
In 2017, the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys was one of five bands nominated for the Momentum Award given by the International Bluegrass Music Association. The Momentum Award honorees are bluegrass musicians in their 20s who are making a major impact in America’s bluegrass music industry as performers and entertainers.
Band members include Missouri native C.J. Lewandowski. He is a former member of the group The Men of the Week that previously performed at Bluegrass Monday and at numerous other venues around the region. Lewandowski plays mandolin and sings lead vocals for the group.
Josh Rinkel plays guitar and also sings with the group. Both Rinkel and Lewandowski are former members of Karl Shiflett’s band Big Country Show.
Jereme Brown plays banjo and sings for the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. He is the son of professional bluegrass banjo player Tommy Brown and performed in his father’s band, County Line Grass, a group that also appeared at a past Bluegrass Monday concert.
Jasper Lorentzen plays bass in the band. He previously played guitar and bass in his family’s string band trio, Old Hat.
All four of the founding members of the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys are still performing with the group today.
At their performance in KASU’s Bluegrass Monday concert series, the group will be accompanied by special guest Laura Orshaw. This Boston, Mass., based musician plays fiddle and sings. She has led her own band, the New Velvet, which has toured throughout New England. She has also performed with Danny Paisley and Southern Grass, the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, and Jenni Lyn. In addition, Orshaw has produced her own solo CD, titled “Going To The West.”
Seating at the concert is first-come, first-served. Doors to the theatre will open at 6 p.m. KASU will literally “pass the hat” during the concert to collect money to pay the group. The suggested donation is $5 per person.
In addition to the concert, Terry’s Café, 201 South Pruett Street in Paragould, opens on Bluegrass Mondays to welcome bluegrass music fans. The café serves a country-style buffet meal beginning at 4:30 p.m. on the evenings of Bluegrass Monday concerts. Concessions will also be available at the Collins Theatre.
Bluegrass Monday concerts are held on the fourth Monday night of each month. These concerts are presented with support from Bibb Chiropractic Center, the Posey Peddler, Holiday Inn Express and Suites of Paragould, the Northeast Arkansas Bluegrass Association and KASU.
KASU, 91.9 FM, is the 100,000-watt public broadcasting service of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. For more information, contact KASU Program Director Marty Scarbrough at mscarbro@AState.edu or 870-972-2367. Bluegrass Monday is also on Facebook (search “Bluegrass Monday”).
