WYSO to hold Bluegrass Concerts – reviving a WYSO tradition

Public radio station WYSO 91.3 will present two bluegrass concerts on Sunday June 6, 2010 at its studios in Yellow Springs. The public is invited. Two Clarke County bluegrass groups will perform: Miami Valley’s Most Wanted and the Corndrinkers.

There will be two shows: one at two pm and one at six pm in the WYSO performance space adjacent to the studios off of E. South College St in Yellow Springs.

This is the first public bluegrass concert WYSO has presented in many years, reviving a tradition that goes back to the 1970s, when WYSO-based musicians performed weekly at a venue in east Dayton called the Living Arts Center.

Three WYSO music hosts, Steve Shaw, Tom Duffee and Doyle Wright, will take the stage on Sunday June 6, Shaw as master of ceremonies, Duffee and Wright as performers. Tom Duffee has been affiliated with WYSO since the early 1970s when he and brother, Dan, often performed together on the radio station. His band, the Corndrinkers an old-time string band, has been playing in the Miami Valley since the 1970s. Duffee is the host of The Midnight Ramble on WYSO on Saturday nights from 9 to midnight.

Doyle Wright has been at WYSO for two years as a host of Down Home Bluegrass on Saturday nights and Rise When the Rooster Crows on Sunday mornings-WYSO’s longest-running locally produced program. Wright will perform with Miami Valley’s Most Wanted, which consists of four members of the Hamilton family from Springfield.

“WYSO has always been about celebrating local music and bringing people together for that reason,” says general manager Neenah Ellis. “Our bluegrass and old-time music tradition here is as strong as it gets and we’re holding these concerts to thank our very loyal listeners and to honor our talented WYSO music hosts.”

There is seating at each concert for just over 100 people. To reserve a seat, call 937-769-1387. Donations of any amount will be accepted at the door.