Blue Ridge Concert Series Hosts Andy Owens The Blue Ridge Concert Series will be presented on Friday, May 13, at 8 pm on the stage of the Ashe Civic Center. Host band Alternate Roots will be welcoming Andy Owens and 1-800-Bluegrass. Kentucky native Andy Owens brings Bluegrass music alive on about every stringed instrument known, whether it be a guitar, mandolin, fiddle, dobro or banjo. His favorite tools of the trade, though, are his mandolin, his voice, and his original songs. Owens’ musical career has included everything from Blues to New Wave but always seems to return to his roots, a good, entertaining mix of original and traditional bluegrass. Andy’s first three albums, Kerosene Circuit (1992), Real Music (1994), and One Eye Open (1997) have earned considerable recognition worldwide, with the title track of “Kerosene Circuit” holding its place in the Bluegrass Top Ten for nine months. Andy’s approach to music is based on the understanding that the true and real purpose of music is to provide a vehicle for the communication of human perceptions and emotions. “Our aim is to create REAL music,” Owens says. “REAL music is not new or old. It is not a style of music. It is simply the very best of all styles and portrays the part of us which is REAL, our innermost thoughts and feelings.” Born in Kentucky, Owens lived most of his adult life in Texas. He now resides in the mountains of Deep Gap, North Carolina where he owns and operates his own retreat style recording studio and produces records under his own label, 1-800-Bluegrass (www.1800bluegrass.com). Admission for the show is $8 for adults and $5 for ages 12 and under. Concessions are available by “We Care”. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance by calling the Ashe County Arts Center at (336) 846-ARTS or Blue Moon Guitars at 336-246-3275. The Blue Ridge Concert Series is sponsored by Mount Jefferson Mortgage Company, Parker Tie Company, Inc., Roten Insurance Agency, Magic Video Music & More, Winner’s Circle Restaurant & Steakhouse and Lonesome Pine @ 1-800-BLUEGRASS.