Grammy-nominated bluegrass sensation Cherryholmes plays with the Spokane Symphony

Nov 4, 2009

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow - 464-7071

SPOKANE—The Spokane Symphony to perform with phenomenal bluegrass family Cherryholmes under the direction of Resident Conductor Morihiko Nakahara at Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, at 8 p.m.

The program will consist of a wide variety of Cherryholmes hits from their six albums, including their latest “Don’t Believe,” which garnered the group its third and fourth Grammy nominations, including Bluegrass Album of the Year, and Country Instrumental of the Year for the tune “Sumatra.” The Spokane Symphony will perform along with Cherryholmes throughout most of the program.

Cherryholmes – the name of the band is the family’s sir-name – has been performing since 1999, after the family spent the day at a bluegrass festival near their home in southern California. Father Jere Cherryholmes assigned instruments and the family band was formed. Soon they were performing at gigs all over the country, and in 2005, they won the International Bluegrass Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year. Since then, they have stormed to the top of the music world, and are known for its hard-driving instrumental virtuosity and explosive vocal harmonies, featuring various styles of original songs written by members of the band. Add their fluidity of instrumental movement and dance, and it's a look and sound that can only be described as "Cherryholmes."

Cherryholmes consists of Jere, family patriarch who keeps their sound moving with the upright bass, hard and fast, sensitive and smooth, while singing lead with a "rough around the edges" old country style. His wife, Sandy, adds a hard-hitting mandolin style and driving rhythm that keep the band's momentum going, occasionally switching to the clawhammer banjo. She also provides vocals, harmonies, yodeling and step-dancing. Their daughters are Cia Liegh (age 25), a masterful banjo player, songwriter and vocalist, and Molly (16), who as amazed the all who see her with her aggressive fiddling style and amazing song-writing abilities since she made her Grand Ole Opry debut at age 7. Son Skip (aged 19) wows audiences with his guitar picking, singing, and aggressive rhythm style while his brother, B.J. (aged 21), fills in with fiddle, mandolin, and vocals.

Tickets range from $27 to $54 and are available in advance at the Spokane Symphony Ticket Office, 1001 W. Sprague, or by calling 509-624-1200. Tickets are also available at all TicketsWest outlets or by calling 1-800-325-SEAT and at spokanesymphony.org.

CALENDAR LISTING:

Cherryholmes: Award-Winning Bluegrass Pops Concert; Morihiko Nakahara conducts the Spokane Symphony; Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 at 8 p.m. in the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. Tickets are $27 to $54; Call the Spokane Symphony Ticket Office at (509) 624-1200 or purchase in person at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox Box Office, 1001 W. Sprague; tickets are also available through TicketsWest outlets or online at www.spokanesymphony.org