PERFORMANCES SCHEDULE
SECOND STAGE SERIES
Thursday, September 12, 2024
LONG POINT STRING BAND
This engagement of Long Point String Band is made possible in part through the Mid Atlantic Tours program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Long Point String Band is an Old-Time Acoustic “Neo-Traditional” outfit from southern W.V. We blend the authenticity of Old-Time Mountain Music, with the flare of bluegrass, regularly playing musical selections from West Virginia old-time and bluegrass pioneers. The group consists of the virtuosic stylings of Hunter Walker, Brian C. Bell, Lewis Prichard and Lars Swanson. We occasionally welcome the guest support of Phillip Perry, Barbara Rosner and Robert “Doc” Davis. Most recently, the LPSB was honored to take home the 1st place blue ribbon in the Old-Time Band category, at the 2017 Tazewell Old-Time and Bluegrass Fiddler’s Convention.
Hunter Walker is a multi-instrumentalist, champion mountain dulcimer & clawhammer banjo player. Hunter is a native Appalachian who became enamored with old-time music at an early age. His love and perseverance of the music has garnered him some prestigious awards, including: 4-time WV state mountain dulcimer champion, 3-time Galax Old-Fiddlers Convention mountain dulcimer champion, Mid-Eastern regional mountain dulcimer champion, and numerous others. He is also a decorated clawhammer banjo player having won numerous awards and recently taking the 1st place blue ribbon in the old-time banjo category at the 2017 Tazewell Old-Time and Bluegrass Fiddlers’ Convention.
Brian Bell is also a native Appalachian, who has cut his teeth on the bluegrass circuits over the last several years. He performed as a cornerstone member of prominent regional bluegrass bands for over 10 years, having played well over a thousand shows and produced and played on numerous recordings. Brian is a first-call veteran guitar player whose rhythmic capabilities are sought after by respected figures in the Bluegrass, and now, Old-Time music genres.
Lewis Prichard started playing guitar at age 8, and mandolin at 15. He grew up in a musical family, and is originally from Charleston, West Virginia. Lewis played in Old-Time and Bluegrass bands while in college, and later played in the Virginia bands Mando Mafia and Wildgrass. Lewis learned to play the fiddle when he was in his twenties, a time when he also traveled extensively in Colorado and Norway playing acoustic music. Today Lewis lives in Beckley, W.V. and offers his virtuosity on fiddle and mandolin in the bands Planetary Boardwalk, Greenhouse, and now, Long Point String Band.
Lars Swanson is an upright bassist from Beckley, WV. He is a favored session and performing musician in various bands in southern West Virginia and the tri-state area. He currently studies Jazz Double Bass at Marshall University. Lars has played recitals with many prevalent Jazz pedagogues, and frequently performs with the Marshall University Jazz faculty group, as well as the Huntington Symphony.
Barbara Rosner arrived in Appalachia in the winter of 2016, from California, where she played with several Bay Area Old-Time string bands. She is pursuing her love of Appalachian regional music with several bands in KY, WV and VA.
Long Point String Band has enjoyed her virtuosity, taste, and smile on our first recording and at several venues, which we are fortunate enough to make music with her. The Long Point String Band released their debut, self-titled album in July, 2016. A collection of old-time, Appalachian tunes and band / festival favorites. Guests musicians that appeared on their debut album include Barbara Rosner (upright bass), Cat Deck (bass guitar) and Jason Lockart (percussion). Their album release has been met with success and positive feedback from top musicians of the genre. Get your copy today on CDBaby, or by contacting the band directly.