Kenny and Amanda Smith To Perform at Bluegrass Monday
JONESBORO – Kenny and Amanda Smith will perform a concert of bluegrass and acoustic music on Monday, July 24, at 7 p.m. at the Collins Theatre, 120 West Emerson St., in downtown Paragould. The show is part of the Bluegrass Monday concert series presented by KASU 91.9 FM.
Husband and wife Kenny and Amanda Smith are one of bluegrass music’s most acclaimed acts. They have had numerous number-one bluegrass music hits, and for over 15 years have recorded and toured together.
Kenny is considered one of the greatest bluegrass guitarists of his generation. Originally from Nine Mile, Ind., he spent six years as part of the popular group Lonesome River Band. While a part of that group, he won the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) Guitarist of the Year award twice.
Kenny and Amanda met at a Lonesome River Band concert. Amanda is from Davisville, W. Va., and grew up singing in talent shows and church choirs.
In 2001, after his stint in the Lonesome River Band, Kenny began recording and performing with Amanda. In 2003, they won the IBMA’s Emerging Artist of the Year award, given annually to a bluegrass act showing the most potential for future success.
Amanda won the IBMA’s Female Vocalist of the Year award in 2014. The Smiths have also been nominated for Grammy and Dove awards as well as Song of the Year honors from Singing News Magazine.
Kenny and Amanda have appeared on the public radio program “A Prairie Home Companion.” They have also performed at the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium, Dollywood and Silver Dollar City in addition to numerous bluegrass festivals in the United States and around the world.
More information about these musicians is at www.kenny-amandasmith.com.
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 musicians. The suggested donation is $5 per person.
In addition to the concert, Terry’s Café, 201 South Pruett Street in Paragould, opens on Bluegrass Monday nights to welcome bluegrass music fans. The café serves a buffet meal beginning at 4:30 p.m. on the evenings of Bluegrass Monday concerts. Concessions are also 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 the Northeast Arkansas Bluegrass Association, Bibb Chiropractic, the Posey Peddler, Holiday Inn Express and Suites of Paragould, 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”).
