Bluegrass band performs at Court Square Theatre

Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain showcase their music as part of weekly concerts

By Laura Becker, contributing writer
Posted on October 15, 2007

It was a foot stompin’, knee slappin’, yee-haw of a time last Thursday night at Court Square Theater as opening band Loose Gravel and national bluegrass artists Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain strutted their stuff on the stage.

“We’re just thrilled to be here,” lead singer Carrie Hassler said with a big grin as she stepped toward the microphone. Hassler, nicknamed “Diva” by the band, proceeded to belt out songs with her powerful voice.

Part of the theater’s Bluegrass Thursdays program, Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain are on a national tour promoting their debut album and their follow-up, which will be released in 2008.

The opening act was the band Loose Gravel, which played bluegrass hits like “Highway 40 Blues” and “Blue Ridge Mountain Home.” Fiddler Anthony Van Pelt, an international performer, brought some audience members to tears with his song titled “Shenandoah,” which earned an encore.

“I’m going to learn how to play the fiddle,” junior Rebecca Popp said after being enthralled by Van Pelt’s performance.

The wife of Dale Wenger, banjo player for Loose Gravel, described their music as “progressive or contemporary bluegrass.”

“It’s not twangy. Bluegrass has a bad reputation,” she said.

Junior Jeff Joyce agreed. Joyce attends bluegrass concerts at home in Roanoke, but said he had never seen a band perform in a theater.

“I like being able to get up and be more a part of [the music], but it was great,” he said. “It was a little less country, [and] a little more bluegrass.”

Hassler’s band mostly played songs off their debut album, one of which made it to number five on the Billboard Bluegrass Charts. Hassler, a huge Patsy Cline fan, belted out Cline’s song “If You’ve Got Leaving on Your Mind” and gave a powerful rendition of “Amazing Grace,” welcoming the audience to sing along. Hassler and Hard Rain also received an encore after playing “Going on the Next Train.”

“They have so much dynamics in their music — god, they were good,” said Randy Edwards, a mandolin player from Port Republic.

Hassler said the Court Square Theater was a beautiful location and “one of the best theaters we’ve played in.”

Check out the band’s website, carriehasslerandhardrain.com, for more information on their music.

Loose Gravel performs the second Monday of every month at Panera from 6:30-8:30 p.m..