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Mountain Variety with a Splash of Youth: Strictly Clean & Decent to Perform Saturday

Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music Indoor Summer Concert Series is proud to announce the return of one of the High Country’s most popular trios – Strictly Clean and Decent. Fans of this dynamic group of talented musicians know that when SC&D rolls into town, an entertaining evening of musical variety and laughs will take center stage.

Presley, Liam, Alyssa
Presley, Liam, Alyssa

This go-round, Strictly Clean and Decent will be joined by three of the most impressive young performers in Western North Carolina: multi-instrumentalist, Liam Purcell from Deep Gap; guitarist, Presley Barker from Traphill; and singer/song writer, Alyssa McLean from Lenior. The concert will be held on Saturday, Aug. 16 at the Harvest House Performing Arts Venue, in Boone, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Purcell, who is 13 years old, made a trip to Argentina this summer with his new bluegrass band, Cane Mill Road, representing the US in the world’s largest international music festival for children. This was the first year this festival ever included bluegrass music. Eleven year-old Barker recently was seen on Facebook in a photo taken two weeks ago at the Galax Fiddlers Convention holding the Blue Ribbon for winning the guitar competition – standing next to Wayne Henderson, who was holding the red ribbon! McLean continues to compose new songs and is currently teaching in the Caldwell County Junior Appalachian Music program.

SCD promo pic 2015
Strictly Clean and Decent

Strictly Clean and Decent is an acoustic trio which features Patrick Crouch, Ron Shuffler, and Kay Crouch whose blend of brilliant vocal harmonies tops a solid instrumental foundation. They are dedicated to performing a variety of musical styles in an acoustic setting. Their eclectic repertoire includes modern folk songs by American, Canadian, and Irish songwriters, the fiery breakdowns and songs of family and home found in both traditional and contemporary bluegrass settings, and centuries-old Celtic airs and dance tunes. All of this is peppered with a healthy dose of popular jazz standards, swing and western swing music, and a few classic country tunes thrown in to provide a program certain to be enjoyed by all.

Ron Shuffler plays the upright bass with Strictly Clean and Decent. Ron is a veteran of the early Top 40 and beach music scene but also is well known in country and bluegrass circles. He has toured with David Peterson and 1946, the Dale Ann Bradley band, and Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper. His solid bass playing and impeccable harmony vocals are without equal.

Kay Crouch performs on the guitar, flute, piano, and tin whistle with Strictly Clean and Decent. She has a widely varied musical background that includes symphonic and solo percussion work and musical theatre as well as popular and folk music. Her interpretive vocals are an asset to the trio that she joined in 1991.

Patrick Crouch handles the mandolin, banjo, dobro, fiddle, and guitar for the trio. Patrick has been performing acoustic music since 1977 when he founded New River Reign, a staple at Blowing Rock’s P.B. Scott’s Music Hall. He turned to country music with Long Time Gone and, in 1989, created Strictly Clean and Decent with Ron Shuffler and Reggie Harris. Patrick Crouch’s intense, often pyrotechnic but always tasteful, instrumental skills are the highlight of every Strictly Clean and Decent show.

Patrick Crouch says of these young musical prodigies joining then on stage – “I have met with all three of those young musicians to map out the program for our Mountain Home Music concert and I am totally impressed with their professionalism and musical ability.  This is going to be a wonderful show. Liam is performing some traditional bluegrass gems on mandolin, fiddle, and banjo. Presley is playing some hot pickin’ guitar numbers and also singing the bluegrass classic “Sunnyside of the Mountain.” Alyssa is performing two of her original songs and a fine old time sounding piece from Gillian Welch.” Crouch added, “We are going to close the show with an entire cast performance of Summertime that showcases Alyssa’s expressive vocal and gives Liam and Presley plenty of room to improvise. I hope the audience is just as delighted to hear this music as I have been to collaborate with these fine young musicians.”

“I sure hate to miss this performance – I know it will be impressive”, says JSMHM director Rodney Sutton. “I will be attending the wedding of really great friends of mine, calling the dance for their celebration. But I never have to worry when Patrick Crouch is filling in as the host of one of our JSMHM concerts. Patrick must have kissed the Blarney Stone – he really has the gift of gab”, Sutton added.

This concert is supported by the following private sponsors: T. C. Farthing Family, Dr. E. Frank and Tara Hancock, Lynn Hubbard, Merida H. Steele – In Honor of John H. Steele, and The Estate of Joe Shannon. Business sponsors include; The Harvest House Performing Arts Venue, The Mountain Times, and WETS-89.5FM. Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music is also proud to be included as a site on the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina(BlueRidgeMusicNC.com). 

Tickets cost $18 in advance and $20 at the door. Student tickets are $10. Children 12 and younger are admitted free. Advance tickets may be purchased online at www.mountainhomemusic.com. Tickets may also be purchased at Mast General Store (Boone and Valle Crucis), Fred’s Mercantile on Beech Mountain and Pandora’s Mailbox and the Dulcimer Shop, both in the Martin House on Main Street in downtown Blowing Rock.