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Swingin’ on the Porch: Jon Stickley Trio and Swing Guitars at the Jones House on Friday

Swing Guitars
Swing Guitars

The freshly painted Jones House porch will be swinging on Friday with Jon Stickley Trio and Swing Guitars continue the Town of Boone’s Summer Concerts at the Jones House this Friday, beginning at 5 p.m. from the front porch of the downtown community center.

Swing Guitars will begin the evening, featuring the jazz-guitar styling created and popularized by Django Reinhardt in the 1930s and 40s.  The band features several noted local and regional musicians, who only play together as Swing Guitars for a limited number of gigs.  Guitar players in the group include Appalachian State University jazz faculty member, Andy Page, founding member of The Lazybirds, Jay Brown, and guitar enthusiast James Schaller.  Ben McPheron handles the bass duties for the group.

“Swing Guitars has become an annual favorite for a number of our regular concert-goers,” says concert organizer, Mark Freed.  “It is great music to listen to, while enjoying the mountain air under the giant maple trees… just the best.”

The Jon Stickley Trio will follow Swing Guitars, bringing their own mix of swing, bluegrass, and songwriting to the porch.  The trio is led by Jon Stickley, who has been heralded as one of the region’s most innovative flatpicking guitar players.  Violinist Lyndsay Pruett came to the group from Futureman (of the Flecktones)’s band.  Drummer Patrick Armitage holds down the group with driving rhythms.  Though the band is relatively new, the musicians bring a lot of experience, and they have already shared the stage with some of the best acoustic Americana bands, including The Infamous Stirngdusters, Leftover Salmon, and Larry Keel.  The band was featured on the Cabin Stage at Merlefest and is on the midst of putting out their sophomore release as a trio.

Jon Stickley Trio
Jon Stickley Trio

“We are really excited to help introduce The Jon Stickley Trio to Boone,” Freed says.  “They have a sound that our Boone crowd will certainly identify with and appreciate.”

The Jon Stickley Trio will also be playing at Murphey’s following their performance at the Jones House.

Concerts at the Jones House take place every Friday, from the front porch of the Jones House in downtown Boone (604 W. King St.).  All of the Summer Concerts at the Jones House performances are free and open to the public.  Patrons are encouraged to bring their own chair or blanket to sit in the Jones House front lawn, under the shade of the gigantic maple trees.  Concerts take place rain or shine, with the inside Jones House main gallery being used for inclement weather.

The 2015 Summer Concerts at the Jones House series is sponsored by the Downtown Boone Development Association, Mast General Store, Footsloggers, MPrints, Stickboy Bread Co., and Melanies.

For more information about the concert series, including a complete schedule, please visit www. joneshouse.org or call 828.268.6280.