Entertainment set for Bland County Fair

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

Gospel and bluegrass music will fill the air next Thursday evening at the Bland County Fair. Three local groups – two of which feature family members – will perform under the new pavilion beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Leading the entertainment will be The Harmans. The group includes vocalist Lisa Harman; her son, Christopher Harman, lead singer and guitarist; her daughter, Kimberly Harman, vocalist and bass player; and non-relative Sammy King, vocalist and mandolin and guitar player.
“We’ve been singing at church for a long time,” noted Lisa Harman, an aide at Bland Elementary School. “We sang at the Relay for Life this year, too, and it went well. Now, we’re doing the fair. I get a little nervous.”
A Bland High School graduate and employee of Quarter Time in Bastian, Christopher Harman has been singing and playing guitar for eight years. He likes a variety of music but lists Michael W. Smith and Counting Crowns as his favorite contemporary Christian music performers.
“I guess I’m excited about singing at the fair,” he remarked earlier this week. “I love music. We’re still working on what we’re going to sing.”
Kimberly Harman is a student at Concord University where she is earning a degree in elementary education to become a teacher.
Dad, Jimmy Harman, does not sing with the group or play an instrument. He works at ABB.
Last year, The Harmans released their first CD. The group plans to record another one soon.
The Harmans and King attend the Mountain Top Pentecostal Holiness Church. They sing at Sunday morning and Wednesday evening services.
The Slide Mountain Boys + One is a combined family of bluegrass musicians. It includes Brandon Blevins, his father Junior Blevins and grandfather Joe Blevins.
Other members of the group are Brittany Stephens, her dad John Stephens, her grandfather Billy Stephens and Josh Blevins.
Brandon Blevins is 15 and has participated in several 4-H events. Brittany Stephens is 13 and is performing at a church talent competition in Florida.
The bluegrass group has been together for over a year. It performs at churches, nursing homes and family reunions.
The Slide Mountain Boys + One will perform at the fair at 7:30 p.m.
Singing at 8:30 p.m. will be Brandon Farley and Soul Winners for Jesus. The gospel group includes Brandon Farley, lead vocalist and mandolin, banjo and fiddle player; Gene Farley, vocalist and guitarist; Tommy Crigger, bass fiddler; and Barbara Crigger, vocalist.
The Bland County Fair will begin Wednesday, July 28, and will continue until Saturday, July 31. Bland’s Got Talent, a local talent show, will headline Wednesday’s show.
Entertaining on Friday night will be The Wrights, True Grass and Rebelicious. Saturday night performers will include the Appalachian Hoedowners, the Hollybrook Band and Southern Nights.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 1-800-655-1406 or wquesenberry@wythenews.com.