Bluegrass band strings bluegrass notes, draws Del-Heads

Bluegrass band strings bluegrass notes, draws Del-Heads

By: Whitney Harrod

Posted: 10/31/08

A fan-base known as the Del-Heads will soon invade Lovett Auditorium.

As the most awarded bluegrass group of all time, the Del McCoury Band will perform 7:30 p.m., Nov. 7 at Lovett Auditorium as part of the Lovett Live concert series.

Mark Welsh, WKMS program director, said having bluegrass music at Murray State is a type of test phase for promoters. Murray falls into the B-market category. He said even though Murray is part of a B-market, that doesn't mean Murray's bluegrass concerts held in Murray are not successful.

"There aren't too may icons of bluegrass music left," Welsh said. "(Del McCoury) has been an important figure in the bluegrass scene since the 60s."

Welsh said McCoury represents traditional bluegrass music, but he is still able to help bluegrass music evolve. McCoury's latest project, called "Moneyland," is a collection of songs touching on economic issues in rural America, he said.

"There's a certain level of virtuosity in bluegrass music," Welsh said. "It's an interesting low-fi, roots-down approach. Some bluegrass musicians are recording naturally … so the recorded music sounds like a live performance would."

Del McCoury, lead musician of the band, said he remembers playing at colleges such as Boston University and Cornell University during the 60s. He said more money was allotted to bring musical acts to college towns during the 60s than is allotted now.

He said because of an increase in interest for the bluegrass genre, he plays at college towns throughout the year. Some colleges in Texas and Tennessee are now offering courses in Bluegrass music.

Jasmine Davis, senior from Benton, Ky., said in the last four years at Murray State she has seen an increase in bluegrass music's popularity.

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