Blog

Late breaking news music fans.

Stan Narramore will be performing at Brewbaker's Pub
on Friday, June 18, 2010 from 7 pm - 10 pm.

Stan has a great style with his classic rock and country repertoire.

Brewbaker’s Restaurant & Pub
210 N Main Street, Winnsboro, TX  
903-342-6119
www.brewbakerspub.com

By now you've probably heard all about the Winnsboro Merchants Shopping Cart Drill Team, which had its debut last month during 3rd Friday.

The video of the choreographed routine is still on Art & Espresso's facebook page.

This month the Drill Team will be performing at the Depot, Saturday at 2:00 pm and on Market Street at 5:30 pm.

In addition to having a lot of fun, the Drill Team will be collecting donations for the Winnsboro Community Resource Center/Centralized Food Pantry.  Expect to see them on Main Street gathering the donated food on Friday (not Saturday as previously reported).

According to Gus Gustafson, the Team will walk their loaded carts over to the Resource Center at 115 W. Broadway.

Non-perishable items are needed at the new Food Pantry:

• Canned juice
• Peanut butter/jellies
• Bread items
• Staples
• Mixed veggies
• Newborn baby cereals, etc.

You can bring your donation to either performance or drop it off at Art & Espresso ahead of time.

This is a wonderful way to have fun and help benefit local families.

Have a heart. Help fill a cart.

I warned you that our merchants will get a little nuts when it comes to creating some fun downtown. And now I have proof positive in the video Stephen Marshall shot which is posted at facebook on several personal pages! 

Follow the link and see if you can keep from smiling!

The merchants participating included Art and Espresso, CopperLeaf Spa, The Leaves apartments, Jeb Sales, and Brewbaker's Restaurant and Pub.

And yes, they'll be back again for the monthly 3rd Friday Art Festival Event, June 18-19 as part of the Crazy Daze promotion.  (Crazy Daze will be Thursday-Saturday.)

Put a note on your calendar. . .

The Winnsboro Spring Festival is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday - May 1-2, from 9 am - 5 pm in the historic downtown area along Market and Elm. 

This is always a fun, family event featuring booths with arts and crafts, food vendors and live music throughout the weekend. There will be a balloon release on Saturday.

The Raiderette's Booster Club is the beneficiary of this year's event, which is sponsored by the Winnsboro Area Merchants Association (WAMA).

If you're interested in being a vendor, call 903-342-5267.

Venture beyond the Festival area and stroll along Main Street while you're in town.  The Winnsboro Emporium, at 316 N. Main, will be open both days of the festival -  Saturday 10 AM to 8 PM Sunday Noon to 5 PM.

All visitors to the Winnsboro Emporium will get a
FREE gift.
No purchase is required.

The renovations are underway at Crossroads new home next to Winnsboro Center for the Arts. Last weekend was a busy volunteer day.  This weekend the volunteers, sponsors and media get a treat with a wine and cheese opener. Here are the details I just received information from Denice Grugle. . .

Wine, cheese and appetizers will be provided for our volunteers, special guests, sponsors and the media April 10^th from 5:30 to 7pm by Denice Grugle, Ladles to Linens, Cibo Vino and Brewbaker’s Pub. Sponsors include Monk Construction, John & Susan Alexander, Bank Texas, Don Roberts Abstract, Winnsboro Center for the Arts, Stephen Marshall Photography, and Piney Woods Live. Media is invited (as always) to stay for the show at no charge.

The artists are giving the majority of their earnings to the “Collaborate to Renovate” renovate Crossroads fund. Show your support by attending the entire series. (Or) Sponsor a seat for a volunteer to a Concert or sponsor a Concert- Ask Denice how!

CONCERT: April 10th Adler & Hearne from 7:30

CONCERT: April 24th Kasey Musgrave

CONCERT: May 15th Terri Hendrix

CONCERT: May 16th Tinderbox

CONCERT: June 5th Ronny Cox

CONCERT: June 26th Emily Elbert

Strap on your tool belt and help us renovate. You can also sponsor the renovation by providing nails, spiral staircase. walls, speakers, lights, etc. (Ask Denice how!)

Contact Denice Grugle at 903-521-4570
or Stephen Marshal at 903-342-1854.

www.CrossroadsMusicCompany.com

In Winnsboro, you never know what new location is going to become a venue for live music! Watch for live events at the First United Methodist Church. The first will be Friday, February 12 at 7:00 pm.

Perhaps you remember Andrew from the house concerts Shannon and Michael Monk hosted at their home - The Monastery. He's coming back with more of his unique blend of Americana, folk, blue and Appalachian music, laced together with stories and historical details that weaves a colorful tapestry of our American roots.

If you didn't have the privilege of hearing him last time he found his way here, you can get a sample of his music at AndrewMcKnight.net.

Sean Kelly is the bass player who will play with Andrew. This is a return trip to Winnsboro for him as well. And we couldn't be happier to have them both back.

A donation of $10-$15 is suggested for the evening's entertainment. Shannon tells me coffee, tea and desserts will be served.

Don't you just love living in a small town where music is so tenderly nurtured?

First United Methodist Church
301 Church
Winnsboro, TX

Contact Shannon Monk if you have a question at 903-365-2962.

Crossroads Music Company will be moving form its Main St. location to the Leaton Building by mid-summer. In the meantime, performances will be held in the Winnsboro Center for the Arts (WCA).

The building is next door to the WCA (formerly Trails Country Center for the Arts). The 106 year old building was donated by the Leaton family to the Arts Center in 2004 for arts purposes. The WCA board has approved a seven-year lease with Crossroads, assuring live music will be in the downtown area for years to come.

If you're a big fan of Crossroads, you'll be glad to know that Crossroads will be just a few doors down from the current location on the Market Street side of the current venue.

From the announcement issued by Stephen Marshall and Denice Grugle today. . .

Founded by Lynn Adler & Lindy Hearne, Crossroads has hosted hundreds of talented musicians during the past few years.  The artists travel the world but love coming to Winnsboro.  Performers such as Ruthie Foster, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Billy Joe Shaver, Terri Hendrix, Big Wide Grin and so many more have enjoyed the Crossroad’s audience. 

The spirit and history of Crossroads will continue.  Plans include preserving the listening room style with the hardwood floors and high ceilings while enhancing sound, comfort and overall listener experience.  The new design will allow Marshall (art/photo/film) to capture high quality sound and video for professional reproduction.  Marshall has aptly described Crossroads as “feeling like you are inside a guitar with beautiful music surrounding you.”

There are only three more concerts scheduled on the original stage at 216 N. Main Street and the February 13th attraction, Rhett Butler - sponsored by Mayor Carolyn Jones, will be the final show in this building. 

The WCA stage, located at 200 Market Street, will be enhanced and upgraded to be utilized for Crossroads performances during the renovation period.  This partnership allows collaboration on grants and combined support for all downtown events.  Marshall & Grugle plan to have their first concerts in the Leaton Building around mid-summer.

One of the first, “Crossing the Road” concerts will host Billy Joe Shaver, sponsored by Don Roberts Abstract and Bank Texas.  Shane Shepard, Winnsboro Economic Development Director stated, “Crossroads has become the destination venue for live music entertainment.  The casual listening room experience appeals to both patrons and performers.  This collaborative effort demonstrates the spirit of Winnsboro and its support for Crossroads.”

A team of volunteers will be helping get the building ready. Call Stephen to volunteer materials or expertise - 903-342-1854. 

This coordinated effort marks the beginning of a new era for both WCA and Crossroads. And, among other arts-related projects, is another sign of the burgeoning Cultural Arts District.

Hey cool cats and kittens, grab your Valentine and rock on down to the Carroll Greene Civic Center, in Quitman for Rock'n'Roll Romance. It's the Quitman Community Theatre's annual Valentine's dinner theater extravaganza.

Choose Friday Feb. 5 or Saturday, Feb 6 to rewind to the 50's and savor the popular teen love songs still tucked away in your memory, plus other oldies. Dinner starts at 6:30 pm prior to each performance, and is catered by none other than the Texas Tea Room.

Scheduled a week before Valentine's Day, it's a fun and romantic way to get that lovin' feeling early. Expect to be dazzled. The QTC talent pool is exceptional. Their performances typically blend some serious bits, along with some hilarious antics.

In case you missed my recent post about the "Best of..." awards, QCT captured the Best Community Theatre award for 2009, as announced in the January edition of County Line Magazine. It's no accident. Bob and Becky Hibbard, along with a loyal band of singers/actors/musicians, have raised the bar for community theater in East Texas.

This fundraising event is produced in cooperation with the Quitman Rotary Club. Tickets are $20 each. You can buy tickets at Bank Texas and Wood County National, both Quitman and Mineola branches. Or, you can call Becky Hibbard at 903-967-2164. Please note, seating is open unless you reserve an entire table for 12.

Becky said you can wear regular clothes or. . . whip together a 50s look or dig out the vintage clothes you simply couldn't part with. Go ahead, guys, wear that varsity jacket and relive those high school glory days for a few hours. (We promise not to notice it "shrank" since the last time you wore it!) And gals, feel free to wear your poodle skirt.

Quick tip: Last year's Valentine's dinner and performance was a sell out, so make your reservations early.