Cherryholmes to play in Syria

Under different circumstances, the Grammy award-nominated bluegrass family band Cherryholmes may have been full-time Madison County residents.
“We often said if the music didn’t work out, we would just pick apples on the mountains in Syria,” said Sandy Cherryholmes – mother, mandolin-player and vocalist of the group, set to perform during a Sunday, July 20 concert at Graves Mountain Lodge in Syria.

Despite multiple Grammy nominations and winning 2005’s International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainers of the Year award, the six-member group – made up of Sandy, her husband, Jere, and their four children, Cia, B.J., Skip and Molly Kate – makes it a priority to return to Madison County each year to visit the Graves family and perform for local residents.

The Syria resort draws Cherryholmes for two reasons — “First and foremost the Graves are our friends and have been supportive of us since the beginning,” Sandy Cherryholmes told The Eagle. “Second, it’s just a beautiful, beautiful place.”

The last time the Nashville-based band performed in the county was less than two months ago during Graves Mountain Lodge’s annual Bluegrass Festival of Music in late May.  But Cherryholmes’ July performance will be a more intimate concert, attracting about 500 guests.

“We’ll be able to mingle and meet a lot of people,” she said.

At the moment, the band is finishing up its sixth, forthcoming album “Cherryholmes III” set to be released Sept. 30 on Skaggs Family Records. Their July 20 concert will feature some songs from the new album including, “I Can Only Love You So Much” – which Sandy describes as “bluegrass with a groove” – and “My Love For You Grows,” a more traditional-style song featuring twin fiddles. Both of these songs were written by Cia Cherryholmes, who plays the banjo and provides vocals.

The concert will also include an a capella presentation of “a bluesy, gospel” song titled “Mary,” which is Sandy’s personal favorite song to perform, she said.
Following the band’s concert in Syria, the family will head overseas and spend a week performing at various spots in England before returning to continue their U.S. tour.

This will be the last time Madison County residents can catch a local performance of Cherryholmes before the band returns to Graves Mountain Lodge’s 2009 bluegrass festival, according to Sandy Cherryholmes. 

Gates open at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 20. Food – including rib-eye steak, french fries, cole slaw, green beans and baked apples will be available for $15 – during the concert. There will also be barbecue, hot dogs and ice cream for sale separately.
Opening bands including, Madison County’s Dark Hollow and Roanoke-based Acoustic Endeavors, will begin at 4 p.m. There will be a dinner break at 6 p.m. and Cherryholmes will perform at 7 p.m.

“It’s a great family evening. We try not to go too late so people can get their kids to bed and get home for work the next day,” Sandy Cherryholmes said.
Tickets are $20. Rough camping on Graves Mountain Lodge grounds is $10 per day. To purchase tickets and for more information about this evening of bluegrass, call (540) 923-4231.