Department of Conservation and Recreation

Media inquiries: Please contact Gary Waugh, gary.waugh@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5045.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 05, 2007
Contact: Jim Meisner Jr., DCR Public Relations Specialist, (804) 786-8442, jim.meisner@dcr.virginia.gov

Steve Bassett's Blowin' the Dust Off Tour rolls into Pocahontas State Park, Saturday, June 30

(CHESTERFIELD, Va.) - Are you ready for a unique musical experience? Steve Bassett's Blowin' the Dust Off Tour rolls into Pocahontas State Park, Saturday, June 30, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $4, and children 12 and younger are free. The Pocahontas Premieres season pass does not apply to the Steve Bassett show.

Richmond's own singer-songwriter Steve Bassett, probably best known for his "Sweet Virginia Breeze," recently released his 18th CD, Blowin' the Dust Off. The CD features traditional music played on Civil War-era musical instruments as well as a long list of guest singers and artists, ranging from Delbert McClinton, Gary Gerloff and Robbin Thompson to Amber Collins and Ryan Blevins of No Speed Limit, and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine.

From the success of the CD, a concert tour of 16 Virginia State Parks was born.

In addition to an evening concert, there will be an afternoon display and workshop featuring historic instruments of collector Chuck Kincaid. Kincaid provides an impressive collection of more than a dozen instruments, including a bugle, fife, guitar, mandolin, zither, violin and squeeze boxes. The workshop is from 2-4 p.m.

Sharing the stage with Bassett is Virginias own Michelle Nixon & Drive. With her unique blend of traditional, gospel, contemporary and classic bluegrass music, Nixon will be joined by Patrick Robertson (guitar, lead and harmony vocals); Jamie Harper (mandolin, fiddle); Jeremy Boling (five-string banjo); and Travis Greer (bass). Drive also serves as Bassett's backup band.

Nixon was named the 2006 Female Vocalist of the Year in the Traditional category by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA). She also was part of the Daughters of Bluegrass album, Back to the Well, which received the 2006 Recorded Event of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association.

For more information visit www.dcr.virginia.gov , www.stevebassettmusic.com or www.michellenixon.com , or call 1-800-933-PARK.

Pocahontas State Park and the award-winning Virginia State Park system are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.