Renowned bluegrass band plays Burke concerts, visits schools

Renowned bluegrass band The Sentimental Gentlemen graced the amphitheater stage at the Historic Burke County Courthouse Square on Monday, May 11, along with a group of budding young musicians.

The free concert was the finale to a day spent teaching Burke County elementary students about the roots of bluegrass music. Earlier that day, The Sentimental Gentlemen visited with third and fourth graders at Mountain View Elementary School and pre-K through fifth grade at W.A. Young Elementary Schools. The program was part performance and part educational.

During the free community concert in the afternoon, students participating in JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) from Burke and Caldwell counties and other young musicians joined the group on stage. After the band performed on its own, the youth were invited to grab their instruments and play along with the members of the band.

The entire day was made possible by a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council and administered by the Burke Arts Council.

Hailing from the heart of East Nashville’s thriving music scene, The Sentimental Gentlemen are a powerhouse collective blending deep-rooted traditional bluegrass with fresh, contemporary influences. When they’re not on the road backing the West Virginia songbird, Sierra Ferrell, the band’s members are busy crafting a sound that is as diverse as it is electrifying, drawing on years of professional stage and studio experience.

As full-time touring and studio musicians, they’ve graced stages across the globe, playing with talented artists including Sierra Hull, Mark O’Connor, Western Centuries, and Lindsay Lou. The Sentimental Gentlemen are Joshua Rilko (mandolin & vocals), Oliver Bates Craven (fiddle, guitar, vocals), and Geoff Saunders (bass, vocals), with rotating banjo and guitar buddies.

— AKC