The Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center is excited to announce the return ofThe Born & Bred Concert Series on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at the historic Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center in Clarksburg.

 

The Born & Bred Concert Series was created by Brendan Gallagher and debuted as a music festival in Grafton. In its new concert series form, The Robinson Grand will be producing multiple shows a year featuring talented musicians and performing artists that have been shaped by the Mountain State. The Sept. 9 show is the second to include radio personality and musician, “Appalachian Soul Man,” Aristotle Jones as the host. Jones is also the curator of the concert series, and with his involvement, The Born & Bred Concert Series has elevated into a variety show-type of production with a similar tone to the radio show Jones hosts, Sounds Good to Me with Aristotle Jones. 

 

“What Aristotle is creating for us here is a Mountain Stage-esque style show,” said Jason A Young, program manager at The Robinson Grand. “We are elaborating and elevating the production values above standard concert levels.”

 

The Nov. 11 edition ofThe Born & Bred Concert Series features Taylor Made, A Tale of Two and Chris Haddox.

 

Hailing from Taylor County,  country group Taylor Made is comprised of siblings Wendy Williams, Greg Duckworth and Brian Duckworth. The trio is known for their three-part sibling harmony which debuted on their first single “Heavy Duty Beauty.” “Our mom taught us to sing,” explains Wendy. “We would all sing on the back porch and the neighbors would holler out songs they wanted us to sing.” Despite being raised in a home where music was a way of life rather than a hobby, the siblings of Taylor Made are the only three out of the seven total Duckworth siblings who have taken to performing as adults.

 

Initially pursuing solo careers, the siblings formed trio I-79 just days before the Colgate Country Showdown with hopes of competing in and winning the competition. Not only did the group win first place, but each individual member also came to the realization that they operated best when performing together. “We started with an acapella note on the first song and, coming out of that big system, there was definitely a ‘wow’ feeling,” Greg says. “It sent a charge through the whole room. You could feel it,” Wendy adds. “We had never experienced that before.” That moment of harmonic convergence wasn’t lost on the crowd – local venue owners were no exception. “We realized we’d been missing that third voice,” explains Brian. “And we didn’t even know to miss it since we’d never tried it before. But the day after the show we started getting calls from people wanting to book us. It snowballed from there.”

 

Following their Bluebird Cafe debut, Nashville based “A Tale Of Two” is an undeniable rising duo in today’s roots music scene. Combining the best of Americana and blues melodies with timeless Southern storytelling, award winning vocalist Stephanie Adlington and guitarist Aaron Lessard draw influence from the likes of Tom Waits and Ray LaMontagne, along with bedrock artists such as Patsy Cline and Hank Williams Sr. Not unlike the artists who inspired them, the duo’s songs frequently dabble in stories of revenge, drinking and feature sinners of all stripes and persuasions. Oozing an infectious stage presence and chemistry that carries over from the music to the back and forth banter between songs, “A Tale Of Two” offers a different kind of Americana – storytelling by a swampy pair of retro raconteurs spinning blues arias with soul, intrigue and power.

 

“It is inspiring to hear a Nashville band with old-time songs and genuine talent…” - Americana UK

 

Taylor Made and A Tale Of Two will be joined by Chris Haddox. Chris Haddox is a West Virginia born (Logan) and based (Morgantown) musician who’s never met a stringed instrument he couldn’t master. He writes and sings his voluminous collection of songs about (to quote him) “religion, firearms, courthouse squares, goats on trampolines, shoes, fiddles, and hurricanes”—whatever catches his eye. He continues, “Like most writers, I try to find new ways to address old topics. Some songs are funny, some sad, some sarcastic but they are all honest.” This stellar musician is also a community leader who has directed Habitat for Humanity and worked to preserve old neighborhoods, a WVU professor of sustainable design, and an amateur musicologist who researches musicians from the southern coalfields of West Virginia. That’s a lot of breadth for someone the music community knows as a well-loved, easy-going consummate picker and gifted songwriter in the traditional folk, country, and Americana vein. His general affability and openness belie stunningly deft musicianship and deeply affecting songwriting. He has a genius for making connections with the audience. In short, Chris Haddox represents everything that is good about West Virginia.

 

“This is going to be a fantastic continuation of the Born & Bred Series,” said Gallagher. “We love getting to highlight all of this West Virginia talent in one place.”

 

Tickets for The Born & Bred Concert Series start at only $17 and went on sale to “Friends of the Robinson Grand” on Tuesday. Tickets will be available to the general public on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.

 

All tickets can be purchased online at tickets.therobinsongrand.com or by calling the Robinson Grand ticketing center at (855) 773-6283.

 

Editor's Note: Submitted photos of Taylor Made (top) A Tale of Two (middle) and Chris Haddox (bottom).