Edmee CR Hasler
Contributing writer
For about 15 years, Dwayne Cole organized and hosted “Cole Bluegrass Shows” at the Salem Senior and Recreation Center. Cole passed away a few years ago. After he passed and COVID-19 hit, the shows stopped.
Organizer and host Gary John grew up in the area and has played bluegrass in various bands for 50 years. He is the band leader of “Mason Creek.” John knows many people in the Bluegrass circle and after a while some were asking if the shows would ever return.
“Folks had approached me for a couple years asking if I’d heard anything about the ‘Salem Parks and Rec’ bringing the shows back to Senior Center,” he said.
John contacted Vickie Sword, program supervisor at the Senior Center, who agreed to bring them back. John said, “I’ll do it, with a lot of help from my friends, I think we can do this,” and the ball went rolling. “Really it took the cooperation of the bands to get it going,” John said. “Bluegrass is huge in this area,” added Sword, “it’s much bigger that people realize.”
“With ‘Mason Creek’ furnishing most of the sound equipment, and bandmate, Tim Rhodes, helping out, we try to make it as easy as possible on the musicians,” said John. “It’s all volunteer. We have a donation bucket, cake raffle, and door prizes.”
The monthly show happens the first Monday of the month, with a couple of dates varying for holidays. April’s show featured longtime area performers, father and son, Maynard and Lee Palmer.
John also wants to expand the audience noting, “my goal has been to provide a venue for young bands. We’ve had the ‘Brothers Young’ in February and ‘New Found Gap’ from Ashville, North Carolina will be here in July 8. Really looking forward to that.
“This year’s schedule filled up quickly,” John said, then added, “Monday night is a tough night but we’ve got a great crowd here at the center, some of them are regulars and have probably been coming since Dwayne ran it.”
Of the show John said, “This has always been a free admission, donations accepted and all ages encouraged to attend!” The donations help the musicians cover their expenses.
All shows are at the Salem Senior Center on the first Monday of the month. Here is the line up for the rest of the season:
May 6 – Mike Conner
June 3 – Southern Rail
July 8 – Virginia Carolina Band
Aug. 5 – Maynard and Lee Palmer
Sept. 9 – The Guard
Oct. 7 – The Franklin Station Show
Nov. 4 – Luv Buzzards Show
Dec. 2 – Christmas Show
Photos by Edmee CR Hasler
