ENTERTAINMENT
Bluegrass to rock: Red Ramblers play it all
By H. C. Hutto
Emerald Entertainment Editor
The Red (day Ramblers don’t know
what kind of music they play.
At least, they don't like to say.
The Red Clay Ramblers, scheduled to
appear in concert Oct. 7 at B pm in the
EMU Ballroom, like to call their sound
"whatzit" music.
"They started out as a traditional str
ing band and the music they played
derived from the blue grass and blues
country sound found in Appalachia,"
said Frank Gosar, the heritage music
coordinator for the EMU Cultural Forum
— the sponsor of the concert. "But
they’re so fervently eclectic, borrowing
from such diverse elements as Irish,
country, blues, and jazz, that the name
they use to call their music — "whatzit"
— is appropriate."
Gosar said The Red Clay Ramblers are
"folk processing in action." Like folk
music itself, the hand is influenced by all
kinds of music and cultures. They take a
little bit of this, and a little bit of that,
and mix it all together and produce a
singular sound all their own.
Such a sound has been appealing
enough to enable the band to perform on
two different off-Broadway productions.
In fact. The Red Clay Ramblers first pro
fessional gig was in the off-Broadway hit
musical. "Diamond Studs — The Story
of Jesse James."
Not only did the band members per
form their music, they also appeared in
the play itself, as members of the
I photo
The Red Clav Ramblers, a versatile folk band, will play in the EMI’ ballroom on Oct. 7.
notorious outlaw nan# who toted on
Stage their fiddles and banjos and played
furiously while committing their acts of
crime.
From that curious beginning in HI75,
The Red Clay Ramblers have gone on to
record eight albums, tour Africa. Asia
and the Middle Fast, and establish
themselves as America's most versatile
string hand
Then. 10 years after their off
Broadway debut, the hand returned to
the stage in Sam Shephard's "The l.ie of
thit Mind." Their successful collabora
tion with Shephard didn't end when the
play finished its run.
Shephard asked the ImiuI members to
help him with his new film. "Far
North.” The band agreed. and wrote the
original music for the film which is ten
tativnly scheduled to open next spring
Tickets for the concert are $5.50 In ad
vance ami $0 50 thu day of tile show for
general admission Students will receive
a $ 1 discount Tickets am available at the
KMU Main Desk, and at Italladeer Music,
located in the Fifth Street Public Market
SAM’S BAKERY
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• Apple & Blueberry Turnovers
Buy any menu item and
receive
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