Little Roy and Lizzy Headline A Weekend of Music in Pickens

The Little Roy and Lizzy Show will headline the Young Appalachian Musicians’ Winter Jubilee this weekend at the Pickens High School Center for the Performing Arts.

The two-day event includes a bluegrass band contest from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, and a full schedule of performances, music workshops, jam sessions and more from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12.

The Little Roy and Lizzy Show, bluegrass and gospel musicians billed as “straight from the heart of Dixie,” will not only perform for two hours on Saturday, they also will lead one of several acoustic music workshops scheduled as part of the Winter Jubilee.

Other workshops will be led by Curtis Blackwell and Martin Beckman (guitar), Lee Marcus (banjo), Tony Williamson (mandolin) and Josh Johnson (fiddle).        

Saturday’s performance schedule includes the West End String Band, New 5 Cents, Steve McGaha and Buffalo Barfield, the Sweet Potato Pie Kids, the Pickens High Bluegrass Band, students from the Young Appalachian Musicians (YAM) program, and the first-place band from Friday night’s Blue Flame Bluegrass Band Competition.

Ten up-and-coming bands from both Carolinas will compete Friday for the $1,000 top prize and a performance slot during Saturday’s Jubilee. Most Wanted Bluegrass, a rising young band that recently recorded its first CD, will make guest appearances during Friday’s competition.

The host band is the Blue Flame Bluegrass Band composed of Pickens High School bluegrass students.

Proceeds from the events will help support the Pickens High School Bluegrass Class and the YAM program, an after-school program offered at six elementary schools and one middle school in Pickens County.

The YAM program is sponsored by Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music Inc. (POSAM), a nonprofit organization. More information can be found at www.YAMupstate.org. Tickets can be purchased online, and a discount is available to those who purchase tickets to both events.