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Entertainment Abounds at Heart of Virginia Festival!The Heart of Virginia Festival in Farmville on May 7. 2005 is the place to be for entertainment. During the festival in downtown Farmville between 9 am and 4 pm. you can find all kinds of music and entertainment. Then. plan to spend Saturday night rocking at the Farmville Airport with music. food. and fireworks! Here is the entertainment schedule at a glance: The Downtown Stage features local and regional acts along with the Festival's Showcase of Stars. Come see the official Festival Opening at 10 am. hosted by Maureen Walls-McKay. Chair of the Festival Board. The Fuqua School Band performs at 10:10 am. Fuqua School's award winning senior band is comprised of students in grades 8-12. It has received superior ratings in band festivals in Gatlinburg. Myrtle Beach and was awarded the trophy of Champion Marching Band in all divisions last year in the Fiesta-Val Music Festival in Atlanta. Georgia. The band participates annually in local parades and community activities. At 10:30 am. The Anointed Voices will perform. This group was organized in 2002 and consists of five voices and three musicians. The Anointed Voices have traveled throughout the surrounding area spreading the gospel through song under God's anointing. Lee Walker & Spirit to perform at Downtown Stage at 11:00 am. Growing up in a musical family. Lee Walker began his singing career at the young age of six. By the age of nine. people could see that he was a gifted child. For the next 11 years. Lee was a musician for the Echoes of Glory (a local gospel group.) At 11:30 am. comedian/impressionist Steven Alexander will perform at the downtown stage. as well. He has had appearances on several television shows including BET's Comic View and does over 100 impressions. Tiffany Woods of WRIC Channel 8 News will MC the 2005 Showcase of Stars on the Downtown Stage starting at 12 noon. The Showcase will feature local singers. comedians. musicians. dancers. jugglers. rappers. steppers competing for monetary prizes. At 1:30 pm. The Luv Twin performs to entertain the audience while judging is concluded. The Awards Ceremony for the Showcase of Starts takes place at 1:50 pm. And don't miss Class Act Band and Show at 2:00 pm to wrap up the entertainment at the downtown stage. The Weyanoke Stage features two performances. Come see Stephen Bennett at 10:00 am. Whether playing his great-grandfather's harp guitar, his 1930 National Steel or a standard 6-string. Stephen Bennett is a guitarist to hear. His playing has won awards and critical praise. In live performance and on record. his diverse musical influences and interests are joined with a three decade long love affair with the sound of guitar strings. Perennial favorite. the Southside Jazz Group. performs at 1:00 pm. The Southside Jazz Group has offered the best in mainstream jazz to audiences in Central Virginia since 1994. In the summer of 2003 the group recorded a CD of jazz and jump-style selections. The Bicenennial Stage also features two performances. Paddy Dougherty can be seen at 10:30 am. Paddy Dougherty has her own style and highly creative approach to the Jazz and Blues singing and song writing. Her unique approach to Rhythm and Blues has a classic sound that matches both her bold polished voice and poetic song writing style. She was the leading vocal for Main Street Rhythm and Blues in Lynchburg. Virginia for years. which is where she fine-tuned her crafts. Now in 2005. with a style reminiscent of Carole King. Joni Mitchell. Bonnie Raitt and Nora Jones. she tours with her quartet performing compositions from both her debut CD "Let Love Have Some Time" and the quartet's latest release "Wait on the Moon." The Purveyors are scheduled to perform from 1 pm-3 pm. The Purveyors' unique performance style blends distinctly American musical forms - folk. bluegrass. country. blues. rock - with the art of story telling as they help to forge a new musical genre called Americana. The band draws on an expansive repertoire reflecting influences that have shaped the best of American music. including Little Feat. Bill Monroe. Todd Rudgren. Bonnie Raitt and Bob Wills. The Virginia-based group ties is all together with refreshing acoustic arrangements and arresting harmonies. Performance Spaces on Longwood's Campus will feature local entertainment during the festival. Back by popular demand. Cody and BJ will return again this year with performances from their new beach CD at 11:15 am and 1:45 pm at the Blackwell Fountain. The Front Porch Singers will perform at 10 am and 1 pm at the Blackwell Fountain. This family trio plans to share their love of early American folk music in an authentic circa early 1800's with performances. featuring mostly railroad music. The Farmville United Methodist Church Praise Band will perform at 10:45 am and 2:30 pm on the steps of Lancaster. The Praise Band leads worship at the Church's Contemporary Worship Service. the Treehouse. each Saturday. The band performs covers of a number of praise and worship tunes. including songs by Michael W. Smith. Caedmon's Call. Third Day and MercyMe. The band originated in 2005 and has seen a number of variations since that time. The current incarnation features four primary vocalists. acoustic and electric instruments and a horn section. And don't miss the students of the Prince Edward County High School band and chorus at noon in front of Jarman Auditorium. The band will be performing selections by Stevie Wonder and the chorus will be singing gospel. Saturday Night at the Farmville Airport has a rockin' night planned. Cedar Creek plays from 6:00 - 6:50 pm. This band is a blend of new and modern country music and offers original music performed by a group of very professional and talented musicians. They were selected as one of the five finalists in the 1999 Jim Beam's Back Room Country Band Search. a nationwide talent search. From 7:15 - 7:50 pm. local band Doris takes the stage. This band is the most recent winner of the Battle of the Bands in Farmville. Last year's rained-out headliner. Groove Spot. will take the stage at 8:15 pm. Groove Spot is a 7-piece. party-oriented. high-energy, dance band. Founded in March of 1997. Groove Spot has performed to packed houses up and down the East Coast. fast becoming a fixture of the thriving Richmond music scene. Entrance to the Saturday Evening Festivities is $1 per person. All proceeds generated go to the festival. For more information about the Heart of Virginia Festival select this link. The 27th Annual Heart of Virginia Festival by Laura BaylessThe 27th Annual Heart of Virginia Festival on Saturday. May 7. 2005 has enough variety and entertainment to please everyone! An art show. craft show. live music. a talent show. food. a 10K race. informational booths about our community. a health fair. children's activities and entertainment. fireworks Who could ask for anything more??? The downtown activities for the Heart of Virginia Festival begin on the Downtown stage with the Opening Ceremonies at 10 am. Music performances and a talent show can be found at the old State Theatre stage throughout the day. Craft booths are located all along Main Street and all the way up High Street to Griffin Boulevard. Also on High Street. in front of Longwood University. is the 31st Annual Outdoor Art Show. Enjoy the works of artists from Virginia and neighboring states. An amazing variety of food booths are positioned throughout the downtown area and all along High Street. The Festival Gazebo on High Street serves as an information center and lost-and-found. WFLO Radio Station in Farmville will be broadcasting live hourly reports from 9 am until 12 noon. The Children's Art Workshop is on the lawn of Lancaster where children will be designing and sending cards. letters and pictures to the members of the Farmville National Guard between 10 am and 2 pm. Southside Community Hospital will be conducting a mini health fair with blood pressure checks. cholesterol checks and colorectal screenings. The evening activities begin at 6 pm at the Farmville Airport with live bands and food vendors. A fireworks show will begin about 9:15 pm. For more specific information about the Heart of Virginia Festival select this link. Free Shuttle ServiceThe Farmville Area Bus will run free shuttle buses on circular routes from outlying parking lots to Festival sites. Be sure to
take the bus to avoid congestion downtown. Buses run at approximately 20- or 30-minute intervals. 19th Heart of Virginia 10-K RaceThis year. the Heart of Virginia Festival will offer its 19th annual 10K Run with a new 5K Fun walk. The races will begin at Hampden-Sydney College at 8:30 AM. The course follows Back Hampden-Sydney Road (Rte 643) onto High Street. finishing at Longwood University's First Avenue field. Prizes will be awarded following the race (approximately 10:00 AM). Bus transportation to the registration point and start line will begin at 7:30 AM. All participants should report before 8:15 AM. Walkers will be transported by bus to the 5K point for the 8:30 start time. The registration cost is $12 before April 23 and $15 after April 23. All runners / walkers will who register prior to April 23rd will receive a t-shirt. T-shirts will be given out while supplies last to participants who register after the 23rd. Packets will be available for pickup May 5-6 at the Southside Virginia Family YMCA. For more information contact Jason Joyner. Health and Wellness Director. at 392-3456. Festival Sponsors - The "Heart of the Festival"The festival would not be possible without the participation and support of the festival sponsors. This year nineteen local and regional businesses and municipalities are contributing sponsors. The major sponsors of the festival are the Town of Farmville. Prince Edward County. Longwood University and MoonStar. Year after year. these sponsors play a key role in putting on the event through their financial support and hard work. The Heart of Virginia Festival is a great opportunity for the sponsors to be a part of this important community event. and their role is key to the success of the festival. These prominent businesses. municipalities and agencies are loyal sponsors of the festival, many of whom have been supporters throughout the festival's twenty-seven year history. The Heart of Virginia Festival Board of Directors would like to thanks this year's festival contributors: Benchmark Community Bank, BB&T. Citizens Bank and Trust Company. County of Cumberland. Curves of Farmville. Davenport & Company. LLC. Dominion Virginia Power, Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce. The Farmville Herald. Longwood University. MoonStar. Prince Edward County. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Southside Community Hospital. Superior Mortgage Corporation. Town of Farmville. Wal-Mart. WFLO. WVHL Lee Walker & Spirit to perform on Downtown Stage
Growing up in a musical family. Lee Walker began his singing career at the young age of six. By the age of nine. people could see that he was a gifted child. For the next 11 years. Lee was a musician for the Echoes of Glory (a local gospel group.) They sang in many places over the years. but something was missing. There was a calling on Lee to perform nationwide. In September 1991. Lee was blessed to become a member of the nationally reknown recording artist "Willis Pittman & Burden Lifters." Over the next nine years while touring with the Burden Lifters. he had the opportunity to meet and play for many icons of the gospel industry. Such as "Willie Neal Johnson and the Gospel Keynotes" and the "Fantastic Volinaires." Lee established a lasting relationship with them that proved to be very beneficial. By this time. Lee had accomplished one of his personal goals. At times he felt like he was on top of the world. But still. something was missing... In the fall of the year 2000. Lee fell ill and had to be hospitalized. As a patient in Retreat Hospital (Richmond. VA). the missing piece was revealed to him. He was led to step out on his own. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Lee formed a group consisting of his brothers and a few cousins. What would be their name? No one had any suggestions. however they were convinced that they were commissioned to minister through song and to do so with the Spirit. Thus. Lee Walker and Spirit was born! The first CD entitled. "A Storm Can't Last Always" was enjoyed by many. It took them to many places and stages around the country. One being the American Gospel Quartet Convention in Birmingham. Alabama.Their Sophomore CD. "Feel the Spirit" is poised to become a best seller. Featured Crafter of the 2005 Heart of Virginia Festival
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![[Photo of the Richmonds]](images/crafts_richmonds.jpg) Connie and Fred Richmond |
During the Heart of Virginia Festival from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Main and High Streets are transformed into a craft lovers dream. The Outdoor Craft Show features a variety of crafters with quality items for your home décor. family fashion. garden accents. and more! All exhibitors meet the Festival's policy that items be handmade or handcrafted. At this well-established craft show. there is sure to be something for everyone. including baskets. ceramics. furniture. jewelry. toys, soaps. woodworking. quilts. floral arrangements. candles. and much more!
The featured crafter for the 2005 Heart of Virginia Festival is certainly no stranger to the Festival nor to local residents. People shopping in Farmville can spot Fred sitting in the sunlight of the storefront window. doing what he loves to do - weaving baskets. Nearby. Connie will be found painting and creating one-of-a-kind pieces of work. Both will welcome customers with a warm smile.
Fred and Connie Richmond have been selling handcrafted wares since 1975. and I'd say they pretty much have it perfected. They trace their start to the Farmville Farmer's Market at the New Randolph Tobacco Warehouse where they sold wreaths. leather items. vegetables. eggs. antiques. and more. Homer Springer is credited for encouraging them to enter craft shows. Since then they've been traveling to various shows and festivals. including the Heart of Virginia Festival in Farmville. They first participated in the Heart of Virginia Festival in 1981 and have been loyal vendors since. "It is a show we hate to miss," says Connie. They describe the first Saturday in May as a fun celebration with a "true hometown feel" and a special sense of comradery. "People come back year after year." Over more than two decades the couple has come to know. and have gained inspiration from. fellow vendors and many. many customers.
Connie is the creator of many beautiful items. including painted rocks and gourds. and wreaths. "She was painting when we started dating," admiringly remarks Fred of his wife of 39 years. Her love for culture and the arts was sparked during elementary school and "painting has carried through the ages" as she continues to be a student of the arts. taking various classes in charcoal. water colors. and painting techniques. She honors her public education. which she describes as "progressive in respects to culture," and recalls a school field trip to the Virginia Museum that truly inspired her love for the arts.
Fred picked up basket weaving from his wife. Each basket is hand dyed from natural walnut stains. His hand woven creations are based on traditional. functional patterns. such as flat bottom egg baskets. fanny bottom baskets. key baskets. and melon slice baskets. He also features original designs in the collection, including "Fred's Choice."
Never a couple to slow down much. they started a new venture last May by opening Guinea Creek Crafts in the Randolph Shops at the corner of Second and Main Streets in Farmville. When not at the store or at a show. you can find them on their 180 acre Guinea Mills Farm in Cumberland where there is always plenty to do to contribute to their craftwork: raising gourds. building birdhouses. carving walking sticks. soaking reeds for basket-making. painting. collecting rocks. etc.
Be sure to visit Fred and Connie at the Heart of Virginia Festival on May 7th. You will find them on Main Street Space #22 and I guarantee you will be greeted with a smile.
![[Photo of the Fuqua School Band]](images/fuquaband.jpg) Fuqua School Band |
Fuqua School's award winning senior band is comprised of students in grades 8-12. It has received superior ratings in band festivals in Gatlinburg. Myrtle Beach and was awarded the trophy of Champion Marching Band in all divisions last year in the Fiesta-Val Music Festival in Atlanta. Georgia. The band participates annually in local parades and community activities.
![[Photo of Paddy Dougherty and Band]](images/PaddyD-BAND-PHOTO.jpg) Paddy Dougherty and Band |
Paddy Dougherty http://www.paddyd.com has her own style and highly creative approach to the Jazz and Blues singing and song writing. Her unique approach to Rhythm and Blues has a classic sound that matches both her bold polished voice and poetic song writing style. as is apparent in her first compact disc "Let Love Have Some Time." She has just released her second CD "Wait On The Moon." Paddy Dougherty was the leading vocal for Main Street Rhythm and Blues in Lynchburg. Virginia for years. which is where she fine-tuned her craft of Jazz and Blues.
As a former backup singer for national bluesman David Bromberg. Paddy Dougherty has performed at Wolf Trap (D.C). The Bottom Line (NY). Lime Kiln (VA). The Iron Horse (MA). The Birchmere (VA). The United Nations Building (NY). The Philadelphia Folk Festival (PA) on Mountain Stage Radio. and at numerous festivals and clubs along the east coast. She performed in Philadelphia with Mary Chapin Carpenter and in NYC with Allison Krauss. She has shared the stage with Saffire. Uppity Blues Women. Tom Paxton. Jane Powell. The Persuassions and many other fine musicians along the way.
In 1991. along with current drummer Larry Scott. she formed the Virginia cover band Mainstreet Rhythm & Blues and for 13 years they delivered a power packed party that met with great success in the area culminating in 2004 when they were voted "Best Band" in the Central Virginia Region. Always feeling the pull to write and perform original music. Paddy let Mainstreet go this past October to focus full time on writing. recording and performing original material.
Now in 2005. with a style reminiscent of Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt and Nora Jones. she tours with her quartet: Larry Scott on drums, Robin Tolley on bass. Glenn Buck on keyboards. flute & sax performing compositions from both her debut CD "Let Love Have Some Time" and the quartet's latest release "Wait on the Moon".
Paddy and her band will perform at Bicentennial Stage 10:30-12:30 and The Purveyors will perform 1pm-3pm
![[Photo of Anointed Voices]](images/annointedvoices.jpg) Anointed Voices |
The Anointed Voices was organized in 2002 and consist of five voices and three musicians. The "Voices" sang together many years with their church choir before God planted the seed to originate this ministry. The Anointed Voices have traveled throughout the surrounding area spreading the gospel through song under God's anointing.
![[Photo of Steven Alexander]](images/stevenalexander.jpg) Steven Alexander |
Comedian/impressionist. Steven Alexander. will perform at the 2005 Heart of Virginia festival as part of the downtown stage entertainment. He has had appearances on several tv shows including BET's Comic View and does over 100 impressions including; Stone Cold Steve Austin. Rodney Dangerfield. Johnny Mathis. Archie & Edith Bunker. Bill Clinton. Joan Rivers. Bill Cosby. Louie Armstrong. and many. many more. Steven says "If I can make someone laugh. then that's a moment out of their lives when their cares were forgotten. Most importantly is the realization that GOD is first and foremost in my life.
![[Photo of Stephen Bennett]](images/stephenbennett_01.jpg) Stephen Bennett |
Whether playing his great-grandfather's harp guitar. his 1930 National Steel or a standard 6-string. Stephen Bennett is a guitarist to hear. His playing has won awards and critical praise. In live performance and on record. his diverse musical influences and interests are joined with a three decade long love affair with the sound of guitar strings.
![[Photo of Stephen Bennett]](images/stephenbennett_02.jpg) |
Stephen Bennett was born in Oregon. grew up in New York and has lived in Virginia for the better part of the last three decades. Since his 1987 first-place win at the National Flatpicking Championship in Winfield. Kansas (The Walnut Valley Festival). he has become known as a versatile fingerstyle and flatpicking guitarist who consistently garners critical praise and audience enthusiasm for his recordings and live performances.
With his stellar musicianship. a relaxed stage presence and quick wit. Stephen has performed throughout the United States and Europe. as well as Australia and Japan.
![[Photo of Tiffany Woods]](images/TiffanyWoods.jpg) Tiffany Woods |
Tiffany Woods of WRIC Channel 8 News will MC the 2005 Showcase of Stars on the Downtown Stage at the Heart of Virginia Festival.
Tiffany graduated with a bachelors degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University. She began her news career in radio and even interned at a radio station in Madrid. Spain while studying Spanish.
While Tiffany covers a wide range of news stories. she particularly enjoys reporting on stories focusing on everyday people.
Her interests include outdoor activities and spending time with family and friends.
For more information about the Showcase of Stars select this link.
Heart Of Virginia Festival |
email: info@heartofvirginia.org |
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![[Photo of Lee Walker and Spirit]](images/leewalker.jpg)