"Tears, Trains, and Twang: The Roots of American Country Music", at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve on Saturday, May 21

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center is excited to welcome to its third Saturday “Unplugged” stage, the very talented local singer/songwriter and teller of wonderful stories, Kathy Reed, on Saturday, May 21. She will be presenting “Tears, Trains, and Twang: The Roots of American Country Music", taking the audience through the history of America’s most popular genre of music, from its origins in Appalachian Folk, Celtic, and Blues, through a cast of characters including cowboys, hillbillies, and honky-tonkers.
Kathy’s pure love of traditional country and bluegrass music shines through her performances!

Don your cowboy gear and join us at the "Grand Ole Mill"!
We’re turning Autrey Mill into the “Grand Ole Mill” for one special night! Wear your cowboy hats and boots, and get ready to show off your belt buckles, folks! We’re serving up some Moon Pies and sweet tea just for the occasion!

Tickets are $20, or $15 for Autrey Mill members or John’s Creek residents. The venue is lovely and seats are limited, so please purchase your tickets early, by going to: http://autreymill.org/performances.htm

We begin at 7PM with a pre-show social gathering inside the Summerour House, with complimentary refreshments, then walk next door to the Old Warsaw Church for the indoor concert at 8PM. These concerts have offered a wonderful variety of musicians and storytellers on the third Saturday of each month and have been very popular, so please plan ahead!

About Kathy

Kathy Reed is a native of Georgia and has deep roots in East Tennessee. She is a singer, a songwriter, and plays guitar, upright bass, and bass guitar. Her musical range and influences reflect her Southern roots as well as her classical training and education. Kathy has toured the US and Europe performing, and boasts that her first job after graduating from Emory University was as the "chick singer at a biker bar called The Alibi.” She and her former band, Lonesome Redwing, opened for many legendary performers, including Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, Claire Lynch, Patty Loveless, and the Steep Canyon Rangers. Kathy has had numerous songs published and recorded, and several songs recorded by other artists.

Kathy is a breast cancer survivor, and her 2005 CD, "A Little Reassurance," helped raise awareness and funds for breast cancer organizations and featured her original songs. Peter Stroud, lead guitarist for Sheryl Crow, played with her on that project. Her band, Lonesome Redwing's CD, "fly, fly, fly," features Bluegrass and Old Time fiddle classics, as well as some fresh original material.

What Kathy's fans say about her music

“fly, fly, fly” (available at www.cdbaby.com/cd/lonesomeredwing)

• “Kathy Reed’s strong narrative voice weaves a complex tapestry of memory, longing, hope, and joy into a beautiful collection of songs that speak to the listener at once like an old friend, a lost love, and a happy heart. The CD will become one of your favorites and you will give it to all your friends and family (who will thank you). It is a treasure.” ~ K. Brigance

"A Little Reassurance", Kathy Reed & The Ain't Right Boys (available at www.cdbaby.com/cd/kathyreed)

• "Touched me to the core...truly great and worth a listen. Not only is she using this CD as a way of supporting a very worthwhile cause, Kathy's voice and songwriting are among the best out there. There are few artists, regardless of the medium in which they work, which touch me right to the core the way her voice does. Truly great and worth a listen." ~John V
• "You paint the best pictures with your words, voice, and instrumentals. I love a well crafted song where each word builds the story. You are terrific at creating those." ~ Susan
• "I love this CD, especially knowing that some of the songs come from Kathy's personal life, like "Main Street Hardware Store", or from the lives of her friends, like "Rocksalt and Nails." Lovely voice, and a sweet, sweet version of "Auld Lang Syne". There is a line in "Nantahala" that really moves me with the vivid image."~Stephanie, Longmont, CO
• "Awesome. I have said that before. Listening to Kathy is like being back at my grandparent's farm during vacation. Old farmhouse with rain falling on a tin roof. Her songs take me away. I have been lucky to see her "live" in Atlanta. Awesome voice , awesome woman, and awesome songwriter." ~Shirley
• "Loved it! "Sing Me Away": I loved it immediately. "Michelangelo": I didn't expect to chuckle at a song titled "Michelangelo" ! What a great song! Kathy, you do songs like this extremely well. The topic and humor all work together perfectly. "Bury Me in Tennessee": Cute, amusing, and somewhere there is truth...."Main Street Hardware Store": ok now you have me sniffling, crying. "Nantahala": OK, I'm crying again. A very beautiful song. "In This Ring": Very straight to the heart kind of song. "Auld Lang Syne": Would you stop making me cry already? Just beautiful." ~Kat (New Jersey)
• "Completely excellent!!!! Bravo, bravo, bravo !! Move over James Taylor...there's another CD in my van !! This CD is completely excellent...bravo, bravo, bravo..oh, I already said that. I'm bowing (from the waist!). Kathy, you need to pack your bags and head to Nashville...that is, if Nashville doesn't find you first !!" ~Tibby (North Carolina)
• "Beautiful! Kathy's voice is rich....Just got Kathy's album in the mail today and I have just played three of the songs--it is beautiful! I cried all the way through the one about "My grandparents house is now a hardware store." Kathy's voice has a richness in it that has come with maturity and the experiences she has had I'm sure. We certainly congratulate her on this fine album". ~ Ruth R (Tennessee)

Our thanks to the City of Johns Creek and their grant to support the arts.