Center for the Arts: Growing the foothills’ music scene

A GETAWAY TO GRASS VALLEY or Nevada City has long been popular for outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs, thanks to the nearby South Yuba River, biking and hiking trails, mining and railroad museums and Empire Mine (the Miners Picnic is on August 24).

Along with wine tasting and art tours, the area increasingly is becoming a destination for music—an exciting new dimension. Grammy Award winning bands regularly perform at venues such as The Center for the Arts and Miners Foundry Cultural Center, among others. Up-and-coming local musicians play at many of the cafes, pubs and wine-tasting rooms.

This summer, the musical talent coming to the area includes Asleep at the Wheel, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Marc Cohn, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Roger McGuinn and Blues Traveler, among others.

The Grammy Award winning western swing legends Asleep at the Wheel perform at the Miners Foundry in Nevada City, Friday, August 2. They have won nine Grammy Awards, with singles such as The Letter That Johnny Walker Read.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band travels worldwide, nurturing the art form of New Orleans Jazz.

The band derives its name from Preservation Hall, the venerable music venue located in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter. The band performs in concert at The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley, August 10. Dancing is encouraged.

Blues Traveler comes to the Grass Valley Veterans Memorial Auditorium on Oct. 19. Their music covers a variety of genres, including blues rock, folk rock, soul and Southern rock.

They have sold more than 10 million combined units and have played more than 2,000 shows in front of more than 30 million people.

Open Studios Art Tour

Western Nevada County has a popular open studios tour the first two weekends in October. The Fall Colors Open Studios Art Tour of Nevada County, October 5-6 and 12-13, allows visitors to see where art is made, displayed and enjoyed.

The Open House Preview Party for the tour is October 3 at The Center for the Arts. Attendees can view each artists’ work, plan their tour, buy art and support The Center.

The tour includes about 35 studios and more than 65 local artists. Visitors can view and purchase original work in a wide variety of media and styles, watch live demonstrations, observe works in progress and learn about art from concept to completion.

Watch a video of Blues Traveler:

(photos: BluesTraveler from BluesTraveler.com and artist Deborah Bridges in her studio in Nevada City)