The Frank Hamilton School is proud to present Barry Waldrep & Kelli Johnson! Together, Barry & Kelli produce a unique blend of Bluegrass, Roots Rock and Traditional Country.
$15 Adv – $18 Door
Doors @ 8 PM
All ticket sales are final. No refunds.
Barry Waldrep is a Georgia/Alabama based Bluegrass, Jam Band, Americana instrumentalist, songwriter and composer extraordinaire. Waldrep and another music partner formed the very successful bluegrass/jam band Rollin' in the Hay in July 1993, touring the Jam Band circuit of festivals and college campuses across the country until May 2009. Rollin' in the Hay produced 7 CDs and performed over 300 dates per year for 16 years.
During this time, Waldrep recorded 21 bluegrass tribute albums with CMH Records in Los Angeles for such artists as Eric Clapton, The Black Crowes, Widespread Panic, Phish, R.E.M., Tim McGraw, The Allman Brothers, Neil Diamond and others. He was also featured on the CD Masterworks of American Bluegrass also produced by CMH Records. At this point, Barry started recording solo records and doing studio sessions with other artists.
Zac Brown invited Waldrep to join him on his Breaking Southern Ground Tour from September 2009 through September 2010. Waldrep is featured on the Zac Brown Band Pass The Jar CD/DVD, along with Kid Rock and Little Big Town. During this time he met the husband and wife country duo Joey + Rory. He did a tour with them during the Zac Brown Tour, and in some cases, they all toured together. In addition, Waldrep played the Grand Ole' Opry several times and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, which was the previous home of the Grand Ole' Opry.
In January 2013, after landing a record deal with Singular Records in San Francisco, California, Waldrep began the Smoke From the Kitchen sessions, which is a bluegrass banjo/southern rock project. Featuring such iconic guests as Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke), Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones), Oteil Burbridge (Allman Brothers), Paul T Riddle (Marshal Tucker Band), Coy Bowles (Zac Brown Band) and David Grisman, the album was released to critical acclaim in May of 2014.
When it comes to crafting together unforgettable melodies and lyrics, Alabama native Kelli Johnson is in no short supply. Leaning on musical influences such as Allison Krauss, Dolly Parton and Rhonda Vincent, Kelli has always been inspired by the pure melodies and lyrics found in classic artistry.
There’s no question that Kelli commands authority in her writing; Smart and charming, she captivates her audience with raw honesty and talent. Deeply rooted in Bluegrass, Country, and Americana music, Kelli has an innate ability to produce fresh music that defies genre boundaries. Her music has been featured in national television commercials, independent films, political campaigns, and recordings by other artists. It has also been featured on the Phil Mack International Country Music Show, broadcasting in Ireland, the UK, and parts of Germany.
Much more than an artist, Kelli is a promoter of original talent in and around her. She has produced and hosted several of her own television programs - "Kelli's Acoustic Crossroads", "Kelli Johnson LIVE", and " Picking and Singing with The Distant Cousins," which highlighted artists and their music. Kelli is also Associate Producer and frequent guest of the Dugger Mountain Music Hall, which is nationally syndicated on The Heartland Network as well as other regional television programs.
The title song to her first album "Somebody in Alabama Loves You," has been recorded by numerous groups. The song also caught the attention of Herd Records CEO, Angela Prince, who invited Johnson to work for Herd Records as a songwriter.
In 2011, Kelli won the Alabama Texaco Country Showdown. Her single "Over My Head" was awarded Grand Prize in the prestigious 2013 Nashville International Summer Songwriting Series.
Having performed together on many occasions over the years, it was only natural that these two accomplished artists would find themselves working as a duo. The synergy they enjoy on stage is infectious and the melding of their instruments and voices, along with their love of the same musical genres results in magic each time they step on stage.
Barry Waldrep Official Site
Barry Waldrep & Kelli Johnson on Facebook
Barry Waldrep & Kelli Johnson on Apple Music