Cherryholmes will conclude the Red, White and Bluegrass Festival by giving Morganton a performance worth remembering.
Cherryholmes will play at 8:45 p.m. Friday before the fireworks show at the Collett Street Rec Center.
Cherryholmes received national accolades including Grammy nominations for Best Bluegrass Album in 2006 and 2007 for their albums, "Cherryholmes" and "Cherryholmes II: Black and White," on Skagg Family Records.
Six family members compose Cherryholmes - father Jere; mother Sandy Lee; Cia Leigh, 24; B.J., 20; Skip, 18; and Molly Kate, 16. With a new album in set for release in the fall, Cherryholmes is eager to perform their original songs in Morganton, Sandy Lee said.
"There will be a number of new things we haven't done," she promised. "We expect to have a wonderful time and make this a memorable Fourth of July."
The band played in Morganton several previous times, including other Red, White and Bluegrass Festivals and at the CoMMA. Sandy Lee said the Morganton crowds are high energy and that contributes to Cherryholmes' performance.
The Cherryholmes started their band after their eldest daughter's death in 1999. Living at the time in Los Angeles, they went to a bluegrass festival to enjoy each other's company, Sandy Lee said. The family found the experience "uplifting" and Jere and Sandy Lee decided to round up instruments for their children. They assigned each one an instrument and taught them to play at home.
Now all band members take part in writing the songs. As the children grow older, Sandy Lee said, the music changes to reflect their experiences.
The band's repertoire now ranges from old to new and from high-energy tunes to old-time clawhammer songs.
With time's passage, other changes occurred in the band. Children switched instruments or learned to play multiple instruments, their mother said. Cia Leigh, B.J. and Sandy Lee sing the majority of lead vocals, but the entire band takes part during live performances.
Sandy Lee encouraged people in the area to come out for the show.
"If they haven't come to a show before," she promised, "the Fourth of July show will be a lot of fun."
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