Tyler Farr Hosts Fan Appreciation Day

Tyler Farr hosted fan appreciation day Monday in Nashville. The special event included an intimate concert, a hot chicken lunch, and an autograph and photo session. According to the fan, it was a day she’ll never forget. 

“It was so much fun!” smiled Loribeth Sykes of Pigeon Forge. “I didn’t realize I’d won a one on one fan appreciation party; he was so sweet, even though he seemed a little sad at times.” Sykes was unaware that the event was free and open to all Farr fans, of which she was apparently the totality. 

“I’ve been out of the spotlight for a year or two now, so I thought it was important to show appreciation to my fan. Without the fan, I would have been singing to an empty room and eating by myself today.” said a low-key Farr, packing up a box of 8x10’s.

After a 6 minute acoustic concert of all Farr’s biggest hits, he and Sykes hit Hattie B’s for a lunch of famous Nashville hot chicken. “I thought it was a little weird that I had to pay for lunch, but it was just twenty bucks and he said he’d pay me back, so no big deal.” said Sykes. 

The two made their way back to the Econolodge conference room B for a quick selfie and photo signing and the Tyler Farr Fan Appreciation Day came to an end. 

“I thought my mom would at least be here.” said Farr, stacking folding chairs onto a rolling cart. 

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Album Review / Willard Gayheart & Friends / At Home in the Blue Ridge

Dori Freeman isn't the only person in her family with chops; apparently grandpa has them too

By Robert Dean

In the random goodness section of Farce The Music, I was given the link to check out Willard Gayheart's new record, At Home in the Blue Ridge. While it's straight ahead, down-home bluegrass, that's entirely capable of captivating even the most stringent of fans, what's endearing about the project is that this is Gayheart's first record, and he's 87 years old. 

Gayheart is a famed visual artist in the small town of Galax, Virginia and has been in the bluegrass scene throughout the Blue Ridge Mountain area, but At Home in the Blue Ridge is a substantial collection of songs that is nothing but a sweet surprise. Gayheart should have released a solo record decades ago considering how well the songs are put together. 

The songs on the record are clearly rooted in the Appalachian traditions as well as respect for the local culture. Despite playing in bluegrass bands throughout the years, Gayheart hadn't flexed his songwriting muscles, till it became a family affair as At Home in The Blue Ridge features his granddaughter, the Americana songstress Dori Freeman, her husband Nick Falk, plus Dori's dad Scott Freeman. The record was produced by Teddy Thompson, who's long been a collaborator with Dori.

What gives At Home in The Blue Ridge it's unique and inviting tone is that it was recorded live in Willard's frame shop where he proudly displays and sells his pencil drawings. How homespun is that? One of the most endearing things about Gayheart's songs are the stripped down, honest themes of the bygone days of Appalachia, good times and bad when people still scraped livings from the mountains themselves, growing what they had to eat and sharing what they grew. 

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At Home in the Blue Ridge is available on Amazon and other music sites.

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