The next concert of the Oil City Arts Council’s Winter Concert Series will take place from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at the National Transit Building on Seneca Street and will feature the Allegheny Drifters.
The cost of admission for the concert is $8 for Oil City Arts Council members and $10 for nonmembers.
Over the past 15 years, the Allegheny Drifters have performed at festivals, county fairs, corporate events, community day celebrations, universities, weddings, arts and craft fairs, churches, rural grange halls and urban summer concerts. On the band’s 15th anniversary and in conjunction of the release of the band’s latest recording project, “Rolling On,” Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto issued a special proclamation declaring Saturday, April 14, 2018, as Allegheny Drifters Day in the City of Pittsburgh.
About the band
Mandolinist Bob Artis has played professionally since the early 1960s. In 1968, Artis began a tenure with Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers, recording nearly 80 songs for the Rural Rhythm and County labels. Artis has appeared on PBS’s “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” During his career, Artis has played or recorded with bluegrass legends Red Allen, Hylo Brown, Clyde Moody and Larry Sparks.
Lead singer and guitarist Bernie Cunningham is from a West Virginia coal mining family and was raised on traditional music. Cunningham and Artis have performed together for over 30 years. Cunningham is a resident of Fombell.
Artis’ wife, Karen, plays upright bass and writes songs. She also handles the graphics for the band. She is a native of Pittsburgh and resides with her husband in Forest Hills.
Radford Vance, of Richlands, Virginia, plays banjo and has played it since the age of 8. He has shared the stage with Brown, Carl Story and Lawrence Lane. Fiddle player Michele Birkby-Vance, of Grantsville, Maryland, has been named state fiddle champion five times.
The next concert in the series will feature Garrett Heath on Friday, Dec. 14.
