PENSACOLA, Fla., September 16, 2019 ― If you are enjoying the Ken Burns “Country Music” documentary currently airing on PBS, the WSRE-TV Foundation has two opportunities for you to show your appreciation and help the public television station continue to deliver similar programming to Gulf Coast communities in Northwest Florida and South Alabama.
The Pensacola Barn Dance Wine & Food Classic takes place on Friday, Oct. 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the WSRE Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio at Pensacola State College. Then on Tuesday, Oct. 15, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives will perform at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre, with proceeds supporting WSRE programming and productions. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m., and pre-show VIP packages with the band are available.
Pensacola Barn Dance WSRE Wine & Food Classic
Friday, Oct. 11 at Pensacola State College
This year’s “Pensacola Barn Dance” theme for the 31st annual WSRE Wine & Food Classic walkabout tasting is a nod to country music history along the Florida Panhandle and the barn dances established by Neal “Pappy” McCormick in the 1930s and 1940s. McCormick was a band leader and steel guitarist whose Hawaiian Troubadours played the San Carlos Hotel in Downtown Pensacola, and who broadcast over WCOA and mentored a young Hank Williams. He built his first barn dance hall in Panama City and renamed the band the Barn Dance Troubadours. He set up the Pensacola Barn Dance on Hwy. 90 in the Brownsville area and presented stars from the Grand Ole Opry.
Local chefs from 15 area establishments are participating in the walkabout tasting, along with culinary students from Pensacola State College. Wine, bourbon and beer samples will be provided by Republic National Distributing and The Lewis Bear Company.
Participating chefs are Joe Abston, Pot Roast & Pinot; Mike DeSorbo, Culinary Productions; Dan Dunn, Big Top Brewing Company; Cory Ernes, Aragon Café; Jason Hughes, The Grand Marlin; Chrisoula Hulion, Chrisoula’s Cheesecake Shoppe; Paulette Martin, Nouveau Catering; Corey McLeod, Back Alley Sports Pub; Blake Rushing, Union Public House; John Smith, Hemingway’s Island Grill; Chris Tingle, McGuire’s Irish Pub; Chad Gorey, Great Southern Restaurants; Steven Turner, Polonza Bistro; Josh Warner, The District; and Jesse Sproles, Scenic Hills Country Club.
New Orleans celebrity chef Kevin Belton will be on hand to greet fans who watch his cooking shows on WSRE and the WSRE Create channel. Music will be performed by Sugarcane Jane and The Bucket Fillers, fresh off a tour opening for Dwight Yoakam.
Belton has been recognized as one of Lousiana’s Top 20 chefs and stars on “New Orleans Cooking with Kevin Belton” and “Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Celebrations.” In addition to his appearance at the WSRE Wine & Food Classic, he will sign copies of his latest cookbook at Pensacola’s new Bodacious Bookstore and Café from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Sugarcane Jane is Anthony Crawford and Savana Lee, Americana’s husband-wife duo from nearby Loxley, Ala. Crawford, an in-demand multi-instrumentalist and producer, has worked with such notables as Neil Young, Steve Winwood and Yoakam. After a request from Yoakam to put a backing band around the duo and join his Fall 2019 Tour as a support act, they introduced The Bucket Fillers to the ensemble—Pete Nice on pedal steel, lap steel and mandolin; Leif Bondarenko on drums; and Gary Edmonds on electric guitar—all hailing from Birmingham, Ala.
In keeping with the country theme and in recognition of their community service, Cat Country 98.7 FM’s Dave and Mary Hoxeng and Brent and Angela Lane are honorary event chairs for this year’s WSRE Wine & Food Classic.
Tickets are $50 and available for purchase at wsre.org/wineandfood or by calling 850-484-1054.
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
Tuesday, Oct. 15 at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre
Marty Stuart has been called country music’s unofficial recordkeeper, and he played a guiding role in the creation of the new Ken Burns “Country Music” documentary series. So who better for WSRE to bring to Pensacola for a benefit concert to raise awareness and support for such PBS programming, funded in part through donations to the WSRE-TV Foundation?
Marty Stuart began his career at age 12 when he joined the Sullivan Family, a bluegrass gospel group, as a mandolin player. At age 13, he played with Lester Flatt and The Nashville Grass, met musical greats like Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs, and first performed on the Grand Ole Opry. He played with Johnny Cash’s back-up band in the early 1980s before focusing on his own career and albums including “Hillbilly Rock” and “Tempted.” With Travis Tritt, he won his first Grammy Award for Best Vocal Collaboration for “The Whiskey Ain’t Workin’” in 1992.
Last week, as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s artist in residence, Stuart celebrated the 20th anniversary of his iconic album, “The Pilgrim,” by performing it in its entirety for the first time with his band, The Fabulous Superlatives, and special guests Chris Stapleton, Emmylou Harris, Connie Smith, Pam Tillis, Gary Carter, and Kristin Wilkinson with Her Superlative Strings. Long-time members of The Fabulous Superlatives are Kenny Vaughan on guitar, Harry Stinson on drums and Chris Scruggs on bass and steel guitar—all seasoned musicians who have played with country’s top artists.
Just ahead of the album’s reissue and first vinyl release in a deluxe edition, Stuart will perform “The Pilgrim” show at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre. Tickets are available for purchase at the theatre’s box office and online through TicketMaster at pensacolasaenger.com. Seats are $32, $65 and $134, excluding additional fees, and pre-show VIP packages are also available.
Proceeds will benefit WSRE’s mission to positively impact communities through education, entertainment and engagement.
Media Contact:
Mary Riker
mriker@wsre.org