This weeks concert/dinner&bsp; at the Historic Wards Grill features The Lonesome Road Band.

Although the group uses the traditional tools of bluegrass in creating its music, to categorize it as bluegrass would be a misrepresentation. The groups repertoire consists of everything from Bill Monroes My Sweet Eyed Darlin to The Moody Blues Nights In White Satin.

J. Larry Keith is the only original member of The Lonesome Road Band. He has spent years as a sideman in several successful bands in Western North Carolina. Keith spent four years working with Dolly Parton in Pigeon Forge, TN. Keith says his biggest regret in his musical life was turning down a job offer from Bill Monroe in 1982 What was I thinking? He will tell you that the list of people he owes a debt of gratitude to is a long one, most especially his wife, Denna.

Paul Eaton plays guitar and is the banjo player in Charles Woods absence. In 2001 Eaton toured with Roger McGuinn, a founding member of The Byrds. Eatons thanks go to his wife, Sherry, and all the family and friends who have inspired and motivated him to pursue his love of music.

Instrumentally The Lonesome Road Band is fueled in part by two time national banjo champion Charles Wood (2006 and 1999 Winfield National Banjo Champion). Wood plays all genres of music. Wood has won such prestigious banjo contests as Merlefest, Rockygrass, Renofest, and The Winfield National Banjo Contest.

Wood performed with banjo great Earl Scruggs and the actor Steve Martin at the New Yorker Festival in NYC in 2005. With this group he made an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. Visit Woods website at www.charleswoodbanjo.com.

Rockin Reese Combs is the foundation for all of The Lonesome Road Bands music, playing stand up bass and keeping the other instruments tethered. Combs came from a musical family. He grew up playing piano and guitar and says he was inspired to play bass by his fathers love of bluegrass music. Combs and Keith say they love playing together.

For more information, call Judy Ward at 828-749-2321. Doors open at 6 p.m. for dinner and music starts at 7 p.m.