Montana Skies to play OUS

IRONTON — The Ironton Council for the Arts Lawrence County Concert Series will present Montana Skies on April 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Riffe Center Mains Rotunda at Ohio University Southern.

Jennifer and Jonathan Adams fuse classical, folk and rock by pairing a cello, a six-string electric cello, a Spanish classical guitar and a steel string guitar. “We like to call it classical fusion,” Jennifer said. “That’s because we’re classically trained, but we had to branch out from it really fast because there wasn’t any music for the cello and the guitar.”

Montana Skies’ name is taken from one of the first songs Jonathan composed for the group titled “Montana Skies.” The song was written specifically about being in Montana and the joy of inspiration Jonathan felt from its natural beauty.

At the time of its composition, he and Jennifer were completing their individual studies of music (he in Montana and she in Italy) and they realized that they would like to be together.

Written during a crucial turning point in their relationship, the song marked the beginning of the duo’s musical collaboration and their newly found sound. Montana Skies maintains an active touring schedule.

Highlights from their touring have included: the Seoul Arts Center (2,500 seats) in S. Korea, Great Falls Civic Auditorium (1,800 seats) in Montana, and the new backstage series at the Morrison Center in Boise, Idaho. Jonathan’s full length instructional book and CD, “Getting Into Fingerstyle Guitar” was published in 2002 by Mel-Bay Publications. Additional publications are in-the-works.

Their name, Montana Skies, is a metaphor for musical freedom and they continue to follow their creative instincts far beyond traditional boundaries.

In concert, these award winning musicians delve into music from Pink Floyd and Rush to Vivaldi and the House of the Rising Sun, as well as, their own originals that have been featured everywhere from NPR to the Travel Channel. Montana Skies’ seemingly non-stop tour schedule has taken them all across the U.S. , as well as to Canada, Asia and Russia. Their dedication to their musical vision has helped them build an enthusiastic grassroots fan base along the way.

Combining elements of classical technique, jazz improve and the power and energy of rock n’ roll. Jonathan’s guitar wizardry and Jenn’s blazing electric cello combine to create a sound that is truly remarkable.

While the music defies simple categorization, it is a fusion in the truest sense of the word. It’s been called everything from chamber rock to psychedelic strings. Whatever you want to call it, rest assured, this ain’t your grannie’s chamber music.

Blood drive set at Shawnee State University

PORTSMOUTH — The American Red Cross is in short supply of blood because of all the snow this winter. To help with the blood shortage, a two-day Blood Drive is scheduled at Shawnee State University in the University Center on campus from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 19 and Wednesday, April 20. Blood donors are needed and everyone is encouraged to participate. The public is invited to join the university faculty, staff and students for this important drive.

Each year, nearly 3.7 million people give approximately 6.4 million blood donations through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States, providing more than 40 percent of the national’s supply. To meet the demand, more than 38,000 donors are needed daily.

The Blood Drive is sponsored by SSU’s Office of Community Service and the Association for Greek Life.