A Feb. 21, 2012 article in The Tribune about a Ro-Na theatre bluegrass benefit concert caught my interest.

In the article, bluegrass guitarist Steve Shelton is quoted as saying, “I have always been a little frustrated that we never can get anything going on our side of the river. … Anybody looking for entertainment has to look to Ashland or Huntington.”

I applaud Mr. Shelton’s efforts to raise funds for restoring the Ro-Na, but I would like him to know that Lawrence County has an outstanding performing artist series.

The Ironton Council for the Arts sponsors the series, and most performances are at Ohio University Southern. There are six concerts yearly, October through April.

This musical performance series has provided high quality concerts for Tri-State residents for the past 31 years.

Audience members have said that the variety and excellence of these concerts compares favorably to those in Ashland, Ky., and Huntington, W.Va.

These affordable concerts have featured bluegrass, jazz, traditional, classical and international music performed by soloists, duos, ensembles, big bands and orchestras.

There are two concerts remaining in this season, March 24 and April 14. I invite Mr. Shelton to be my guest at one of these performances so he can discover local entertainment.

 

Susan Brown is the president of the Ironton Council for the Arts. Visit the organization can be found online at www.southern.ohiou.edu/irontonarts. Brown can be reached at irontonarts@hotmail.com.