Arts & Entertainment

Farm Hosts Night of Bluegrass Music

Four bluegrass bands will perform in concert Friday, Dec. 30, at The Farm in Lithia.

Bluegrass music lovers will be sure to get their fill Friday night, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m., at The Farm in Lithia when the venue hosts a four local bluegrass groups, A2J Bluegrass, Cedar Creek, The Exum's and Flatland Bluegrass.

"It ought to be a great time, particularly if you love bluegrass music," said Mike Holmes, who owns The Farm with his wife, Denise.

Established in 2009, A2J Bluegrass is a gospel bluegrass ministry based in Polk County. A2J stands for Addicted to Jesus, and the focus of the group is on playing bluegrass and country gospel music to inspire listeners turn to Jesus Christ. The six members of the group both pick and sing in vocal harmony about their faith throughout central Florida.

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Cedar Creek is a local bluegrass band featuring singer Patsy Dollins Cole, who has released three CDs.

"She is an excellent singer/songwriter, and will perform some solos as well as sing with Cedar Creek," said Holmes.

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Flatland Bluegrass and Exum's are local quartets with both male and female members. They will perform for the first time at The Farm, said Holmes.

"For the person who likes bluegrass, it's going to be an awesome night," said Holmes.

Concerts at The Farm, 7818 Lithia-Pinecrest Rd., Lithia, are free.

Musicians are also encouraged to bring their own guitars, banjos, fiddles or other acoustic instruments and join in.

Hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages are served at 6:30 p.m., and the music starts at 7 p.m.

The Farm has 350 seats available, but residents are urged to bring their own chairs, if possible, to guarantee a seat.

For the past three years on the last Friday of the month, the Holmes have thrown open the gates of their horse farm to welcome country, gospel and bluegrass musicians and their fans.

The couple transformed an old barn on their property near County Road 39 and Lithia-Pinecrest Road into a makeshift music venue where pickers of all acoustic instruments are welcome to perform, including some of the Holmes' Nashville recording artist friends.

"Everybody gets a turn to play and sing a song," Mike Holmes said. "It's just a good time of fellowship and good clean fun."

The couple offer the concerts and burgers for free although there's a donation jar for anyone who care to contribute.

Nest month, on Jan. 27, The Farm will host the first regional roundup of the International Cowboy Church Alliance Network, which now has more than 900 members from around the country.

The event will include a meet-and-greet of ICCAN members at 5 p.m. followed by hot dogs and hamburgers at 6:30 p.m. and music starting at 7 p.m. featuring Christian country recording artist Rocky Morris, solo finger-style guitarist Richard Kiser, country musician Jayc Harold and the singing cowboy, Dusty Aleman he's known as the singing cowboy.

"Patsy Cole will also return and I'll be singing in January as well, said Holmes who has just written two new songs he'll debut, "How Will They Remember Me" and "Where is My America?"

For more information, call 813-967-3046, email dawso­nholmes@­hotmail.­com or visit TheFarmUSA.com.


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