SEBA’s 23rd with 26 Bands in Blairsville, GA and it’s FREE!

This year’s 23rd SEBA Anniversary Celebration in Blairsville GA is going to be a true bluegrass blowout, with more than two dozen of the best bands from around north Georgia and surrounding areas slated to entertain. The Celebration begins Friday evening, September 21st, and continues all day, Saturday, September 22nd. Building on last year’s success, volunteers from SEBA and the Union County Historical Society have done their best to outdo themselves this year.

This event is an excellent opportunity not only for you to enjoy some outstanding entertainment, but also is a great way to introduce others to the joys of bluegrass music. Admission is free to all concerts and activities. Donations are requested to support the Union County Historical Society and SEBA. The two organizations are non-profit and depend on membership fees, donations, grants and fundraisers to fund operations. SEBA and UCHS equally divide the revenues remaining after covering the costs of the event.

As of press time, these are the bands scheduled to perform: The Barker Brothers, Bluegrass Sound, Blue Ridge Grass, Buck and Nelson, Cain’t Hardly Playboys, Casey Dillard and The Cherokee Bluegrass Band, Cedar Grove Grass, The Collins Brothers & The Blairsville Bluegrass Band, Ducktown Station, Hicks With Picks, Highway 76, Honey Creek, The Jot-em Down Boys, Just-Us, The Larios Brothers, The Mars Hill Porch Pickers, The Musselwhite Family Band, Nancy Creek, New Image, Old Mill Road, Potter’s Clay, Roots and Branches, The Raven Welch Band, Shady Creek, Tucker Station, and Young Fiddlers Set (Jonathon Eernisse and Alex Thomlinson).

For an up-to-the-minute band schedule and a list of all the activities there are to enjoy during the Celebration, visit the Union County Historical Society’s website at www.unioncountyhistory.org or call 706-745-5493. In the process of discovering more details about the SEBA Celebration, you’ll no doubt notice the many other activities and events presented by UCHS. Sam Ensley, the Society’s president (and band leader of Roots and Branches), is the main organizer behind the Celebration and other musical events presented by the Society.

In addition to music on three stages, there will be jamming all around Blairsville’s historic courthouse square and the downtown area. The Friday night concerts are upstairs in the old courtroom of the courthouse. Music begins at six and goes on almost non-stop until 11PM or so. Saturday, in addition to the courtroom, there will be performances at the old city hall building, just a block west of the square and at the historic Butt-Mock Home, two blocks south of the square. The old city hall location may be an open mic stage, with no firm schedule. The scheduled music performances will begin at 11AM and continue until late afternoon. In the event of rain, there is an alternate indoor site. Naturally, in addition to all the scheduled music, the pickers and jammers will provide plenty of entertainment, probably well into the evening both Friday and Saturday. Remember, there is no admission charge for any of the entertainment or events. It’s all free, but SEBA and UCHS do ask that you contribute as you are led to help continue their activities and missions.

There will be a variety of craft and other vendors on hand offering their wares. Vendors who wish to display and sell at the Celebration are invited to do so at no charge. Simply contact UCHS using the contact information at the end of this article. There will be no food vendors. Instead, attendees are encouraged to enjoy the cuisine of Blairsville’s local restaurants. The downtown locations and those within walking distance will be staying open late. There are several eateries right on the square and others in close proximity. See the UCHS website for a listing.

UCHS and SEBA have lined up several musical instruments and related items which will be raffled during the Celebration. Anyone who would like to donate quality prizes to be offered for raffle is encouraged to get in touch.

Other activities include Saturday workshops covering instruction in playing musical instruments, advice on live sound, tips for recording in the studio, website design and maintenance, and other topics. The workshops will be held at the Blairsville Christian Center, just south of the square on U.S. 19/129, across the street from the Butt-Mock Home stage.

There are several slots still open for volunteers to assist in a variety of ways to help make the Celebration a success. If you can offer a few hours of your time, please see the contact information below.

Lodging opportunities are plenteous, ranging from motels to bed-and-breakfast rooms to cabins to camping. The UCHS website is a rich resource if you decide to spend the night in or around Blairsville. Several lodging establishments are offering special discounts.

Y’all come and help SEBA and UCHS celebrate in fine bluegrass style September 21 and 22 in Blairsville!

Information & Contacts

General Info & Vendors: Union County Historical Society www.unioncountyhistory.org, 706-745-5493, history1@alltel.net

Volunteers: any member of SEBA or UCHS e-mail info@SEBABluegrass.org