For years, Robin Dean Salmon and Afton Seekins made their living on the road. As the songwriters behind Surrender Hill, they played more than 200 shows annually, sharpening their blend of soul, country, and rock & roll one gig at at time. They weren't just an Americana duo; they were full-time world travelers, too, funneling their experiences into the story-driven songs and autobiographical anthems that filled albums like A Whole Lot of Freedom. Things changed in 2020, when a global pandemic brought Surrender Hill's touring schedule to a sudden halt. From their home in northern Georgia, Robin and Afton watched as the country around them struggled to regain its footing. They began writing songs that responded to the modern moment—songs about division, struggle, survival, and redemption, anchored by melodic hooks and diverse arrangements. Some songs nodded to the band's longtime appreciation for mellow, melancholic Americana music. Others skewed closer to honky-tonk and western swing, influenced by larger-than-life Texans like Bob Wills and Willie Nelson. The result is Just Another Honky Tonk in a Quiet Western Town, an ambitious double-album project that shows the full reach of Surrender Hill's abilities. The first record, Just Another Honky Tonk, unfolds like the jukebox playlist of some neon-lit cowboy bar in the Wild West, full of Telecaster twang, classic melodies, and the occasional dobro. It's a lighthearted record, stocked with original songs inspired by Robin's childhood on a Texas ranch. An award-winning rock & roll front man who spent the first half of his adolescence in apartheid-era South Africa, he relocated with his family to along horn ranch in Texas during the early '80s. When the teenage Robin wasn't listening to a cross-cultural mix of the Sex Pistols, the Texas Playboys, Marty Robbins, and the Clash, he'd participate in trail drives, spending his nights sleeping beneath the stars of a wide-open Texas sky. "I'll always remember the sound of these older cowboys sitting around the campfire during the evening, telling stories," says Robin, who pays tribute to those memories with Just Another Honky Tonk's opening track, "Cowboy Campfire Song. "Just Another Honk's counterpart is Quiet Western Town, an Americana record that digs deep into the lonesomeness of today's world. "Tumbleweed" is a song about isolation, inspired by the shuttered store fronts and empty sidewalks that turned once-thriving cities into ghost towns during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic. "Call Upon My Friends" celebrates the social circles that can provide support during times of struggle, while "Love Your Neighbor" nods to the dividing lines that run throughout American society, with lyrics that call for open-mindedness and compassion. “Nothing but the Skin” cuts through the divisive struggles we have all faced in recent times and beckons to wake up to the possibilities of finding deeper meaning through real human interactions. The diversity that runs throughout the two-disc Just Another Honky Tonk in a Quiet Western Town is emblematic of the bandmates' own experiences. Before meeting Robin at a gig in Sedona, Arizona, Afton Seekins grew [...]

The Multifaceted award-winning group, The Isaacs have spent five decades creating the undeniable family harmonies and distinct sound that have made them a favorite among audiences everywhere. They toured with country superstar Reba McEntire this last spring and they are currently writing for their next album project that will take them in the studio early next year with renowned producer-extraordinaire, Dave Cobb. As matriarch Lily and her three children Ben, Sonya and Becky celebrate their 50th anniversary, the 2021 Grand Ole Opry inductees and Gospel Music Hall of Famers continue to build on the legacy first launched by the family back in 1971, with a newfound excitement and never-waning passion for the music they love to make. The masterful vocalists, instrumentalists and songwriters are known for their ability to bridge and blend genres, and their sound has led to invites from high-profile contemporaries including Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Paul Simon and many more to sing on over 50 albums and share many stages across the country. The group’s origins reach back decades. The Isaacs first started playing on the Grand Ole Opry 30 years ago, and are frequent guests on the weekly show. They play over 100 dates a year for fans around the world, and have performed on prestigious stages like Carnegie Hall, entertained fans at CMA Fest, the "CMA Country Christmas" special and many more. The much-lauded group has also been nominated and performed on numerous awards shows, including the Grammys, GMA Dove Awards, where they have earned 19 Dove Awards collectively in various categories. They have also won trophies at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, the Singing News Fan Awards and the Inspirational Christian Country Awards. Three of their recent projects received consecutive Grammy nominations for “Best Roots Gospel Album” and “Best Roots Gospel Song.” They often tour internationally, traveling to South Africa, Norway, Holland, Scotland, Ireland, Israel, Canada, the Faroe Islands, and more to bring their musical messages to fans around the globe. This band has traveled the world taking their message through music and Ellijay is fortunate to have them coming to Gilmer County for the Gilmer Arts Christmas Concert at the Victory Christian Center on Sunday, December 8th. There will be a meet and greet for holders of VIP tickets following the concert. Review: I would rate the Issacs as a 10 ~ Augusta Historic Theatre

Brock Vickers, Atlanta stage and television actor, will star in "A One Man Christmas Carol" on Dec. 13 & 14. Prior to the performance on the 13th Dapper Santa will be on hand for photo ops. On the 14th 10-1 Mr. Vickers will offer an acting workshop covering Audition standards, Shakespeare, and the break down of old text and rehearsing hacks. This is a family friendly show done much the same way that Patrick Stewart's One man show had Sir Patrick playing narrator and multiple characters. It is not a reading - it is a telling of the wonderful story that Charles Dickens wrote in fall of 1843 while in dire financial situation, having a fifth child on the way, and having read and become horrified at the 1843 Parliamentary Commission Report on the Employment of Women and Children. Dickens began writing being driven by financial need but also a genuine hope to address societal issues and be an advocate for the poor. He completed the work in six weeks. It was published and sold out in a week. However, printing costs took most of the proceeds and adaptations were rampant. In an effort to make an income Dickens took to the stage and began performing one-man readings of the book. Until 1870 he had performed over 125 of these shows. He eventually made money on the book - through his one man shows.

❖ The 2025 Fiber Art Exhibition will not be juried❖ There are two categories: 2 Dimensional and 3 Dimensional works of fiber art ❖ Submission deadline – Friday, November 22, 2024, 5pm ❖ Entry Fee - No entry fee ❖ Artists will be notified of acceptance of submitted works on or before November 29, 2024 ❖ Dates of the Exhibit – Sunday, December 15, 2024, through, Tuesday, February 22, 2025 ❖ The Annual Fiber Art Exhibition is open to artists 16 years of age and older. ❖ Each applicant may submit up to 4 entries in photographic/electronic image format for review. ❖ Peoples' Choice Award wins one-year membership to Gilmer Arts and Two Tickets to a 2025 play of their choice & Photo with piece published.