Overflow Audience for "White Lightning" Show, March 12, City Lights, Sylva

Wow. What a night with the Liars Bench at City Lights this past Saturday night! Thank you ladies and gentlemen for making this "white lightning" show an overwhelming success.

Paul Iarussi and Benny Messer of the "Sweet Tater Band" entertained everyone with their foot-stomping old time claw hammer guitar and "upside down and backwards" banjo music and singing.

Marion Jones and Jack Parris described in detail how Smoky Mountain 'dew' was made in Marion's genuine moonshine still. The audience learned how to become amateur distillers of the finest 'medicinal' spirits.

Lloyd Arneach entertained us all thoroughly with his authentic Cherokee stories.

Steve Brady gave a detailed (and sometimes personal) and very entertaining history of the earliest beginnings of the very close association between NASCAR and moonshine bootlegging giving new meaning to "drinking and driving."

Gary Carden, despite technical difficulties with the a/v equipment, had everyone laughing and clapping with his stories of 'Major' Louis Redmond, Jackson County's most famous (and successful) moonshiner.

Thank you Paul, Benny, Marion, Jack, Lloyd, Steve, Gary, Dave; and, most of all, thank you our audience and loyal fans for being our special guests at The Liars Bench--the region's only authentic traditional Southern Appalachian storytelling, music, poetry, dramatic, and folk arts live variety show.

Our next presentation is at the Chautauqua Andrews, Friday April1 at 7pm at the Valleytown Cultural Arts Center where the cast of The Liars Bench takes our unique brand of Southern Appalachian entertainment "beyond the Iron Mountains and into the West." Go to http://www.chautauquaandrews.org/ for more details.

On Saturday April 9 at 7pm The Liars Bench returns to City Lights Bookstore in Sylva for "Creeks, Rivers, and Ridges of the Great Smokies" with special guest and award-winning author, outdoorsman, and Bryson City native Jim Casada.

Again folks, thank you for your support. We couldn't do it without you.
Cordially,
Carl Iobst
The Liars Bench
theliarsbenchpr@gmail.com
http://theliarsbenchgazette.blogspot.com/
www.facebook.com/LiarsBenchBunch

P.S. Bodine says 'hey.'

"White Lightning" Liars Bench Show at City Lights Sylva, March 12,2011

The Liars Bench

“An Authentic Traditional Southern Appalachian Storytelling, Music, Poetry, Dramatic, and Folk Arts Live Variety Show”

 

Host of The Liars Bench announces eleventh show at City Lights Bookstore, Sylva.

Liars Bench Southern Appalachian variety show to play a “moonshining in the mountains” presentation at local Sylva bookstore.

Celebrating “moonshining in the mountains,” The Liars Bench, Western North Carolina’s own Southern Appalachian live variety show plays City Lights Bookstore Saturday March 12 at 7:00 pm for the show’s eleventh time. Marion Jones, Jack Parris, Gary Carden, Lloyd Arneach, Barbara Duncan, Steve Brady, and Paul Iarussi will be performing at this March 12 “white lightening” show. Gary Carden, a noted local folklorist and storyteller, will give a special introduction to a short segment of “Prince of Dark Corners”, the story of Louis Redmond, a famous Jackson County ‘moonshiner.’ Marion Jones and Jack Parris will demonstrate with an authentic ‘still’ how the old timers made (some still do) “white liquor.” Steve Brady will relate, in story and song, the strong ties between the moonshining industry and the beginnings of NASCAR. Admission is free.

Dave Waldrop, The Liars Bench host, said “this show is definitely going to be a unique cultural event and an opportunity for the audience to learn about our southern mountain history. I wouldn’t be in the least surprised to see a revenuer or two.”

Regular cast members include Gary Carden, Lloyd Arneach, Paul Iarussi, Barbara Duncan, Dave Waldrop, Steve Brady, and the show’s mascot Bodine. The Liars Bench recognizes established artists and performers and encourages new talent also. The Liars Bench has been a crowd pleaser from the very first show in June of 2010 promoting any and all aspects of Appalachian culture.

The Liars Bench creator Gary Carden said “from the very first The Liars Bench has been on the cutting edge blending authentic traditional Southern Appalachian culture with entertainment for children and adults—no matter where they come from. The Liars Bench strives, and succeeds, in giving an accurate view of the people and their culture here in the southern mountains.”

The Liars Bench was started in the early summer of 2010 by Gary Carden to promote Southern Appalachian storytelling, music, poetry, drama, and folk arts.