Songwriters Round in August; Debbie Bond to Perform in September

Several exciting events are slated for late summer and early fall. We kick it off with the Music on the Mountain Songwriter Series on Tuesday, Aug. 6, on the Padgett Stage inside the Chuck Sennett Center for the Arts. Cliff Abbott and Jon Kinsey will co-host the free Nashville-style songwriters round.

Cliff Abbott

Since 2014, Abbott has introduced six collections of his original music, including two bluegrass-themed albums, a Gospel collection, and, most recently, three singer-songwriter-style albums with minimal instrumentation. He keeps his creativity alive as a journalist for The Trucker Media Group and, of course, writing and performing. He appears regularly on the Dee Ford Show on WOTM TV throughout Alabama and has been the featured songwriter at the Music on the Mountain series. He mentors aspiring songwriters through Sugar Creek SongCrafters, meeting on the second Thursday of each month at the Sugar Creek Music Club in Hayden, Alabama.

Jon Kinsey

Kinsey is Southern born and raised in the hollers of Northwest Georgia. He brings a unique sound to the stage. With a nice blend of traditional country and a bit of edgy rock vocals, he wows audiences on any stage. From smoky dives to classy dining establishments and a bit of everything in between, he has taken the stage and unleashed his own blend of music across multiple states.

Now with several charting hits, including Dirt Road, Close to You, and others, Kinsey has cemented himself as a legit writer and performer.

The night will begin with two to three songwriters sharing their original stories and songs, followed by a performance mixing Abbott and Kinsey to entertain the audience and answer questions.

The next scheduled songwriter series is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 1, with the return of host Craig Hendricks.

Fall Social on the Calendar
Our Fall Social will be Thursday, Sept. 12, from 5:30-7 p.m. More details will be announced soon.

Debbie Bond and “Radiator” Rick

Debbie Bond and “Radiator” Rick to Perform
On Friday, Sept. 27, we welcome Debbie Bond and “Radiator” Rick back to Mentone for an exciting two-hour show. American singer-songwriter Bond has been performing for decades in the Alabama backwoods and is now a regular on the Southern U.S. and European club and festival circuit.

Influenced by raw juke joint blues and the famed sounds of Muscle Shoals, Bond’s impressive story includes years of performing with traditional Alabama blues musicians, such as Johnny Shines, Eddie Kirkland, Willie King, Shar Baby, Little Jimmy Reed, and more. Immersion in Alabama roots music has deeply flavored her guitar playing, soulful voice, and original songwriting, giving her a contemporary and original sound, with soul, blues, and jazz influences.

Her collaboration with British-born keyboard and harmonica player “Radiator” Rick has added a swampy New Orleans edge to her sound.

Bond is a blues activist and founder of the award-winning Alabama Blues Project, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting and preserving the state’s blues heritage. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Keeping the Blues Alive Award from the Blues Foundation, and a prestigious Coming Up Taller Award for her blues education work with the Alabama Blues Project. She has been recognized by the Alabama Music Hall of Fame as a Blues Achiever and the national Blues Hall of Fame as a Great Blues Artist.

Tickets go on sale in the near future and will be announced on our Facebook page.

For more information on any of the events, please see contact info below.