Merle Monroe to perform during Covered Bridge Days
Published 4:40 pm Monday, September 13, 2021
Contributed Photo Merle Monroe is a very distinguished group with multiple number one hits, including songs such as 'God's Still in Control' and 'Hello Sunshine.'
Contributed Photo Derek Deakins, a Kingsport, Tennessee native will also be performing with Merle Monroe in Downtown Elizabethton on Friday, September 24th at 8 pm.
Contributed Photo Daniel Grindstaff (Right) is a native of Elizabethton and will be performing with Tim Raybon and the rest of Merle Monroe during Elizabethton's Covered Bridge Days.
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
BY NIC MILLER
STAR STAFF
nic.miller@elizabethton.com
Elizabethton’s annual Covered Bridge Days Festival is drawing near, with the event kicking off next Friday, September 24th and concluding on that following Sunday, September 26th.
The festival will be a weekend to enjoy for anyone who wishes to attend, with inflatables, vendors, food trucks, live music and even more coming to downtown Elizabethton in the coming days.
With that being said, the live music to be performed will consist of many local bands and performers, like the group performing to end the festivities on Friday night at 8 pm, Merle Monroe.
The band consists of two members from around the area, Daniel Grindstaff who is an Elizabethton, Tennessee native, as well as Derek Deakins who plays the fiddle from Kingsport, Tennessee.
The band covers many genres of music such as country, bluegrass, and gospel music, and has had much success when it comes to their songs, having multiple number one hits.
Grindstaff spoke on what listeners will be able to hear during their performance on the 24th, saying, “We will be performing some songs that have done very well for us off of our new album such as ‘Hello Sunshine’ which was the number one bluegrass song for the month of November last year, as well ‘Leaving Town Tonight ‘ which is a more recent number one song for us.”
We have a gospel song that was in the top ten for 54 weeks, 12 of which it was placed at the number one spot titled ‘God’s Still in Control.’ Along with our originals, we will also be doing some crowd favorites for everyone in attendance to enjoy.”
“Elizabethton is my hometown and this will be the last time that I will be able to play in the East Tennessee area for a while, so it will be great to be able to play in my hometown and have some family come out to listen.”
Grindstaff also spoke on another member of the group who is also from the area, saying, “The gentleman that plays fiddle with us, Derek Deakins, is also from around the area in Kingsport. We met at the Grand Ole Opry when we were performing there, and he actually went on to play with Blake Shelton for six years.”
“He spent a lot of time playing during the Rascal Flatts tour with him, so we are looking forward to having him with us back in his hometown area as well.”
Such a distinguished band, Merle Monroe will be a show that all members of the family will be able to come out and enjoy during Covered Bridge Days.
