Southern Maryland Bluegrass-Lonesome River Band

Bluegrass keeps rolling on with Lonesome River Band Sunday February 9th

The most widely admired and most influential Bluegrass recording artist Lonesome River Band returns once again and will headline the 5th concert in the Southern Maryland Bluegrass series at the Elks.

California MD – January 10 2025 — The Southern Maryland Bluegrass Concert Series hosted by Jay Armsworthy continues to feature some of today’s national known singers and pickers in Bluegrass music from all genders of life. On Sunday February 9th 2025 Lonesome River Band will take the stage for another demanding performance starting at 2 pm at the Calvert Elks Lodge which is located at 1015 Dares Beach Road in Prince Frederick MD.

Few bluegrass groups have been around for forty years and even fewer have been more popular more widely admired or more influential for as long as Mountain Home Music Company recording artists Lonesome River Band. By the early 1990s they were winning key awards and topping the charts and while members have come and gone the quintet’s reputation for crafting essential Bluegrass has only grown with each passing year. As quoted by band leader Sammy Shelor “After 40 years in the business LRB is looking forward to bringing some new music to our wonderful Southern Maryland friends once again.”

           LRB (as they are mostly referred to) has won many awards and have numerous award nominations throughout their 40-year career. Band Leader Sammy Shelor is a five-time IBMA Banjo Player of the Year as well as receiving the movie actor Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass in 2011. They have played multiple sold out shows in the past 2 years and they have had several #1 hits on many different music charts including Bluegrass Unlimited Bluegrass Today and even Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums chart. They have performed on stage with the likes of Alan Jackson Luke Bryan Earl Thomas Conley James LeBlanc and Lee Ann Womack. 

Band members Shelor and Mike Hartgrove performed with actor Martin Short when Steve Martin was honored with the 43rd American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award. The award was presented to Steve Martin during the gala tribute in Los Angeles California and live on TBS. The star-studded event included Tina Fey Amy Poehler Maya Rudolph Conan O’Brien Dan Aykroyd Jack Black Kevin Nealon Steve Carell and many more. LRB performed with Steve Martin on the Late Show with David Letterman who presented Sammy with his “Steve Martin Prize” during the broadcast in 2011.

Lonesome River Band will hit the stage at 2:00 pm with doors opening at Noon. Tickets are $23.00 per person and under 12 free with a paid adult. Hamburgers Hot Dogs with all the trimmings will be available for sale from Noon until 2:00 pm by the Calvert Elks. Tickets are available at the door. Although not required if you prefer to pay in advance you may do so by going to www.somdbluegrass.com or call 301-737-3004. 

The remainder of the series brings a double header in March with the hard-core mournful sound of the Junior Sisk Band March 2nd and singer/songwriter Donna Ulisse making her 1st time appearance on March 23rd. Closing the Southern Maryland Concert Series will be 10-time award winning Bass Player of the Year in Bluegrass music Missy Raines and her band Alleghany. Bluegrass Country Radio (www.bluegrasscountry.org) is a proud media sponsor of Southern Maryland Bluegrass at the Elks.

Host or Publisher jay chelle