Larry Keel and Natural Bridge invite you to come on a sonic journey that will free your senses and soul through an acoustic ride.Mountain-grown in Virginia to a musical family, Larry Keel has a clear vision of what he wants to do with his musical talents. The guiding principle is to nurture and preserve American musical heritage while letting it inspire Keel’s own original writing and playing.

Larry Keel is a true heir to the Bluegrass legacy, and his talents as a guitar genius, an innovative and expressive singer-songwriter and a bandleader place him amongst the best of the purveyors of American Mountain Music.

With a keen focus on talent, Larry has assembled Natural Bridge, a masterful union of kindred spirits who share a common musical vision. Held together by the beautiful, cheerful steady backbone Jenny Keel (bass fiddle, vocals), Natural Bridge features the atomic Mark Schimick (mandolin, vocals) and the charming, crescendo pickin’ Jason Flournoy (banjo, vocals).

Together, the quartet represents the best and brightest of what bluegrass music has to offer.

“Backwoods,” LKNB’s newest studio project, co-produced with Keller Williams, was unleashed in February 2009 and is winning over the spirits of everyone who listens.

“It’s clear that the foursome mesh together so very well in a thrilling union of skills,” said John Patrick of jambands. “Which brings me to what makes Backwoods so engrossing.

“We’ve been blessed with so many gifted musicians among the roots world that it causes a lingering sense of amazement as much as it unintentionally creates a slightly jaded feeling. It’s the approach to the material that makes all the difference here, a hybrid of bluegrass with folk, country and jazz that tweaks the arrangements in subtly, shifting ways to grab one’s attention.

“Keel dubs it New Mountain Music, and that’s good enough for me. It feels like sunshine peaking through a thick forest or a sunrise with the grass caked by morning dew.”

Over the years Larry Keel has become a world-class flatpicking guitarist, and that talent has earned him legendary status with fans and the highest respect amongst his musical peers.

In recent performances Larry has led bands involving such industry icons as Tony Rice, Jack Lawrence, Mike Marshall, Darol Anger, Curtis Burch (New Grass Revival), Vassar Clements, Joe Craven, Jim Lauderdale, Peter Rowan, Eddie Adcock; in addition he has played specialty sets with Fred Tackett, Bela Fleck, Keller Williams, Darrell Scott and Sam Bush and guitar workshops along side David Grier and Norman Blake.

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge will play Friday, Sept. 4 at 10 p.m. at the Stir Fry Café in Johnson City. Admission is $5, and you must be 21 or older for admission.

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