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Feature Article June 26

Feature Article June 26,2003

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Concerts in Memory of David BrisonGet Up Johnny

The last six months of Frontenac News Publisher and Editor David Brisons life coincided with a monthly bluegrass concert series by the Abrams Family & Clarendon Station at the Doris James Hall in Snow Road.

Fortunately David felt well for several of those months, and the amount of pleasure he drew from the concerts in Snow road was infectious. Wayne Abrams, the patriarch of the Abrams clan, credits Davids coverage of the band with their success. This cannot be completely true, because in the first of Davids articles about the band, published one year ago this week, he reported there was already an enthusiastic full house at the hall in Snow Road.

Nonetheless, Clarendon Station has become a sort of House band for the Frontenac News, and we have been delighted to report on their progress in the past year, as they have expanded their audience throughout the County of Frontenac, to the City of Kingston and beyond..

The combination of experience, provided by the committed playing of Clarendon Station, the exuberance of Wayne, Brian and Mary Abrams, and the burgeoning talents of the boys, James and John, have been a joy to follow.

At the concert last Sunday, a fundraiser for the Sharbot Lake Food Bank in Davids honour, a new side of John Abrams came to the fore. The 13-year-old fiddler has been working on the mandolin for a while, playing it on stage on occasion, but when he took centre stage to play Get up Johnny, he not only showed how far he has come on mandolin; he also took hold of the band and propelled the music forward. John Abrams set a fast pace for the tune, and drew the best solo performances of the day from his brother James and banjo player Glenn MacDonald.

Next month, a special outdoor concert is planned in Snow Road, which will take place across the road from the Doris James Hall. It will be hosted by the Abrams Family & Clarendon Station, and will cost $10. All proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Snow Road District Fire Station. Tickets are now available at the D&M store in Snow Road, The Sharbot Lake General Store (Petro-Canada), Stedmans V&S, The Junction, and at other locations.

With the participation of the Government of Canada