Concert information courtesy of the Union County Historical Society, located in Blairsville, GA:
Returning to the Old Courthouse on the Square in Blairsville are longtime favorites, the Blind Pig Gang. They will perform at 7:00 PM on Friday, August 24.
The Blind Pig Gang takes its name from a popular Appalachian blog owned by bass player Tipper Pressley. The blog, of course, takes its name from an old Appalachian maxim about luck, "Even a blind pig finds an acorn every once in a while." The group specializes in music and vocals that are of a style predating bluegrass.
Patriarch Jerry Wilson provides song writing, rhythm guitar, and a high tenor vocal harmony. Through the years he has won many prestigious awards as part of The Wilson Brothers.
Son Paul Wilson sings lead vocal and plays lead guitar. Tipper's daughters, known as "Chitter" and "Chatter" to fans of the blog, play guitar, fiddle, and sing duets with each other.
The group offers a mix of Gospel and old time songs, with the occasional classic country or rock song thrown in for fun. They have been playing together as a band for around five years, and their music is featured on the blog in a segment called "Pickin' in the Kitchen."
Many online visitors enjoy their unique blend of Appalachian music while they also read about Appalachian folklore, cooking, and culture.
The Blind Pig Gang takes its name from a popular Appalachian blog owned by bass player Tipper Pressley. The blog, of course, takes its name from an old Appalachian maxim about luck, "Even a blind pig finds an acorn every once in a while." The group specializes in music and vocals that are of a style predating bluegrass.
Patriarch Jerry Wilson provides song writing, rhythm guitar, and a high tenor vocal harmony. Through the years he has won many prestigious awards as part of The Wilson Brothers.
Son Paul Wilson sings lead vocal and plays lead guitar. Tipper's daughters, known as "Chitter" and "Chatter" to fans of the blog, play guitar, fiddle, and sing duets with each other.
The group offers a mix of Gospel and old time songs, with the occasional classic country or rock song thrown in for fun. They have been playing together as a band for around five years, and their music is featured on the blog in a segment called "Pickin' in the Kitchen."
Many online visitors enjoy their unique blend of Appalachian music while they also read about Appalachian folklore, cooking, and culture.
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If you live in the area-I hope you'll come out to hear us make a little music next Friday night. I was wishing I had some history about the old courthouse to share with you-but I couldn't really settle on anything to tell you. I mentioned my lack of inspiration at our Sunday afternoon pickin' and grinnin' session. Chitter said "Well you could write about the Robert E. Lee ghost."
Needless to say that statement got all of our attention. There was an almost harmonious chorus of "What!?"
Chitter said "I went downstairs last year when we where there. I turned around to go back upstairs and saw someone walk swiftly past in the hallway. I stepped back down the step to see if the museum door was shut and it was-there was no one else downstairs but me. The person I saw looked just like Robert E. Lee."
Needless to say that statement got all of our attention. There was an almost harmonious chorus of "What!?"
Chitter said "I went downstairs last year when we where there. I turned around to go back upstairs and saw someone walk swiftly past in the hallway. I stepped back down the step to see if the museum door was shut and it was-there was no one else downstairs but me. The person I saw looked just like Robert E. Lee."
Me and Guitar Man asked Chitter why Robert E. Lee would be in Blairsville, GA-she said she didn't know but it was him alright. Personally I think Chitter's trying to pull our leg. But she and her sister said they'd be on the look out for Mr. Lee this Friday night.
Be sure to drop back by tomorrow for a guest post written by Ethelene Dyer Jones about the Historical Union County Courthouse.
Tipper
Sure would love to be there! I can just imagine what a great show it will be. And maybe our REL will come flatfootin' out on stage ;)
Posted by: Granny Sue | August 20, 2012 at 11:11 PM
What a good-looking, talented family you all are!
Posted by: vicki lane | August 20, 2012 at 10:20 PM
Tipper,
Nice write up...Wish we could be there...What is it about the word Blair...etc. that brings up whitches and ghosts..
Guess it's getting that time of year again...If felt like fall this morning...heard a murder of crows...don't know which corn patch they were watching...certainly none around here..so I sent them your way..
Love ya, PS That's a good picture of the gang...
Posted by: B. ruth | August 20, 2012 at 06:40 PM
If it wasn't so far, I'd love to go hear you sing. Know it'll be great fun.
Posted by: kat | August 20, 2012 at 05:02 PM
Tipper: Wish we could 'pop over' to Blairsville to hear you all. We were just there a few weeks ago and won't be back til Sept. I just love that old Courthouse! And the motel just across the way is a good place to stay if anybody needs overnight accommodations!!
Eva Nell
Posted by: Eva Nell Mull Wike, Ph.D. | August 20, 2012 at 02:44 PM
Tipper,
This is good news to have the Blind Pig Gang close enough to
go to. Hope to see you all there.
Last year I fooled around and got
there late, had to stand in the
balcony. I'm glad I went! ...Ken
Posted by: Ken | August 20, 2012 at 02:00 PM
The University of North Alabama served as a gathering place in the Civil War. General Lee used Wesleyan Hall as his headquarters for a while, and he has been seen roaming around the halls and attic on occasion. I have not seen him personally, but it appears the old boy gets around! :) Wish I could come to hear your music.
Posted by: Wanda in NoAla | August 20, 2012 at 01:58 PM
The Blind Pig Gang is wonderful. I'm too far away to make this gig but hopefully in the future. Tipper, you have to get the the girls on iTunes! Recording their music and making it available for download is a must.
Best wishes,
Gary
Posted by: Gary Miller | August 20, 2012 at 01:09 PM
Well I would go hear you guys if you were anywhere close to Wichita, KS. Even though I may not be a country music or hillbilly music fan, I would still go just to meet you.{or mountain music) I took piano for years but it was all classical as Mama wouldn't even let me play popular (1940's) music back then.
She was my piano teacher until I started high school. And guess what I married a man who played guitar and sang hillbilly think Johnny Cash maybe.
Posted by: Dorothy | August 20, 2012 at 10:32 AM
THANKS FOR THE GOOD MUSIC THAT
YOU PUT ON MY COMPUTER I LISTEN
TO IT EVERY MORNING, IT'S JUST ONE SONG AFTER ANOTHER IT GETS
MY DAY STARTED IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION. GOOD LOCK ON THE 24TH
WISH I COULD BE THERE.
JOHNIE IN ARK,
Posted by: JOHNIE T. ARANT | August 20, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Hope you have a great time at Blairsville and the girls can get a glimpse of Robert E. Lee! We have a few spirits around my old house...I believe she just might have seen him.:)
Posted by: Cee | August 20, 2012 at 09:46 AM
Could be Gen. Lee likes a little pickin too and will show up for the concert, if so give him my regards.
Posted by: Bill Burnett | August 20, 2012 at 09:39 AM
Tipper, that's a very nice write up they did for you all.
Leave it up to Chitter to liven things up. lol
I hope she takes a camera with her this time.
I know you guys will WOW the audience, as you always do. Will the girls dance any? I love to watch them dance they have such beautiful long legs and dance with such ease!
Posted by: Miss Cindy | August 20, 2012 at 09:35 AM
Good luck to all of you. I know that the concert will be a big success.
Posted by: Ron Perry | August 20, 2012 at 09:29 AM
I wish all of you a wonderful evening, that is, minus the spirit of Robert E. Lee. There may be spirits around, but I don't wish to experience their apparition. I anxiously await the update of the evening.
Posted by: dolores barton | August 20, 2012 at 09:07 AM
How I wish I lived close enough to attend. To be known as 'a longtime favorite' says a lot about The Blind Pig Gang! You all deserve the recognition.
Posted by: Shirla | August 20, 2012 at 09:02 AM
Oh I so wish I did live close to the court house to hear you sing---and a bit later I'd sneak off with Chitter and Chatter to see the "GHOST" Please do a follow up report to us "the blind pig followers" and let us know if the girls did get to see him again.
Posted by: LINDA L. KERLIN | August 20, 2012 at 08:26 AM
hi, been a while since i have been here. i missed a couple of weeks from gall bladder surgery, got better then came down with vertigo, now i am doing a little blogging and stopped to say i missed you
Posted by: MadSnapper | August 20, 2012 at 08:24 AM
Can't wait to hear if you saw REL.
Posted by: Sheryl Paul | August 20, 2012 at 08:20 AM
i always wondered about the title of your blog. thanks
Posted by: kay dallas | August 20, 2012 at 08:02 AM
Thank you so much for sharing your great music. It sounds country music to me PLUS something different that I can't really define - I'm afraid I don't have an ear for music. Wishing the Blind Pig Gang the best of success. I'm sure you will rock on August 24!
Posted by: Anastasia | August 20, 2012 at 05:49 AM