FarmStrong Band coming to George this Saturday

GEORGE - The FarmStrong Band, which is really musicianship strong, will be the first group in the George Community Hall Coffee House Concert Series for 2014-15.

FarmStrong will take the stage at 7 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 11. The Georgettes will provide refreshments.

The Coffee House series presents seven bluegrass acts from around the Northwest from October to April. The FarmStrong Band offers bluegrass with added flavors.

FarmStrong brings together four talented and experienced bluegrass musicians and singers to form a musical project that reaches outside the traditional territory of bluegrass music.

After a couple of years performing as a country singing duo, Jim Faddis and Cort Armstrong developed a distinctive harmony blend.

The Travis-style guitar picking of Armstrong complimented Faddis' solid rhythm guitar. So the two considered putting a band together.

Rick Meade came into the picture in early 2013, and an immediate vocal and instrumental chemistry arose. Meade exceeded the expectations of the original duo, with a perfectly complementary baritone voice, and virtuosity on dobro, banjo and guitar.

John Pyles came to the group in April of 2013, and his involvement in the band's song arranging made an immediate impact, as did his exceptional bass playing.

A fire burns brightly in the FarmStrong camp. Each member has become attached to the new direction this band is taking them. Exquisite harmony and tasteful instrumentation is at the heart of the band's sound.

It is all tied together by a cohesive band sound rooted in music from the mountains.