Express bluegrass concert to benefit Colton art program

Thorn Creek Express bluegrass band will play at the Colton School gym May 3 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. All proceeds will benefit a visual art program coordinated by Artisans at the Dahmen Barn at the Colton School next year. The suggested donations are $12 for a family, $10 per adult, and $5 per child. Children’s face painting will be available at 6 p.m. and during the intermission for a donation.

The goal is raising $5,000 to continue the program next year.

Due to cuts in state funding, students at Colton school have not had visual art taught in their classrooms for several years. Artisans at the Dahmen Barn’s Leslee Miller designed a visual art program and received a grant from the Inland Northwest Community Foundation to bring several creative art experiences to each Colton student this school year.

Several practicing artists from the region have led the students in experiencing new mediums. This year’s program will culminate in an exhibit and sale of student work in May at the Dahmen Barn along with a fund raising auction on May 19.

Thorn Creek Express is a group of talented brothers who began their career in bluegrass music debuting at the Dahmen Barn in 2007 and have since heightened their level of musicianship taking up multiple instruments and refining their harmonies into a style they refer to as Newgrass Americana.

Lucas, now age 19 and a biological systems engineering major at the University of Idaho, plays electric and acoustic guitar, dobro, bass guitar and the latest addition to the band, the stand-up bass. He also sings lead and back up harmonies. Austin, 17, is the band’s lead fiddle and mandolin player. He sings lead vocals on many tunes, along with complementary harmonies with his identical twin brother. He also takes his turn on the dobro. Tyler, Austin’s twin, loves playing guitar and practices several hours each day. He is just as devoted to the piano and is studying classical performance. He also helps his brother out on mandolin, along with vocals.

The youngest brother Carson, 14, started playing fiddle at age 7, but now plays the banjo. He spends several hours each day learning new songs and licks, along with listening and analyzing banjo greats.

Realizing that many youth do not have the opportunity to practice with a group, the brothers through the years have encouraged young musicians to perform with them at local retirement centers. Additionally, as they don’t mind sharing the spotlight, the brothers often invite others to open shows or make guest appearances with them.

The brothers give much of the credit for their band’s success, including unique arrangements and sound, to their teacher and mentor Michael ‘Doc’ Rosgen.