Acoustic Groove Duo at Hickory Ridge
DICKSON MOUNDS — There will be some good old fashioned guitar fingerpicking coming to the Hickory Ridge Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. Saturday when The Acoustic Groove Duo takes the stage for their debut performance. Dave Berchtold and Brian Stear bring a basketful of finger picking good folk, blues, gospel, roots, rags and originals to the table on guitar, harmonica and mandolin with material that ranges from Leadbelly to Jorma Koukonan and the Allman Brothers.
A native of central Illinois, Berchtold has been playing acoustic guitar for more than 30 years. His playing has been influenced by a wide variety of artists including Chet Atkins, Doc Watson, Gregg Allman, Leo Kottke, John Fahey, Rev. Gary Davis and Jorma Kaukonen. He is joined by his musical partner multi-instrumentalist Stear on harmonica, mandolin, guitar, vocals and his Grandma’s old washboard. Together they cover the gambit acoustic instrumentals featuring his emotive finger picking (such as “Little Martha” by the Allman Brothers and “Embryonic Journey” by Jorma Kaukonen) to a huge variety of folk, blues, ragtime, roots rock, gospel, and acoustic classics.
The Hickory Ridge Concert Series is hosted by singer-songwriter Chris Vallillo. Concerts are held the third Saturday of every month at Dickson Mounds Museum and begin at 7:30 p.m. with the museum lobby opening at 6:30 p.m. Coffee, drinks and a variety of desserts are available during intermission. There is an admission charge of $5 per adult and $3 for children under 12. Sitting is limited to the first 150 people. You can also visit the concert series Web site at: http://hickoryridge.outfitters.com/.
The Dickson Mounds Branch of the Illinois State Museum is located between Lewistown and Havana off routes 78 and 97. The museum is open free to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. Tours and special programs are available for groups with reservations. For more information, call (309) 547-3721 or TDD (217) 782-9175 or visit the museum’s Web site at; http://museum.state.il.us/ismsites/dickson/.
