Get Your Rhythm on this Weekend at Rhythm on the Rails

Two days of fun, food, vendors and musical entertainment are what you will find this weekend when you come out to Rhythm on the Rails in Clinton.

There will be several musical performances for your listening pleasure.  Here’s some information about the talent coming to town and when they will be performing.

Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas

MICKEY THOMAS is the owner of the soaring voice that propelled STARSHIP through the decades of the 80’s and 90’s. With his soulful and compelling vocals, MICKEY has established himself as one of Rock Music’s most recognizable stars.

Mickey made his mark in 1976 as lead vocalist on the mega-hit “FOOLED AROUND AND FELL IN LOVE” with The ELVIN BISHOP Band. In 1979, Mickey’s joined the JEFFERSON STARSHIP as lead vocalist, after the departure of Grace Slick and Marty Balin.

Backed by the power of MICKEY’S vocals, JEFFERSON STARSHIP immediately scored a #1 hit with “JANE”. With this new sound and powerful new vocals, the group was renamed STARSHIP and continued to record an amazing string of hits including “NO WAY OUT”, “WE BUILT THIS CITY”, “SARA”, and an Oscar Nomination for the #1 hit “NOTHING GONNA STOP US NOW” from the movie “Mannequin”. Other top hits included “FIND YOUR WAY BACK”, “STRANGER”, “LAYING IT ON THE LINE”, and “IT’S NOT OVER TILL IT’S OVER” which became Major League Baseball’s theme in 1987.

Moreover, every STARSHIP album released since 1979 has gone Gold, Platinum, or Multi-Platinum. MICKEY’S stellar voice and video charisma on STARSHIP’s video classics such as “WE BUILT THIS CITY” and “SARA” have become staples on MTV and VH1. Material covered in STARSHIP’s live performance ranges from MICKEY’S tenure with THE ELVIN BISHOP Band and STARSHIP, as well as songs from his two solo albums. Mickey will be backed by the band STARSHIP featuring:

• JEFF ADAMS – BASS
• JOHN ROTH – GUITAR
• PHIL BENNETT – KEYBOARDS DARRELL VERDUSCO – DRUMS
• STEPHANIE CALVERT – VOCALS

Cravin’ Melon

Cravin’ Melon was formed at Clemson University in 199. The band gained popularity on the regional live scene released Red Clay Harvest, in 1997. The album spawned a minor radio hit, “Come Undone”, which peaked at #37 on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock chart. The band’s style and geographical roots prompted frequent comparisons to contemporaries and tourmates Hootie & the Blowfish and Edwin McCain. After a 1998 EP, the band was dropped from the label and recorded a final LP in 2000 before breaking up on May 19, 2001; a double live CD of one of their last performances was subsequently released.[4] The band reunited in 2008 for a reunion tour that went very well. They are continuing to do shows in 2010. Lead singer Doug Jones released a solo album in 2007 Doug Jones Everybody Doug Jones. At their December 26, 2009 concert at the Wild Wing Cafe in Greenville, SC, the band announced plans to make a new album in the near future. March 18, 2019, Jimbo Chapman and Doug Jones just announced that Cravin’ Melon was just signed to Solaris Entertainment.

Brynmor Celtic Rock

Celtic/Rock for the masses Brynmor (Welsh for great hill) originated in 2010 after Robert Gabb craved to return to his Celtic musical roots. He had been playing in Wales and Ireland prior to moving to the United States in 1998. He knew a slew of great musicians but wanted just the right ones, those who were talented and capable of adding a rock edge to the music. He knew the instruments he needed in the band- fiddle, tin whistle, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass and drums. Stanley Widener, lead guitarist extraordinaire, was already on board, and North Carolina School of the Arts alumni Sharon Fogarty joined playing whistle and flute. It is difficult to find a quality Irish fiddle player in this area but he knew of one, Rex McGee, with whom Robert had played music with in the past. Rex joined and brought his cousin Tim Hill, a master bass player. Now he needed a solid drummer. Robert knew one of the best, but he lived about 4 hours away in central Virginia. Slinky Cobblestone had played music in the past with Robert and Rex. Slinky visited Robert, heard some tracks recorded by the band, and was sold. Thus, Brynmor was born!