Music & Arts

By SHAINA STOCKTON, Staff
Friends, family and fans gathered to celebrate with the members of Ray Burnette and the Moonlighters on March 30, as a display following the band’s history was unveiled at the Jeff Matthews Memorial Museum in Galax.
Ray Burnette and the Moonlighters formed in the late 1960s and performed until the early 1980s.
They were a variety band, “playing country, country rock, rockabilly, bluegrass, gospel or whatever people wanted to hear,” said drummer Jim Doane of Galax.

HILLSVILLE — Voices will be raised in praise at the first-ever Gospel Day June 1 in Jail House Square in Hillsville, a musical event meant to appeal to locals and visitors alike.
David Young, Pipers Gap Ward representative on Hillsville Town Council, long wanted to stage a gospel music celebration to go along with the slate of beach bands that play the summer Downtown Celebrations.

The Galax Middle School Choir recently entertained the city's school board with a selection of songs. At the board's February meeting, the choir lined up behind a row of shelves in the GHS library, where they performed two songs: "Hot Chocolate" and "Amani Utupe Na Ustawi," which means "Grant us peace, give us courage" in Swahili. Four members of the choir have made it into the all-district choir, while nine submissions had been accepted for the state middle school choir.

An upcoming benefit concert will help pay for a fitting memorial for a late local musician.
Proceeds from the March 16 concert at Galax’s historic Rex Theater will be donated towards a cemetery stone for Artie Marshall (1927-2003).
On March 16, Artie’s husband Jim Marshall will perform at the Rex with many of his musical friends, including Stevie Barr & Friends, The Wolfe Brothers, Kyle-Dean & Snake Smith, Willard Gayheart & Bobby Patterson, Erynn Marshall & Carl Jones and other special guests.