FOOTMAD Presents
Our 42nd Concert Season
2023-2024
Enjoy nationally and world-acclaimed musicians
in intimate concert settings in the valley's finest theaters.
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John Cowan’s Newgrass All-Stars
Modern Bluegrass featuring the “Voice of Newgrass”
2024 January 13 - Saturday
Walker Theater (entrance on corner of Brooks and Washington Sts)
The Clay Center
1 Clay Square
Charleston WVConcert start: 7:30 pm
Doors open: 6:30 pmJohn Cowan’s Newgrass All-Stars feature some of the best touring musicians in the genre today, focused on Newgrass favorites with some surprises thrown in.
John Cowan, also known as the Voice of Newgrass, has been singing his heart out for more than forty years, and his soaring vocals have only improved with time. A true innovator, John applies his powerful pipes to genres from country, bluegrass, and gospel to soul, jazz, and rock-and-roll – often within the space of a single concert. His ability to move fluidly through multiple styles, and carry mesmerized audiences on the journey with him, has set him apart, loved and admired by fans, critics and fellow musicians. In addition, he tours regularly with the Doobies.
David Mayfield, from Youngstown, OH, has played on Mountain Stage as recently as December 2023, entertaining with his original songs and on-stage antics. Mayfield grew up playing bass and touring with his family’s bluegrass band. As a teenager he established himself as a hot picker collecting national awards for his dexterity on guitar and mandolin. He appeared with his sister Jessica Lea Mayfield’s band including on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” Mayfield began writing songs after hearing artists like Randy Newman and Simon & Garfunkel. Since that time he has toured almost non-stop. It’s the strength of his songwriting and musicianship, combined with that charm and personality that keep audiences consistently lining up to join the parade.
James Seliga moved from Northern Ohio to Nashville six years ago where he plays with Bill Droze and Kentucky Blue and has contributed to Ralph Stanley II’s new album coming out in 2024. Steve Moore, also from Ohio, is a two-time National Banjo Contest champion as well as taking first in the RockyGrass, RenoFest, MerleFest, FreshGrass, and Carolina in the Fall banjo competitions.
Shad Cobb grew up in Wisconsin and began playing the fiddle at age 13 with his family’s band. In 1995, he moved to Nashville and began recording with many of the city’s major artists, including the Osborne Brothers, Mike Snider, Marty Rabon and Shenandoah, Willie Nelson, and Steve Earle.
Steven Moore is a multi-decorated contest banjo champion with 1st place wins at the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship (aka: Winfield), RockyGrass, RenoFest, MerleFest, FreshGrass, Carolina in the Fall, and many state-level championships. Steven lives in Saint Clairsville, Ohio and performs on tour around the United States with the Grammy- and Emmy-nominated artist David Mayfield as a full-time member of The David Mayfield Parade.
“This ... concert features the soaring vocals of John Cowan, legendary performer and innovator of the “Newgrass” sound that has influenced bands like Yonder Mountain String Band and Leftover Salmon, Dixie Chicks and Zac Brown Band. A true innovator, John applies his powerful pipes to genres from country, bluegrass, and gospel to soul, jazz, and rock-and-roll – often within the space of a single concert. He tours with the Doobie Brothers 50th Anniversary Tour, has been inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame and has recorded numerous solo and collaborative albums. This mega-star and his band-mates will carry mesmerized audiences on a musical journey that has set him apart as one of the most loved and admired vocal artists of his generation, not just by fans and critics but among fellow musicians as well. This is an in-person concert experience not to be missed!”
“In a sense, John Cowan’s long career captures the essence of what has become known as Americana music, which remains almost as undefined as does bluegrass. Regardless of definitions, Cowan has been exceptionally productive over a career spanning more than 40 years in bringing together these various roots and branches while creating his own style and sound. His clear, distinctive tenor voice communicates both intense feeling and thoughtful consideration of ideas. Maybe that’s what’s meant by soul.
Whether it’s rock, country, newgrass, bluegrass, or singer-songwriter music delivered with electric or acoustic instruments, John Cowan generates musical excitement and interest wherever he goes.”
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Advance Tickets
This show featuring John Cowan’s Newgrass All-Stars is a Woody Hawley Concert Series event in partnership with FOOTMAD.
The concert is included in the FOOTMAD season ticket package.
No senior price. No student price. No “children under 13” option.
All single concert tickets are General Admission, $25.00. Advance tickets are sold by the Clay Center at their box office, online or by calling 304-561-3570. Service charges apply if buying online or by phone. See the Woody Hawley ticket page for details.
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Tickets at the Door
If the show is not sold out, tickets will be sold by the Clay Center at the Walker Theater entrance the night of the show.On the day of the concert, it would be a good idea to call the Clay Center at 304-561-3570 to determine whether or not the show is sold out and tickets will be available the door.
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Concert Time
Concert starts at 7:30 pm
Doors open at 6:30 pm
This program is presented with financial assistance from the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.
FOOTMAD appreciates Fund for the Arts major donors ($10,000+) who keep culture strong in the Kanawha Valley: City of Charleston, Cecil I. Walker Charitable Trust, Daywood Foundation, Spilman Thomas & Battle, Truist Foundation of West Virginia, WSAZ.
