Great Bluegrass Music Served Up

REGIONAL – Ken Irwin, a music producer, who has heard and seen more bands than most, described the Authentic Unlimited Band as “the best he has heard in years.”
The 2023 winners of two International Bluegrass Music Awards, including Vocal Group of the Year, will bring its powerful and energetic style of East Tennessee bluegrass music to the Belleville Roots Music Series on Saturday, Nov. 18.
“They are the most exciting new band in bluegrass,” Irwin said.
They five-members band may be new with two new members, but Authentic Unlimited can claim deep roots in bluegrass music.
Three members — Jerry Cole, Eli Johnston and Stephen Burwell — were members of Doyle Lawson’s band, Quicksilver, until Lawson announced his retirement.
With Lawson’s blessing and guidance, the three recruited Jesse Brock, the IBMA mandolin player of the year, and John Meador, also from East Tennessee, who plays guitar and is one of the harmony vocalists.
Lawson has long ties to the Belleville Roots series. Years ago, before the Roots series began, he called his old friend, Irwin, looking for a performance venue. Lawson was in Rhode Island looking for a venue to play. On one day’s notice, Irwin found no venue available.
Instead, he proposed the Belleville Church in Newburyport.
When minister Ross Varney, a musician himself, heard the concert, he had the brainstorm of creating the Roots Series, which for 15 years has raised money to fund restoration of the historic church.
Belleville Roots concerts are held at the church, 300 High St., Newburyport. Tickets can be bought at www.bellevilleroots.org. The concert begins at 8 p.m.
Refreshments are served during the concert. The North Shore’s Bent Water Brewing will sell a selection of craft beers, and church volunteers will serve homemade sweets and desserts, water and coffee. Donations are accepted.