On Friday, June 4, musician and songwriter, Scott Miller returns to The Historic Masonic Theatre and will appear with his trio in the Masonic Amphitheatre at 7:30 pm.
Scott Miller, native Virginian, songwriter, musician and national recording artist has performed during several significant milestones in the Theatre’s recent history. One of those performances was July 2016 at the Theatre’s Grand Reopening after it underwent a 6.7 million dollar renovation. Now, Miller will appear at the Theatre’s reopening after the COVID pandemic. The Historic Masonic Theatre has planned a summer of music in the Masonic Amphitheatre.
Miller’s great-grandfather, Dr. William Revercomb, a doctor who visited his patients on horseback, lived in Clifton Forge for many years. The Historic Masonic Theatre is almost directly across from the office where Dr. Revercomb practiced.
As one of the founders of the seminal roots-rock band The V-roys, Scott Miller recorded three albums for Steve Earle and Jack Emerson’s label E-Squared Records. Miller went on to a successful solo career at Sugar Hill records where he released four critically acclaimed albums from 2001 -2008.
Miller’s latest and tenth studio recording is “Ladies Auxiliary.” The themes running through much of “Ladies Auxiliary” illustrate Miller’s observations and appreciation for the common man (and woman), the music and characters of his native Appalachia, and his talent for clever storytelling.
The collection of songs includes the Dylan-esque quasi-talking blues, incanted as a litany; “Lo Siento” takes on the travails of Spanishburg, West Virginia, a dying town recently rejuvenated by the arrival of hordes of wealthy retirees streaming down from the DC suburbs. “There’s a lot of Northern Virginians who are retiring and there are towns like the one where my grandmother grew up — Clifton Forge, Virginia (which by the way I’ve always thought would make a great name for a country singer) — but those baby boomers are coming down here after they’ve worked for 25 years for the government and gotten their pensions,” Miller says.
“I’ll take a river through some mountains over the ocean any day, any season, any time, just for the metaphor alone,” he says. “My home county (Augusta) is the largest in the Commonwealth and has the largest cow-to-people ratio of any county east of the Mississippi. There are no rivers that flow into it. It’s the headwaters of the Shenandoah River (flowing north to the Potomac) and the James River (east to the Chesapeake Bay.) We start everything, baby.”
“We are so excited to have Scott and his trio kick off our summer music series on June 4. Scott is a master storyteller, songwriter and musician and his songs contain messages for all of us. We think of Scott as one of us and we appreciate his support and involvement throughout the years”, said Justin Reiter, executive director of The Historic Masonic Theatre.
Sponsors for the Masonic Theatre Music Series are WestRock, Highlands Community Bank, Jack Masons Tavern and Brewery, Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Tristan Puckett and Laurel Bradley and the John Hillert Family.
Tickets for the Scott Miller Trio and all the Summer Music Series shows may be ordered online at www.historicmasonictheatre.com or by calling the Theatre Box Office at 540 862 5655. The Masonic Amphitheatre is located at 513 Church Street. Parking is allowed on surrounding streets. Tickets may also be purchased at the Theatre Box Office on 510 Main Street prior to the show.
After purchasing tickets, take the fire escape stairs to the Masonic Amphitheatre. A wristband will be required to enter the Amphitheatre grounds. Wristbands can be obtained at the Box Office of the Historic Masonic Theatre, 510 Main Street. Use the Amphitheatre bench seating or bring lawn chairs and bug repellant. Concessions and restrooms are available in the Theatre Underground.
The Masonic Amphitheatre and Historic Masonic Theatre will observe the latest state COVID guidelines. If you have questions, please check the FAQ’s on the Theatre website.
The Amphitheatre grounds will be open at 6 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. performance. For more information on the Masonic Theatre Summer Music Series, please visit www.historicmasonictheatre or the Masonic Theatre Facebook page.
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