AN award-winning band from the highest mountains of Virginia are set to perform at Burnetts Hill Chapel in Martletwy next week.

The Whitetop Mountain Band is one of the most popular dance bands of the Appalachian Mountains, who have a great following at square dances all over Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky and have played at the Carter Family Fold. They have toured throughout the US, as well as Europe, playing at some of the most prestigious venues and festivals, including Burnetts Hill Chapel previously where they went down a storm, and have featured at some great festivals worldwide, including the Cornish Bluegrass festival.

The band has deep roots in mountain music and the members have done much to preserve the Whitetop region's style of old time fiddling and banjo picking and are legendary musicians and teachers of the style. 

Some previous visitors to the chapel will remember Thornton Spencer (fiddle), who unfortunately on this occasion is not well enough to attend the tour.

The line-up is currently Emily Spencer on banjo and vocals, daughter Martha Spencer, who plays guitar, banjo, fiddle, bass, vocals and dance, Jackson Cunningham, on mandolin and guitar, and Debbie Bramer, on double bass and dance, and finally standing in for Thornton is Spencer Strickland on fiddle and mandolin.

The evening, which takes place on Wednesday, September 12, promises to be very entertaining, containing everything from fiddle/banjo instrumentals to powerful solos and harmony vocals on blues, classic country, honky tonk, traditional bluegrass numbers, old time ballads, as well as some great flat foot dancing from Martha Spencer, who came last year and wowed the audience with her energetic dancing and singing.

Doors open at 7 for a 7.30 pm start. Tickets at £7.50 are available from Pembroke Bookshop or by telephoning 01646 685144