MARTINSVILLE, VA. – What do a two-time country music Grammy winner, a blues guitar ace who played in Muddy Waters’ band and an up-and-coming rock act share in common?

The answer: Each will perform at the Rives Theatre this year as part of a new concert series that will take place on the first Friday of each month.

Arts at the Rives Theatre (ART), a community non-profit group dedicated to preserving the historic Rives Theatre in Martinsville, Va., by transforming it into a live-music venue and community space for education and the arts, is pleased to announce the 2011 lineup for the “First Fridays at the Rives” concert series.

Artists ranging from Grammy-winner Jim Lauderdale to Chicago-blues ace “Steady Rollin’” Bob Margolin and rock-and-roll act The New Familiars are part of the series, which will debut on Friday, Feb. 4, with progressive bluegrass band Sanctum Sully from Asheville, N.C.

“We could not be more pleased with the wide array of incredibly talented bands we’ve booked as part of the ‘First Fridays at the Rives’ concert series,” said ART President Paul Ashbrook. “We’ve got a little something for everyone, ranging from Americana to rock and blues to bluegrass. We think this series is going to be a big hit, drawing music lovers from our local community and beyond.”

Other artists scheduled to perform include Beaucoup Blue, Folk Soul Revival, Town Mountain Bluegrass Band, the Lizzy Ross Band, acoustic jazz/Americana duo Morwenna Lasko and Jay Pun, The Farewell Drifters, Jason Ringenberg and Martinsville’s own Doug and Telisha Williams.

Many of the concerts will include a local or regional opening band, while the work of one area artisan will also be featured in the theatre’s lobby during each “First Friday” show.

“We envision the Rives Theatre as more than just a place for top-notch live music,” said Ashbrook. “We see it serving an important role in the development of Uptown Martinsville as a venue that attracts area residents, tourists and visitors who are searching for programming of all kinds.”

In addition to the “First Fridays” concert series, the Rives will continue to host bands and occasional movie screenings on an event-by-event basis. The theatre will also remain home to the already popular “Bluegrass at the Rives Concert Series” presented by the Lions Club of Martinsville & Henry County, which brings local and regional bluegrass acts to the Rives on the third Saturday of each month.

The theatre can also be booked for private events, such as children’s birthday parties, movie screenings or social functions, by calling 732-2859.

Most tickets will be $15 per show, and a limited number of season passes are now available for $125 each. For more information, drop us a line at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.rivestheater.com or www.facebook.com/rivestheater.