The Circuit Riders The Circuit Riders perform on stage, Thursday evening, September 18, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in Historic Downtown Gaffney, South Carolina, at the City-sponsored Shindig at the Gaffney Cabin. The Shindig at the Gaffney Cabin concerts are free to the public. Food and beverages will be available for purchase throughout the evening, so bring your lawn chair or blanket for an evening of good family fun for all ages.

A review on The Circuit Riders' latest album, "Let the Ride Begin," by Ed Moschler for the Bluegrass Primer/Crossroads Journal, Greensboro, North Carolina, says it all… "Not often are new bands worthy to be labeled "super group, but in this case, the tag fits. Out of the ashes of Country Gentlemen come the new sounds, the fresh energy, and an abundance of bluegrass soul in the form of The Circuit Riders… Darin Aldridge (mandolin), Greg Corbett (banjo), and Billy Gee (bass), have teamed up with resophonic guitar master Jaret Carter, and the multi-talented Greg Luck (guitar/fiddle) to form an amazing new bluegrass unit. This debut album (Let the Ride Begin) features everything a great project should have: a variety of new songs and old tunes, a variety of lead instruments, a variety of voices, and a variety of speeds. All blended perfectly into a timeless masterpiece. This project has it all."

Greg Luck began playing the guitar at seven years of age, and honed his skills listening and playing along with recordings by some of the country's greatest bluegrass and country pickers and singers. He has been a part of Redwing, Lost & Found, The Bass Mountain Boys, and the Lynn Morris Band. He is also known for his song-writing abilities and has had cuts for such artists as The Bluegrass Cardinals, IIIrd Tyme Out, Dan Seals and Leann Womack.

Greg Corbett, of Troy, North Carolina, has been playing for over 20 years. He cut his first album at age 11, and went on to join New Vintage, a former Pinecastle recording group. At age 19, he was asked to become a member of the legendary Country Gentlemen. Corbett has been nominated ten times for banjo performer of the year by the SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards in Nashville, and received that prestigious award in 1996. He is endorsed by Gibson fine instruments and GHS strings.

Darin Aldrige began his musical journey around the age of 12 years old. Darin's early influences in music were country, jazz, rock, and later on, bluegrass. A stint with the band Acoustic Syndicate in the mid-nineties helped Darin supplement his bluegrass with styles he characterizes as "jazz, blues and folk rock". Darin toured the U. S. and Canada with The Country Gentlemen for seven years, earning him four nominations for bluegrass mandolin player of the year in Nashville, Tennessee. Darin recorded three projects with The Country Gentlemen, the first "Crying in the Chapel" received an IBMA nomination for gospel event of the year.

Billy Gee was born and raised in La Plata, M.D., and after high school, attended Appalachian State University, graduating in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He currently lives in Moravian Falls, North Carolina with his wife, Brenda, an elementary school teacher. Billy's involvement with music began in elementary school and progressed thru high school and college as he became a member of numerous bands. He credits his parents for encouraging him to pursue music during those years. After relocating to Wilkes County, N.C., Gee formed friendships with many other musicians that lead to becoming the bassist for Charlie Waller and The Country Gentlemen. It is this experience that prepared him for his position with The Circuit Riders.

Jaret Carter began his musical journey around the age of eight. He began with acoustic guitar but soon took up the electric and began playing in local groups in North Carolina. These were primarily cover bands of country/rock genres. By his twenties, his taste in music led him to study jazz and blues by artists like Miles Davis, Robben Ford and Ray Charles. By age 24, Jaret began playing up and down the east coast with Nashville based singer/songwriter Jonathon Birchfield. Thus began Carter's fascination with the steel guitar.

Also, make plans now to attend the Thursday, October 2 Shindig at the Gaffney Cabin concert featuring Brett Greer and Steel Wheels (southern rock and country music), and the big beach show on Thursday, October 16 starring "Coming Up Brass." For information about The Circuit Riders performance or either of the other upcoming performances, please contact the City of Gaffney Visitor's Center at (864) 487-6244, check out our website at www.getintogaffney-sc.com, or email Pat Throneburg, Program Coordinator at pthroneburg@cityofgaffneysc. gov.