Bluegrass concert raising funds for youth theatre

Jacob Jolliff and his premier bluegrass band are performing at the Liberty Theatre to raise funds fund for the Little Theatre on the Bay’s youth theatre summer program.

Jolliff is one of the world’s premier contemporary mandolinists. He is currently on a nationwide tour celebrating his new album, “Mandolin Mysteries,” which was released in May.

The Jacob Jolliff Band is known as one of the most cutting-edge progressive bluegrass groups on the scene today. They play a combination of complex original instrumental music and traditional tunes, with improvisation at the forefront.

A fixture of the bluegrass community, Joliff has collaborated and shared the stage with Béla Fleck, Tony Trischka and Michael Daves – among others. He also toured as a member of the groups Joy Kills Sorrow and Yonder Mountain String Band. He attended Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship and in 2012, he won the USA’s National Mandolin Championship.

The fundraising concert is helping Little Theatre on the Bay grow their youth theatre program.

The folks at the theatre are preparing for their fourth year of summer activities, which will include a production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Children ages 8 to 17 are invited to participate, and the program is free, thanks to sponsorship from Oregon Pacific Bank and Coos County Cultural Coalition.

Aymée Pedder directs the youth theatre with help from musical accompanist John Adamson.

The Jacob Jolliff fundraising event will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 11 at The Liberty Theatre (2100 Sherman Ave, North Bend). Tickets for the event cost $15, and can be purchased at the door, online at thelibertytheatre.org or at the box office from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays.