The Baker Family will perform a concert of bluegrass, gospel, and classic country Monday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Collins Theatre, 120 W. Emerson St., in downtown Paragould, Arkansas, as part of the Bluegrass Monday concert series presented by KASU 91.9 FM,the 100,000-watt public broadcasting service of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
Theater doors open at 6 p.m. for the first-come, first-served seating. KASU will literally “pass the hat” during the concert to collect money to pay the group. The suggested donation is $5 per person.
The Birch Tree, Missouri family musical ensemble claim fans throughout the nation. Performing around 100 concerts each year, the Baker Family also boasts multiple CDs.
In 2016, the Baker Family won Silver Dollar City’s Youth in Bluegrass band competition, the premier showcase in the world for bluegrass musicians under the age of 21 and their parents. That same year, the International Country Gospel Music Association named the group Bluegrass Band of the Year.
The family appeared in the 12th season of the NBC television program, “America’s Got Talent.” AGT producers invited the group to audition after seeing a YouTube video of their award-winning performance at the 2016 Youth in Bluegrass band competition. The group has also performed on RFD-TV’s “The Bluegrass Trail.”
Two-time winners of the Oklahoma Bluegrass Band championship, the Baker Family won the 2013 Pickin’ In The Pines band championship in Arizona.
The band features mom Carrie Baker, who sings and plays guitar along with her three teenage children, who trade lead and harmony vocals.
Trustin Baker, champion bluegrass fiddler
Trustin Baker, 19, plays fiddle. Earlier this summer, he won the grand champion title at the Twin Lakes National Fiddle Championship in Kentucky. He claims 10 additional fiddle championships in five different states including Tennessee, Texas and Arkansas. In addition, Trustin is a two-time runner-up in the Grand Masters Fiddle Championship, the most prestigious fiddler competition in the world.
Carina Baker, 17, plays mandolin and earned a nomination for the Female Vocalist of the Year award from the Midwest chapter of the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America.
Elijah Baker, 14, plays bass. Both Carina and Elijah have also competed and won honors for their musicianship at festivals and contests across the country.
Joey Shann of Claremore, Oklahoma, plays banjo and resophonic guitar for the Baker Family in their live performances. He won the bluegrass banjo championship at the Twin Lakes competition in Kentucky earlier this summer.
In addition to the concert, Terry’s Café, 201 S. Pruett St. in Paragould, opens on Bluegrass Mondays to welcome bluegrass music fans. The café serves a country-style buffet meal beginning at 4:30 p.m. on the evenings of Bluegrass Monday concerts. Concessions will also be available at the Collins Theatre.