Highland Road Concert to Benefit AFT

Over the last two years, local bluegrass band Highland Road has taken Door County audiences by storm, playing everywhere from the wine bar of the new Cookery restaurant to a sold-out coffeehouse concert at the Door Community Auditorium. Their latest concert will be a benefit for American Folklore Theatre (AFT) on Sunday, September 27 at 7 pm at Björklunden’s Vail Hall.

Highland Road is comprised of Andy Coulson (banjo), Tony Gebauer (mandolin), Tad Gilster (guitar), and Rick Gordon (bass). Door County residents and visitors know these musicians not only from their appearances with Highland Road, but also from their other work across the county as owner of the White Gull Inn (Coulson), potter at Fish Creek’s TR Pottery (Gebauer), Coldwell Banker realtor (Gilster), and owner of Door County Computer (Gordon).

In their performances, Highland Road combines spot-on instrumental licks with down-home vocals to create a sound that is traditional, but entirely their own, performing a wide variety of songs ranging from old-time fiddle tunes to classic country ballads to contemporary folk songs. For the AFT benefit, the group will be joined by special guest Phil Passen on hammered dulcimer.

The event will also feature a special cameo appearance by favorite AFT performers Lee Becker and Doc Heide, who will sing songs from AFT’s popular new musical Guys & Does. The musical was written by Heide and Becker, with music by composer Paul Libman.

Tickets for the Highland Road benefit are $30 and can be reserved by calling the AFT office at 920.854.6117.