Bluegrass duet take stage at park

Parkfest 2007 continues Tuesday evening in Greencastle with a 7 p.m. performance at the Robe-Ann Park bandshell by Mike Van Rensselaer and Steve Terry, who once again will offer a wide range of acoustic old time music.

The pair has performed together for more than 20 years at festivals, schools, coffee shops, nursing homes, farmers' markets, and pubs. They combine guitar, mandolin, and banjo picking with harmonizing vocals.

This year's selections have something for everyone. Bluegrass enthusiasts can tap their feet to a pair of Monroe brothers tunes from the 1930's. Traditional country music fans will hear a Carter family song recorded in 1928, as well as a medley that sandwiches Hank Williams' "Hey Good Looking" and "Tear in My Beer" around the classic "Silver Thread and Golden Needles".

Those with an interest in social comment could find another medley thought provoking, this one supposing a conversation between Katherine Bates ("America the Beautiful") and John Lennon ("Imagine").

For the children in attendance, who will have a nearby playground available, the step-father-son pair will play an ancient Gaelic tune, as well as Shel Silverstein's "Unicorn Song".

Baseball fans can sing along with a 1908 song popularized on vaudeville stages before making it to seventh inning stretches, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", that has two verses to go with the familiar chorus.

Including more songs from the Caribbean, Ireland, the Grateful Dead, Woody Guthrie, and others, the one hour concert covers plenty of musical ground.

The public is invited to attend this free concert, and should bring lawn chairs or blankets for comfortable seating.

Co-sponsors for the summer concert series are the Greencastle Civic League and Park and Recreation Department.