Americana Singer Shannon Whitworth
in Concert at DeSoto on March 2nd at 8 PM
 

Darlington School’s headmaster’s daughter will be Rome’s own daughter for a day

Rome, GA.   The Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation’s Concert Series and Downtown Rome’s Living and Giving will be presenting Shannon Whitworth in Concert on Friday March 2^nd at 8pm.   A bluegrass/Americana singer, Whitworth comes to Rome to perform in the town that her parents call home. A VIP Patron’s Party that will include a meet-and-greet with the artist will be held at the Seven Hills Building Great Room and the Swift and Finch café prior to the concert.

Whitworth was a founding member of the Biscuit Burners, the bluegrass band that brought her to the attention of the music world. After appearances on the BBC and PBS, Whitworth left the band to pursue a broader musical vision. In 2007 she released her first solo album, No Expectations, followed by Waterbound in 2010. Whitworth was featured last year in the popular Southern magazine Garden & Gun. Under the cover headline Bluegrass Nation, 25 Bands Giving Old-Time Music a Whole New Sound, Whitworth is said to have eclectic musical tastes ranging from Beck to Patsy Cline. “Her sound may be hard to define, but her voice is unmistakable,” says Garden and Gun about her distinctive husky voice.

Whitworth is married to musician Woody Platt, whose band Steep Canyon Rangers performs with comedian and banjo player Steve Martin.

Whitworths’ parents are Tom Whitworth, Darlington School’s headmaster for the past seven years, and his wife Margo. The Whitworths are credited for filling the Whitworth’s home with music from many of the writers who influenced Shannon: Paul Simon, James Taylor, John Prine and Crosby Stills, Nash & Young.

“We are very excited that our daughter and her group are supporting the efforts to help the DeSoto be all that it can be,” said Tom Whitworth. “We are very, very proud of our daughter, and proud that she’ll be here. We look forward to everyone getting to know her.”

Opening for Shannon Whitworth will be Rome’s Thunderbolt Patterson.

A VIP Patron’s Party will be held jointly at the Swift and Finch café and the Great Room at the Seven Hills Building, two new spaces just opening to the community at the former Clyde Collier and White Rabbit buildings. The VIP reception will continue after the concert at the Swift and Finch café, which will also be open to the general public.

Downtown Rome’s retail business Living and Giving is the concert’s marquee sponsor and was instrumental in bringing Shannon to Rome. “You can imagine my excitement at being able to introduce our community to Shannon’s sultry bluegrass sound, Swift & Finch AND Seven Hills all in one evening,” said Lisa Landry, event co-chair in charge of the VIP Reception. Whitworth’s mother Margo has been on the Living and Giving staff for the past five years. 

“We’re excited that so many elements of the Rome community have come together in support of the DeSoto Theatre,“ said  Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation President Paul Griffin. “Seven Hills Fellowship has been holding Sunday morning church services at the DeSoto Theatre for over five years and is an instrumental partner in the theatre’s restoration efforts,” said Griffin.

The Historic DeSoto Theatre, built in 1929 by O.C. Lam, was the first theatre in the south built exclusively for “talkies.” The Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation was established in 2008 to lead a community effort to restore, maintain and operate the DeSoto Theatre as a historical, cultural and economic asset. All proceeds from the concert will go towards the Foundation’s restoration efforts. For sponsorships information for this or any other Foundation event please contact desototheatre@gmail.com.

Tickets for the concert are $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Domino’s pizza and beer will be available for purchase.

Tickets for the VIP Patron’s Party are $50 per person and include the meet-and-greet reception with live music, reserved seating at the theatre, and coffee and desserts after the concert. Tickets are available here on this website or at www.desototickets.com, Living and Giving, Schroeder’s New Deli, Blue Sky Outfitters, DeSoto Box Office, or by calling 706 295-7171.