BY PHILL BARNETT
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

LOUISA — Lawrence County Tourism announced live on Facebook last week that the Fred M. Vinson Center in Louisa will be housing a live-streamed concert series called the Fred Sessions.

Tourism director Wes Kingsmore went live with David and Theresa Prince, as well as Rachel Messer and Connor Dale.
The first installment of the Fred Sessions airs Thursday (Feb. 16) at 6 p.m. and will feature songs written and performed by these four local artists.

“Our county and city and everyone have been on board with everything we’ve tried to do lately,” said Lawrence County Tourism Commission Director Wes Kingsmore. “And I just feel like we’re in a good place right now to not only highlight Louisa and Lawrence County but to highlight the enormous talent that has come and gone and is still here.”

Rachel Messer of Fort Gay has performed all over the country and appeared on Season 15 of NBC’s “The Voice.”

David and Theresa Prince are longstanding members of the central Appalachian music community. Their respective bands, Laid Back Country Picker and Luna and the Mountain Jets, have received growing acclaim. Luna recently opened for Tyler Childers at Red Rocks, LBCP has been featured on national radio shows and their recent album “Go West” roared through the top country album charts.

The artists will perform in acoustic duos, surrounded by friends and family at the historic Fred M. Vinson house in Louisa. The building is not open to the public, so the only way to catch the show is online.

The concert will stream live on the Lawrence County Tourism Commission’s page on Facebook. Individual songs from the performances will be uploaded to the Musical Moonshine YouTube channel in the coming months. Follow both pages to make sure you don’t miss the first Fred Session.