4/2/2009
John Lilly, award-winning songwriter, guitarist and singer, is performing in a dinner theater format at Hawks Nest State Park, Saturday April 4. “This is an evening for country music classics and traditional folk music,” says Willa Grafton, event coordinator.
In 2005, Lilly won first place in the international Ghost Writers in the Sky Songwriting contest for new songs written in the style of Hank Williams, Sr. In 2007, his CD recording “Haunted Honky Tonk,” reached No. 1 on both the Freeform Americans Roots radio chart and the Euro Americana radio chart. Lilly’s name may also be familiar as the editor of Goldenseal magazine — the state’s quarterly journal of traditional life.
The dinner theater overnight package for two is $162 and includes lodging, dinner and breakfast and the performance. Dinner seating is at 6 p.m. dinner is served at 6:30, and the performance is at 7:30. If attending only the dinner theater, the cost is $45.50.
Hawks Nest has one additional dinner theater this spring: “A Tribute to Elvis” on Friday, April 17 and on Saturday, April 18, with dinner theater and matinee options.
Hawks Nest is located in Ansted in Fayette County. A year-round destination, the park features a lodge, restaurant, picnic shelters, nature center, and special events. The picturesque view from the lodge aerial tram or from the area developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s has welcomed visitors and photographers to one of West Virginia’s most outstanding view sheds.
For more information about Hawks Nest State Park, overnight opportunities and special programs and upcoming dinner theaters, you may call (304) 658-5212 or go online to: www.hawksnestsp.com.
About John Lilly
John Lilly is a multi-talented acoustic music performer from Charleston, West Virginia, specializing in Americana, country roots, and traditional folk music. He writes new songs that sound as old as the hills, and performs older songs like they were made yesterday. According to one reviewer, “If Hank Williams had a sunny disposition, he’d be John Lilly.”
John has released four self-produced CDs. His latest release, “Haunted Honky Tonk,” achieved the #1 position on both the Freeform American Roots (FAR) and the Euro Americana radio charts. “Broken Moon,” released in 2000, earned enthusiastic reviews and widespread radio airplay. Bluegrass Unlimited magazine called it one of the “most unusual and interesting acoustic disks of the year.” John’s second CD, “Last Chance to Dance,” released in 2003, debuted at #1 on the FAR radio chart and rose to #4 on the Euro Americana radio chart. His 2005 CD release, “Blue Highway,” is collaboration with legendary Tennessee fiddler Ralph Blizard.
John is recognized internationally as a powerful performing songwriter. In 2005, he won the national Ghost Writers In the Sky songwriting contest, sponsored by HankFest, a Chicago-based festival honoring the music of Hank Williams. John won a customized guitar for his original song “Blue Highway.” He was a finalist in the 2002 Chris Austin Songwriting Competition at MerleFest in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, chosen from 853 entries and placing third in the Country category for his song "Broken Moon."
John was born in Illinois in 1954 and has traveled and performed widely. A former member of the Green Grass Cloggers dance team, John spent years playing traditional string band music with groups including Ralph Blizard and the New Southern Ramblers. He is a former a tour guide at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, and is currently editor of West Virginia’s Goldenseal Magazine
Contact Information
Willa Grafton
304-658-5212
willagrafton@wvdnr.gov