Tim Moon’s Talent Showcase, Part 2

ASHEBORO – With so many talented students, Tim Moon and his teenage son, Nolan, held a second free recital in the Sunset Theatre on Friday night, Nov. 15. Ranging in age from 6 to 60-plus, beginners to seasoned students, the evening highlighted their efforts on a menagerie of musical instruments. 

The elder Moon served as master of ceremonies and accompanied all the acts on acoustic guitar. His son Nolan was utility man of the evening, switching from banjo to guitar to bass, backing not only his dad’s students, but several of his own pupils. Both Moons serve as musical instructors at Evans Music Center on South Fayetteville Street in Asheboro. 

The night of eclectic music began by featuring Emma McArthur on fiddle and vocals, playing “Blackberry Blossom” and “Salt Creek” and then singing a Gospel medley. She was followed by brothers, Ben and Sam Bruce, on banjo and guitar, respectively. They performed three numbers: “Amazing Grace”, “Boil Them Cabbage Down” and “Cripple Creek.” Then came the impressive electric guitar work of young Tobyn Beshears, playing “Crazy Train”, “Purple Rain” and “Hello.”

Next was the youngest performer of the evening, 6-year-old guitarist James Langley, playing along on a couple of instrumentals: “Amazing Grace” and “Boil Them Cabbage Down.”

The attention was turned to drums as Ezra Woods performed “Wipeout” then switched to guitar to play “Wagon Wheel.” He was followed by the banjo work of Nolan’s student Brayden Cesaro, picking “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” and “Down the Road.”

At midpoint in the student showcase, Asheboro Hybrid Middle School took the stage. Students Meade Ainsworth and Laylah Williams on fiddles, Emma Sweat and Brenagan Elia on drums, Jackson Cook and Cordelia Perry on keyboards and Joseph Goad on guitar played several songs with Tim that got toes tapping: “Sweet Home Alabama”, “Wagon Wheel”, “Amazing Grace”, “Smoke on the Water” and “Old Time Rock-n-Roll.”

A sister act performed next with Abigail Cooper on fiddle and Elizabeth Cooper on mandolin. They played “Unclouded Day.” Then the duo switched it up playing “Ode to Joy” on the piano and “Cripple Creek” on the banjo.

Will Foxx fiddled the traditional hymn “In the Sweet By and By” and the theme song for the PBS mini-series on the Civil War entitled “Ashokan Farewell.”

Jackson Sedberry picked banjo on “Salty Dog Blues” and “Dueling Banjos” and then moved to guitar to perform “Country Roads” and “I’ll Fly Away.”

Liam Tysinger, 16, sang in a trio that included his mother and Todd Swaney on mandolin. He accompanied himself on the guitar on three familiar numbers: Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried”, the classic hymn “Where the Roses Never Fade” and Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart.”

Flat-picking guitar was the focus of Joe Weaver’s performance, playing “Old Joe Clark” and “Whiskey Before Breakfast.” He was followed by another guitarist, Andrew Roush, who picked “Scuttle Buttin’” and “Salt Creek.” Ariana Jackson then played a couple tunes on guitar, “Country Roads” and “Amazing Grace.”

Then it was time for a family ensemble featuring the Hayes brothers with 12-year-old Arthur on guitar and 10 year-old Alexander on upright bass. Their PawPaw, Tim Hayes, joined the Moons on stage to back up his grandsons on guitar. The group performed “Nine Pound Hammer” and “I Want to Know More About My Lord” with Arthur singing lead. He then switched to mandolin and picked “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.” 

Asheboro Hybrid’s High School Band performed next under Tim’s direction. The ensemble performed six songs featuring powerful vocals by Bekah Bost (guitar) and Meade Ainsworth (fiddle). They were backed with hot drumming by Austin Elia. Also performing were Bethany Cagle and Joseph Goad on guitars with Nolan on bass.

Megan Coble played bass on a number, then it was time for Vera Bingman to pick banjo on “Old Country Church” and “Because He Lives.” Jennifer Purvis followed on mandolin performing a trio of tunes: “Carolina in the Pines”, “Cluck Old Hen” and “Sally Goodin.” George Bowman echoed with a trio of banjo tunes: “Salt Creek”, “Blackberry Blossom” and “Sledd Ridin’.”

Guitar work, both acoustic and electric, was featured by father Rodney Neal and his son, Aaron. They performed “Wanted Dead or Alive” and “You Really Got Me.”

The grand finale featured a jazz ensemble with Elijah Kidd on saxophone, Harrison Taylor on keyboard and Calvin Corbett on drums (his dad was the late Greg Corbett who picked banjo professionally with the Country Gentlemen bluegrass band). Nolan Moon joined in on bass. 

Tim Moon reflected, “Greg and I were friends. Calvin and I had a lot of stories to share. He is talented like his dad. I was glad to let them close the night.

“Thanks to all the performers and to the city of Asheboro for use of the Sunset Theatre, Sandy Hatley and Nick Hancock for covering the shows for the Randolph Hub, and to God be the glory!”

Tim Moon also thanked his wife, Amy, for her assistance as stage manager and James for running sound.