The Kiwanis Club of Erwin will wrap the 2025 season of the Noilchucky Opry on Friday, Aug. 8, with a show by Jonah Riddle & The Carolina Express.
The band is led by Jonah Riddle on banjo and features his brother Grayson Riddle on guitar. The musician said that his grandfather provided a big musical influence on both brothers.
“My brother and I are both from Burnsville, North Carolina, and we started playing bluegrass and gospel because of our grandfather who played the dobro and guitar,†Riddle said.
Their grandfather taught Jonah to play the dobro first and taught Grayson the guitar.
“I switched over to banjo a few years later,†he added. “We started playing in church and took it from there.â€
Riddle and his band have played the Nolichucky Opry multiple times and really enjoy the experience.
He described the band’s musical style to let concertgoers know what to expect.
“Our music is mostly traditional bluegrass and gospel,†he said. “Our biggest influences are Flatt and Scruggs, Jimmy Martin, The Stanley Brothers, The Osborne Brothers and Bill Monroe.â€
Joining the brothers in the band are JM Trivette of Boone, North Carolina, on bass, George Giddens of Bakersville, North Carolina, on fiddle, and Eric McMurray of Kingsport on mandolin.
The performance by Jonah Riddle & The Carolina Express will begin at 8 p.m. at The Gathering Place in downtown Erwin.
The band will have CDs for sale at the show. Follow the band on Facebook and watch a collection of videos on YouTube. The sponsor for the concert is Clinchfield Federal Credit Union in Erwin.
In case of inclement weather, the concert will be held inside at Erwin Town Hall.
