On Sunday, July 19, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in the Church, St. Philip’s Friends of Music presents Titan Valley Warheads.

Known for their tight harmonies and instrumental skills, the Titan Valley Warheads have been voted Best Bluegrass Band by the Tucson Area Music Awards, won the prestigious “Best Band” title at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and performed for appreciative crowds at Tucson Bluegrass Festival, Prescott Bluegrass Festival, Tucson Folk Festival and Flagstaff ‘s Pickin’ in the Pines Festival. The band currently consists of Gary Kuitert (mandolin), Earl Edmonson (guitar), Ed Davenport (bass), Andy McCune (banjo) and Tom Rhodes (fiddle).

The suggested concert admission is $20 per person. The mission of Friends of Music is to enrich the musical experience of the parish and community through events such as concerts, outreach, education, scholarships, commissions, and support of special musical events.

St. Philip’s is located at 4440 N. Campbell Avenue at River Road. Ample parking is available in the north parking lot or under our solar parking structure on the east side. For more information see the Friends of Music web site or call (520) 222-7277.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Titan Valley Warheads have been on the Tucson music scene since the group formed in 1981. The focus of the group began as a bluegrass band with Ed Davenport, Gary Kuitert and Ricky Lee Phelps as the primary singers with Martin Sinclair and Don Johnson adding fiddle and banjo to the mix. Ricky left to join the Kentucky Headhunters in Nashville and the Warheads began playing out in Tucson at Al Smith’s Pub. Through the years there have been some personnel changes but four of the current members have been performing together for over 20 years.

The Warheads have always tried to use the experience of their musicians to form the basis for their music particularly if it takes them beyond bluegrass. It is the fusion of those different kinds of music that keeps the band fresh and interesting. The current band members come from bluegrass, blues, rock, do wop, country, folk, and swing. All these influences are melded together into a show that gives the listener a wide variety of musical interpretations arranged for the instrumentation of these experienced musicians. Each show is built for the listening audience so each is different than the last show. A Duke Ellington tune “a la bluegrass” may be followed by one by Flatt and Scruggs then an a Capella song by the Fleetwoods followed by a bluegrass version of the Rolling Stones, “Wild Horses” and a version of Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds done in the style of the Sons of the Pioneers.

The program will be announced from the stage. Stop by for an afternoon of fun supporting live music in the Tucson summer with the Titan Valley Warheads.