Make PineCone part of your New Year’s Eve celebration at Artsplosure’s First Night Raleigh! This year, North Carolina’s own Snyder Family Band will help ring in the new year with four sets at 7, 8, 9, and 10 p.m.!
The Snyder Family Band is from Lexington, NC, and their unique, family friendly sound includes not only bluegrass, but also southern rock, blues, Texas swing, and newgrass. Earlier this year, the band was nominated for IBMA’s Emerging Artist of the Year award. Samantha Snyder’s musical experience belies her age; at just 16, she is an award-winning fiddler as well as a top-notch singer and songwriter. She was selected as fiddler and lead vocalist for the 2013 Youth All-Star Bluegrass Band that performed at the 2013 IBMA World of Bluegrass Awards Show. Her songwriting and creativity are a big part of the Snyder Family Band sound. She also plays guitar and mandolin. Zeb, now 19, amassed multiple guitar championships as a youth before turning his focus to performing, recording, and writing. Zeb plays mostly with a flat pick but also incorporates finger style, thumb picking, and slide. He is also an accomplished mandolin player. Grammy Award winner Adam Steffey asked Zeb to play guitar on his solo project, New Primitive. Zeb also received nominations for the IBMA Momentum Awards for Instrumentalist in 2013 and 2014. Supporting these gifted young musicians is their dad, Bud, who holds down a rock solid upright bass rhythm. His ability to adapt to the multiple genres that influence the band is a key ingredient of the trio’s signature sound. While Zeb and Samantha take turns sharing lead and harmony vocals, occasionally Laine, mom of the family, joins them on stage to create three-part harmony. And last, but not least, there are appearances by Owen, the youngest Snyder. He enjoys a short visit to the spotlight to sing a song or play a tune on his guitar.
First Night Raleigh’s theme this year is Celebrating NC First, all about the unique and quirky ways North Carolina is first or number one. First Night festivities begin at 2 p.m. with the Children’s Celebration, performances and hands-on art activities geared specifically toward young revelers. Following The People’s Procession – a participatory parade at 6 p.m. – and an early countdown at 7 p.m., Raleigh comes alive with continuous performances throughout downtown, culminating with fireworks and the acorn drop at midnight to ring in 2016.
Admission passes are only $10 in advance (day-of prices: $14 ages 13 and up; $11 ages 6-12) and provide access to ALL First Night Raleigh venues, performances and activities – nearly 100 performances in more than three dozen locations across downtown Raleigh, including a set by the high-energy Scythian on the main stage in City Plaza after the Snyders’ final set! For more information about First Night Raleigh, full performance schedules, and a list of places where you can buy your passes in person, visit the First Night Raleigh website or call 919-832-8699.
Thanks to Traditional Stage sponsor Tharrington Smith and media sponsor Triangle Style Magazine.
