‘A good cause’

REMINGTON — At least 400 people filled an equestrian center turned concert hall Saturday night on Culpeper County’s rural eastern edge for a down-home bluegrass barbecue benefit in support of bringing the arts to Main Street.

“Hillbilly Goddess” Alecia Nugent, a country star from Louisiana, headlined the merry event at the Inn at Kelly’s Ford, ably performing sad love songs for what she described as “a good cause.”

She spoke of the State Theatre Foundation’s efforts to restore and expand downtown Culpeper’s art deco movie house and turn it into a live arts center.

“I’m just tickled to death to see such a great crowd out here,” she said, standing in the middle of her four-member band on upright bass, banjo, guitar and mandolin.

“Ya’ll don’t pick on my accent,” Nugent said. “I don’t speak no Cajun so we’re going to pretend like we’re from Virginia tonight.”

In its first 45-minute set, the band performed “Don’t Tell Me” from Nugent’s new album, “Hillbilly Goddess,” — check out the video on CMT — along with “My First Mistake” from her 2004 self-titled debut album, “Paper and Pen,” “Crying All the Way to the Bank” and a Dolly Parton cover.

Nugent was well-received by the mostly local crowd.

Opening the show in spectacular fashion was the homegrown Dark Hollow Bluegrass Band — five guys with ties to the Piedmont all dressed in black suits, a la Johnny Cash.

Dark Hollow brought down the house too, eliciting hoots and outstretched arms, with its combination of agile strings and sweet songs from the good old days, among them: “Devil in Disguise” and “Windy City.”

“They just call me Paul,” said singer Paul Fincham of Culpeper, on banjo and guitar. “That’s all you need to know.”

He’s been playing music since age 15 and it showed.

“We’re real honored to be part of the show here,” Fincham said, mentioning that Dark Hollow played with Nugent several years ago in Mineral.

Tickets for the Bluegrass and Barbeque State Theatre benefit went for $35 in advance and $50 at the door. The ticket price included a full barbecue dinner and dessert.

Various individuals and businesses also purchased sponsorships, among them Del. Ed Scott, R-Madison, Sen. Edd Houck, D-Spotsylvania, Tyco Electronics, Yates Properties, Jefferson Homebuilders and the Holden Group.

Since forming five years ago, the not-for-profit State Theatre Foundation has raised $8.1 million in pledges and tax credits toward the estimated $9.65 million rehab and expansion project.

Recently, the Foundation — led by local developer Greg Yates, his sister Raven Yates and other community professionals — approached the town of Culpeper about “investing” $1.5 million in the project that they contend, once operational, will significantly boost local tax revenues.

The public has taken great interest in this request, generating severe backlash on one hand and ample support on the other.

Tad Loving, vice chairman of the STF, felt that the turnout at Saturday’s benefit concert was an indication of the latter.

“It couldn’t have been better,” he said Monday. “A lot of good people there.”

As for the $1.5 million request for town support of the project, it is now pending before Culpeper Town Council.

Councilmen Chip Coleman and Jim Risner were appointed to a subcommittee earlier this month to further study the request.

Coleman expected the subcommittee would meet early next month.