North Carolina teen bluegrass band Dear Maribella & The Pigkickers, will be hosting the first of what they hope will be an annual wintertime jam weekend, February 27-28 in Wilmington.
Billed as a Pig Kickin’ Pickin’ Party, they are taking over the Holiday Inn Express-Porter’s Neck in Wilmington, NC, and anyone who reserves a room for the weekend can attend the Friday and Saturday evening showcase performances, the Saturday workshops, and jam to their heart’s content.
The band have designed this event as a way to break the winter blues, much like the SPBGMA National Convention in Nashville, or the Cabin Fever Pickin’ Party in Virginia which is no longer being held.
There is no charge for the Pig Kickin’ Pickin’ Party, but one must have reserved rooms at the Holiday Inn Express to take part in the various activities. Donations will be accepted during the weekend for the Earl Jones Music School, which has several locations in eastern North Carolina.
The Pigkickers are the four Trakimowicz siblings and their dad, who have turned a number of heads in the bluegrass world for their mature and professional approach while still so young. Isabella is the oldest at 20, playing fiddle, with younger siblings AnnMari (19) on guitar, Pete (14) on banjo, and Chris (13) on mandolin. Papa Joel handles the bass.
You can find all the details about the Pig Kickin’ Pickin’ Party online, and for the Pigkickers’ other upcoming event, their second annual Bluegrass in the Grove Music Fest, set to run June 13 at the Poplar Grove Plantation in Wilmington. The Trakimowiczes launched this festival to provide support for Poplar Grove, an historic site quite near where they live.
As if they don’t have enough going on, the band has also just released a new single, If You Ever Think of Me, written and sung by Pete, along with this music video.
You’ll find If You Ever Think of Me at the popular download and streaming sites. Radio programmers can get it via AirPlay Direct.
