FCMC plans bluegrass and BBQ shindig

MCCONNELLSBURG - When Bud’s Collective performs at the Fulton County Medical Center Foundation’s Bluegrass and BBQ shindig January 23, don’t expect the bluegrass band from Wardensville, West Virginia, to have a set list.

“We never use a set list because we play for the audience,” said Buddy Dunlap, front man and the band’s founder. “We will begin with two or three songs, but after that I can tell what kind of audience we have, what direction the set needs to go and we change it accordingly.”

The Bluegrass and BBQ event will be held at the McConnellsburg United Methodist Church’s Faith and Life Center. The event, which begins at 5 p.m., is the main fundraiser for the Foundation’s Health Care Careers Scholarship Program. Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased in person at the Foundation, by phone via credit card at 717-485-6322 or online at www.fcmcpa.org. The ticket deadline is January 15.

Bud’s Collective produced three albums in 2015. A live album (Bud’s Collective LIVE at Capon Crossing Farm) debuted last February, followed by a self-titled studio production (featuring mostly material Dunlap has written over the past 10 years) and a Christmas album that hit the shelves last fall.

“We’ve gotten a good response from the fans with our three albums,” said Dunlap. “We are number three on AirPlay Direct Downloads, behind Claire Lynch and Rhonda Vincent. I’ll take third with that kind of company.”

Dunlap teams with Cody Brown, Gina Clowes and younger brother Jack to deliver a high-energy performance. What began as a "throw together group of whomever Dunlap could collect,” quickly turned into one of the hottest bluegrass bands in the DC area.

Since its inception in December of 2012, Bud’s Collective has played with the likes of Ricky Skaggs, Loretta Lynn, Rhonda Vincent and Larry Sparks, just to name a few.

The band took first place in the 2013 DC Bluegrass Union Band Competition and second place in the 2014 SPBGMA Band Competition in Nashville. In 2015, they performed at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, at the Kennedy Center and in New York City. They also have hosted a very successful ”Bluegrass in the Barn” concert series for three years in a restored 100-year old barn at Dunlap’s in-laws farm at Capon Crossing.

“We are looking forward to performing in McConnellsburg, giving the audience a taste of our music – original, traditional and everything in between,” said Dunlap. “We like to have fun with our music.”

In addition to the music, attendees will be treated to a delicious meal catered by Smokin’ D’s.  Duffy Carbaugh and his crew will feature pulled pork, pulled chicken, beef brisket, smoked macaroni and cheese, smoked baked beans and coleslaw.

There will be door prizes and a silent auction, featuring items related to Bluegrass and BBQ.

Sponsors for the event include Alexander Financial Group, Pinnacle Health, Edward Jones (McConnellsburg), Baker Tilly, Strategy Solutions, LECOM, Sheep Ridge Farm Guest House, Rep. Bill Shuster, A2Z Healthcare IT Consultants, American Legion Post 561, P&H Flooring, Rep. Jesse Topper, BB&T, Cornerstone Financial, Bortek, Clair & Dorothy Miller, Del Martin Screenprinting, Paris Linens, F&M Trust, All Things Automotive, D. Andy Washabaugh Enterprises, Chill-n-Grill, FastSIgns (Greencastle), Kline Tours, Texas Roadhouse (Chambersburg) and Sheetz (McConnellsburg).

In 2015, the Foundation’s Health Care Careers Scholarship Program awarded $21,000 to 17 area students who are pursuing careers in health care.

“Our goal is to provide stipends to local students in an effort to assist them with their college degree, with hopes of them returning to serve their home community,” said Mike Straley, Executive Director of the FCMC Foundation. “Many of these young men and women are successful, including those who have returned to Fulton County to begin their professional careers.”