Arts in the Middle Fine Arts Festival
Saturday, June 7th & Sunday, June 8th, 2025
Hewick Plantation ~ Urbanna, VA
AIM MUSIC 2024
Saturday, June 1st
Acoustic Stage
10:15 - 11:30 am Jeff & Sherry Wagner
11:45 - 1:00 pm Gary Archer
1:15 - 2:30 pm Clayton Neal
2:45 - 4:00 pm Peyton Brabrand
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Main Stage
10:45 - 12:00 pm The Gurleys
12:15 - 1:30 pm Tom Euler
1:45 - 3:00 pm Haze & Dacey Trio
3:15 - 4:30 pm George Robinson & the Gospel Robins
Sunday, June 2nd
Acoustic Stage
11:00 - 11:30 pm Urbanna Songwriters' Adventure
11:30 - 12:30 pm Gary Archer & Clayton Neal
12:45 - 1:45 pm Jeff & Sherry Wagner
2:00 - 3:00 pm Paige Melton
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Main Stage
11:30 - 12:30 pm The MelTones
12:45 - 1:45 pm Ray Pittman
2:00 - 3:00 pm Tom Euler
Headliner for 2024
George Robinson
& The Gospel Robins
George Robinson, AKA Singer Robinson, is a popular and well-known vocalist who has been sharing his musical talents with others for the past 66 years. A native of Deltaville, he is an active member of First Baptist Amburg Church. He has performed in a variety of settings including birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, funerals, church services and community events and for past 3 years has been joined in song by the Gospel Robins - Frauline Robinson; Chriscia White; Elder John Smith; Minister Shelia Madanat; and Frances Thurston. George enjoys singing all types of music, including gospel, contemporary, country, and soul, however gospel is his favorite. He is much-loved for his performances with local and regional choirs many of whom will be lifting their voices in song at Arts in the Middle this year.
Musical Performers 2024
Clayton Neal
Clayton Neal is a vocalist, guitarist, and harmonica player who has become a popular musical fixture throughout the rivah country both as a performer, a coordinator of musical artists at local venues, and through sharing his musical talents in support of community and charitable organizations. He is the founder of Jumbo Lump Daddy and the Backfin Boys who were voted Best Local Musicians by the readers of Pleasant Living magazine
eight years in a row. Clayton presently lends his talents to the FlatTones, a local 8 piece band that performs classic tunes from the 60’s and 70’s. In addition, he continues to pursue a solo career, entertaining audiences with a rivahdacious style of music that includes Americana, country, rhythm & blues, folk, and rock’n roll.
Gary Archer
Gary Archer is an accomplished and versatile musician who has been entertaining audiences since he was a teenager. He has performed as lead guitarist and songwriter for the popular, award-winning band “Jumbo Lump Daddy and the Backfin Boys”, as a solo singer-songwriter, and in Richmond-based bands including “Union Pacific” and “The Members”. Gary has utilized his musical talents for the past 20 years as a music educator in Cumberland County Public Schools. His unique delivery of music basics and innovative ideas continues to inspire students. A self-produced EP, "Gary Archer's Music", featuring Gary playing all instruments and performing all vocals will be released soon.
Gary Archer and Clayton Neal
Gary and Clayton have been musical compadres and best of friends for the past 30 + years while entertaining audiences with their talents. Both have been playing music throughout Virginia since their teen years. Gary is a multi-instrumentalist having played with numerous rock ‘n roll bands in the Richmond metropolitan area including Union Pacific and most recently with The Members. Clayton has similarly honed his musical talents in several bands in Richmond including Sun Dog and Buzzard Luck.
Many years ago they joined forces to form the band Jumbo Lump Daddy and the Backfin Boys who featured Gary on lead guitar and vocals and Clayton on guiar, vocals, and harmonica. Jumbo Lump Daddy and the BackfinBoys performed throughout the rivah country and Richmond while earning accolades for eight years in a row as the Best Local Musicians by the Pleasant Living magazine.
Currently, Gary and Clayton perform solo and as a duo in addition to playing with The Members and The FlatTones respectively.
Paige Melton
Paige is a classic folk musician known for her outstanding vocal and guitar arrangements delivered with an innocent "flower child" attitude that embraces the 60's and 70's. Despite her youth, singing songs from the Woodstock generation comes natural to Paige, whose repertoire consists of Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Janis Joplin and James Taylor in addition to a number of popular artists from more current decades. Paige performs at various clubs, coffee houses and concert venues throughout Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. She has a Masters degree in Music Therapy at Temple University and is presently about to complete an internship at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC.
Jeff & Sherry Wagner
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Jeff and Sherry Wagner are a husband-wife duo who play acoustic Americana music. They blend modern folk, classic country, bluegrass and roots material with guitar, mandolin, and bass with tight vocal harmonies. Jeff and Sherry have delighted audiences with their entertaining performances as a duo for over 30 years in the greater Richmond and Central Virginia area. Jeff is an award winning songwriter and has recently finished his 3rd album of original songs.
Tom Euler
Tom Euler is an award-winning singer/songwriter and accomplished guitarist, whose powerful and thoughtful playing style has quickly led to him becoming known as “the young guy with the old soul.” The blues/rock musician from Virginia, is making a name for himself as lead guitarist for the Bobby Blackhat Band, as well as front man of the Tom Euler Trio and Tom Euler Band. He counts playing the 2016 Finals of the IBC at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis as a highlight of his young blues career.
Ray Pittman
Ray Pittman is a well-known, local musician who has been the leading force for several popular bands over the years, including the Kingpins, The Ray Pittman Project, and Julius Pittman and the Revival Band. With roots in Lancaster County and the 60’s band scene, he has covered most of the hit genres over the years. His music is dynamic and soulful whether it be Old School Rock, blues or funky soul. When it comes to music, Ray is a “been there, done that kind of guy”... Always soulful, always unique, always entertaining.
Peyton Brabrand
With a soulful resonance that echoes the greats of jazz history, Peyton Brabrand stands as a testament to the timeless allure of the tenor saxophone. Drawing inspiration from luminaries such as Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, and Ike Quebec, Peyton's technique is a homage to the masters, yet uniquely his own. His playing is a tapestry woven from the threads of indomitable swing and deep, soul-stirring tones.
Whether caressing the notes with a gentle finesse or unleashing a torrent of impassioned melodies, Peyton's saxophone channels the spirit of the jazz age, transporting listeners to smoky jazz clubs of yesteryears.
Haze & Dacey Trio
Based in Richmond, Virginia, The Haze and Dacey Trio which includes Doug Austin on mandolin, revel in lilting melodies, tight harmonies, and compelling rhythms that makes toes tap and bodies sway. Original songs written by Haze are interspersed amongst covers both familiar and obscure, ranging from twangydystopian folk-punk to light-hearted folk-pop, and from sassy alt-country to sultry swing.
Haze and Dacey have been playing together as a duo since 2012. They combine their love of playing music with their love of travel, entertaining audiences at various breweries, wineries, and other venues throughout the east coast. They have had the pleasure of performing at several of Virginia’s state parks including the “Music on the Cliffs” concert series at Westmoreland, the “Music in the Park” series at Hungry Mother, and the Caledon Art and Wine Festival. They have also ventured afield to share their musical talents at venues in New England, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The MelTones
The MelTones are a professional father/daughter musical duo consisting of Paige and Randy Melton. Randy is a seasoned musician, who has performed with many bands including The Janitors and The Monument
City Jazz Trio for over a decade. He is currently the keyboardist for the Michael Clark Band. Logging in over 9,000 gigs, he is used to entertaining an audience with clever arrangements and fiery performances.
Paige is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently attending Temple University where she is pursuing a Masters degree in music therapy. She is a popular local musician, who performs
throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Her stellar vocal styling and complimentary guitar picking make her a sure sensation for weddings, clubs, private parties, and indoor and outdoor events.
Together they are The MelTones, whose total is greater than the sum of their parts.
Bill & Pam Gurley
Bill and Pam Gurley are a married couple with deep roots in the Tidewater area of Virginia. They started singing together on their first date and have been doing so ever since, much to the delight of audiences from Maine to the Caribbean. Bill is a multi- instrumentalist moving from guitar to banjo to fiddle. He also writes many of the songs that they perform together. Pam has a warm, captivating voice that listeners have found to be quite memorable. The Gurley’s make their home in the Northern Neck of Virginia and have recorded
several CDs over the years working with some of the best musicians in the region. Bill and Pam also front a bluegrass band known as “Fiddlesticks”, a group of talented friends that they have known since high school. The Gurley’s mix of folk, bluegrass, blues, and a good dose of humor makes for a fun evening of music not to
be missed!
The Urbanna Song Writers' Adventure Group
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The Urbanna Songwriters’ Adventure Group comprises several local singer/songwriters who enjoy performing both their own songs and those of others. We are a diverse group featuring the beautiful songs and voices of today’s youth mixed with those of senior singer/songwriters. Participants meet every Thursday afternoon at the Old Haywood Store in Urbanna with the ultimate goal of having fun, while developing and nurturing musical talent within the community. New participants are always welcome!