Leeann's
Big Barn Dance
With
Peter Rowan
(February 13, 2000)
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by Paul Johnston
When the moon is full and the stars are bright,
way down in South Austin, Texas Town.
There lives a sweet gal known as Leeann,
who throws a Big Barn Dance whenever she can.
Her friends are invited from far and a wide,
from down to Louisiana to the Continental Divide.
We all come a running when we hear the first news.
Leeann's most probably going to be singing the blues.
She can wail, she can sail, she can sing a mournful note blue.
She sings her heart out, we have reason to shout and dance a jig or two.
She can talk to our heart through her smiles or her tears,
Like our old friend Janis with her blues-belting career.
So come on down to South Austin Town
And meet our "Lady Liberty" Leeann.
To sing some sweet songs and give love one more chance,
You're all invited to Leeann's Big Barn Dance!
More Big Barn Dance Photographs
Austin's beloved Leeann Atherton spreads her warmhearted Texas friendliness by throwing frequent barn dances in her South Austin backyard whenever the big Texas moon is full and bright. Food, friendship and music are the order of the day when the Big Barn Dance is underway. You never know exactly who you will meet, but you are guaranteed that many interesting individuals will be there. The entertainment is wide and varied at these events. Performers range from gospel groups, bluegrass bands, blues singers, folk artists, poets, rockers,and street magicians. Sometimes the early events are designed especially to entertain the children.
After the meal has been eaten, everyone gathers in her backyard amphitheater. The backyard slopes down to a small performing stage and dance floor. The audience sits in a semi-circular arrangement around the performing area. When the spirit moves, and this happens frequently throughout the evening, the audience will begin dancing, clapping and singing.
On February 13, 2000, Leeann put on a special Valentine's Barn Dance. Besides belting out some blues tunes herself, she had the Two High String Band, a street magician, and the renowned Peter Rowan as her special entertainment for the evening. Everyone did a fine job of providing great entertainment for the evening. The Two High String Band, a wonderful bluegrass band (Billy Bright, mandolin; Bryn Davies, upright bass; Brian Smith,guitar) as usual showed their collective and individual musical talents. This group is constantly performing and widely traveled in giving the world a wonderful bluegrass show. The street magician bantered with the audience and kept them delightfully entertained.
Legendary Peter Rowan truly blows the audience away with his talent. Backed by members Billy Bright and Bryn Davies of the Two High String Band and others, Peter shows us why he is so well respected in the music field. His songs are varied from bluegrass to folk rock. One moment the audience is listening to Peter singing songs of Indian woe and the next moment Peter has grabbed the devil by the tail and melodically persuaded the audience to wildly dance to his tales of the Free Mexican Air Force. Even though Peter is very mild mannered, he can hold the audience spell bound by his musical story telling ability.
After attending one of these Barn Dances, one will see why these events are so popular with Leeann's extended musical family. She really enjoys having all her friends over for a great time. An Austin honor that Leeann won in 1999 was that her "Lady Liberty" album received the Best Austin Album Award from The Austin Chronicle.
Leeann Atherton - "Lady Liberty"
All Photographs and Text by Paul Johnston
Copyright - 2000 - Paul Johnston - News Story
