The Watkins Family, Mountain Cove Bluegrass at Ringgold Depot - July 12

By Staff Report

Sunday, January 1, 1905

photo Judy Watkins, center, and her adult children Lori, left, and Todd make up The Watkins Family.

IF YOU GOWhat: Sacred Sounds concert featuring The Watkins Family and Mountain Cove BluegrassWhen: 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 12Where: Ringgold Depot, Depot Street and U.S. 41, Ringgold, Ga.Admission: $5 donation, free for children 5 and youngerWebsite: www.shareamericafoundation.orgNote: Tickets may be obtained in advance at SonShine Christian Books, 1841 Battlefield Parkway, Fort Oglethorpe.

photo Members of Mountain Cove Bluegrass are, from left, Will Markham, 18, Mike Holloway, 20, Austin Adkins, 21, Tyler Martelli, 19, Cody Harvey, 20, and Colin Mabry, 19.

Bluegrass/gospel performers The Watkins Family and the young musicians of Mountain Cove Bluegrass will entertain Friday, July 12, for the monthly Sacred Sounds concert at the Ringgold Depot. Randall Franks will emcee the show.

The Watkins Family features Judy Watkins and her two adult children, Todd and Lori. Their latest project, "Heaven's Worth Waiting For," has yielded three songs that have landed in the Top 10 on Southern, bluegrass or country/gospel charts: "She's Working on Her Testimony," "Sometimes You Gotta Rock the Boat" and "What a Wonderful Name."

It follows acclaimed project "Darkness Wept," which produced the No. 1 song "He's Still God," plus "Love Stood Alone" and "Round the Last Turn."

The Watkins Family has been nominated for Best Contemporary and Best Traditional Bluegrass Gospel Group by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America, among other accolades, and has shared the stage with Randy Travis and Diamond Rio.

Members of the Chattanooga-based Mountain Cove Bluegrass band are Austin Adkins (guitar), Cody Harvey (lead banjo, guitar, vocals), Mike Holloway (bass fiddle, vocals), Colin Mabry (lead vocals, lead guitar), Will Markham (fiddle, vocals) and Tyler Martelli (harmonica, mandolin, guitar, vocals). They range in age from 18 to 21.

They began performing in late 2008. Their first CD, "New Generation," was released in late 2009. their second, "Back Home," followed in 2011.

The concert raises funds for the nonprofit Share America Foundation, which administers the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship Fund for aspiring musicians.