By Chad Carlson
Published: January 18, 2010
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 The grand opening of Country Crossing in Dothan, Alabama this past weekend was a celebration of success, hope, and opportunity. The truly unique master-planned entertainment destination offers countrified retail, the official dining entertainment district, dinner-music theaters, old time western saloons, restaurants, and live music. In addition to these entertainment ventures, this grand opening weekend also featured performances from 20 platinum selling artists ranging across the varying decades of the country music sound. One of the newer acts of the weekend also offered some of the more traditional music of the lineup, making Country Crossing’s official opening weekend an unforgettable experience both for them and for their fans. This weekend in early 2010 was very special for The Grascals. One of the most beloved and respected contemporary bluegrass groups, the six-piece outfit not only performed in front of thousands at the venue’s Party Pavilion, but also were guests of honor and participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official grand opening of The Grascals Bluegrass Hollow RV Park.
Though The Grascals have made some significant accomplishments, the most impressive of all is that they have achieved so much in just over five years. Beginning their career in 2004 with their debut album, the band quickly jumped on the road with the legendary Dolly Parton, and in the coming months and years, hit the stage with the likes of Brooks & Dunn, Patty Loveless, Charlie Daniels, Kenny Rogers, and Vince Gill. They’ve slated a number of awards, including Grammy nominations, and make regular guest appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. Not bad for a group of musicians who have been together for half a decade. “It’s certainly not something we expected, that’s for sure,” guitarist Terry Eldredge admitted. “When we first got started, all the way up until now, we don’t make music thinking that this is going to win us an award, or this is going to be a popular song. It’s not like that at all. It’s about being able to put our feelings into music, being able to relate to a song, and sharing that with fans of bluegrass and country music.”
Just as astonishing as their undeniably profound success in the difficult world of music is the demeanor and personality the band, as a whole, exhibits with fellow musicians, managers, industry representatives, as well as fans. The down-to-earth persona is reflected throughout every member of the group, and the feel-good aroma of the group’s presence transgresses through everyone. “It’s always been about the love of music and what it can do to and for people,” bassist Terry Smith explained. “We don’t look at writing and performing music as a business. We try to spread that feel-good nature that’s present in our music around everywhere we go. We look at it as a privilege, and the fact that we’re actually able to call this our job is a dream come true for us.”
The Grascals took the stage and opened up Day 2 of the Country Crossing Grand Opening on a rainy Saturday afternoon to a packed house under the tent at Party Pavilion. The outlandish ovation the band received before even playing a note came from an audience who had come to hear traditional country and bluegrass at its finest. The nearly 60-minute set incorporated selections from the band’s releases, most notably 2008’s ‘Keep On Walkin’ and 2006’s ‘Long List Of Heartaches.’ Standout tracks of the performance included “Feeling Blue,” “Choices,” and “Hard Times,” as well as “Me And John And Paul,” from their 2005 self-titled debut, all of which were delivered with the soul, passion, and honesty that is perhaps the most entrancing and appealing aspect of The Grascals.
 Intertwined between tunes were the stories that accompany them, which is one of the trademark elements of a folk group and performance. Before nearly every song, Johnson and/or Eldredge would offer an explanation for the song, further adding the sincerity to the wonderfully crafted music. “We like the people to know where this stuff comes from,” Eldredge offered. “We’re the same as those music fans in the seats watching us. We’re no different. A lot of the things they’re going through, maybe we’ve already gone through ourselves, and our message through our music can maybe help them. That’s what we’re about.” Following covers of a few George Jones’ classics and a Hank Williams medley, The Grascals left the stage to an overwhelming applause, very much deserving for a group who put on the top-notch performance of the entire day.
The following day represented the official opening of The Grascals Bluegrass Hollow RV Park, something the band will never forget. “Wow, this is one thing we’re not going to forget. Ever,” Johnson exclaimed. “We’re lucky enough to be able to play music on a stage every day and call that our job. That’s amazing enough. To have something like this named after us, in this area, at this country music destination that is Country Crossing, it’s unbelievable. Thank You God.” The ceremony, as is the case with every Grascals endeavor, was heartfelt, well-deserved, and true. As the ribbon was cut and the applause ensued, the mood of the entire grand opening weekend of Country Crossing was demonstrated: it was a celebration of success, hope and opportunity.
The Grascals will be touring throughout rest of the year, playing festivals, state fairs, theaters, and rodeos across the U.S., including several dates in neighboring West Virginia and one here in PA at Gettysburg. The honesty and emotion behind this bluegrass group’s remarkable talent is unprecedented, making them the REAL feel-good story of the country music today.
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