First Friday Coffeehouse will feature Butch Ross, a dulcimer virtuoso from Chattanooga, on April 5. The venue is located at Trinity Orchard House on Route 45, four miles from the four-way stop in Shepherdstown. Doors open for social time and open sign-up at 7:30 p.m. All open mic participants should be there early to get a slot to perform two songs or eight minutes at one of the area`s premier listening rooms.

Ross plays the mountain dulcimerstanding up like a guitar, upside and strung backwards, and he plays rock n roll on it. Yes, he even plays Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven. He also plays his own funny, poignant songs and some traditional mountain tunesand a whole bunch of other instruments that he loops together to form a one man band.

The dulcimer has quickly earned Butch a reputation amongst the folk community as one of the most innovative and exciting players on the scene, He’s opened for wide variety of performers from bluegrass comedy artists like Hayseed Dixie and folk greats like Small Potatoes, Bill Staines and Jean Ritchie. He also opened for ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro, who said, “Now I know what a dulcimer is supposed to sound like.” His uncanny skill and hugely entertaining performances have gotten him invited to play festivals and clubs in England, Scotland, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, Germany and most recently Budapest, Hungary.

Enjoy a great evening of music and fellowship. Snacks and refreshments served. Trinity Orchard House. A $10 donation per person is requested. For more information, contact Steve Warner at 304-676-4422 or 304-876-2915.