Bluegrass and folk artist Chelsea McBee is excited to announce the First Thursday Artist Series at the Shepherdstown Opera House in Shepherdstown. The monthly concert-series features Chelsea McBee and a very special guest artist on the first Thursday of each month at the historic venue.

Native to Shepherdstown, McBee credits her musical talent to growing up in a musical family. “My mother was always singing-while she was cooking, working, playing-it didn’t matter. Music was always around,” says McBee. “She even had my siblings and I sing chords in the backseat of the car during road trips.”

McBee began playing the claw-hammer banjo in the summer of 2005, covering some of her favorite songs and also writing some original pieces, too. Her most recent work, “The Whiskey Album”, is a collaborative effort produced with her band, The Random Assortment. The album is described as bluegrass, music and folk, and is about, you guessed it, the bands passion for great rye whiskey.

Chelsea McBee’s First Thursday Artist Series shows include April 3, Chelsea McBee and Kara Hansbarger. Chelsea McBeee opens the show, followed by Kara Hansbarger, joined by her father, Clark Hansbarger and John R. Miller of The Fox Hunt. McBee and Hansbarger will close the show with thirty minutes of collaboration.

May 1, Chelsea McBee and The Dan Tait Big Band. The Dan Tait Big Band will deliver a great show of jazz and horns during this First Thursday Artist Series performance. McBee and The Dan Tait Big Band will close the show together.

June 5, Chelsea McBee and Kipyn Martin. Charles Town native Kipyn Martin is a folk singer known for her talent as a vocal artist and guitar player. McBee and Martin will take the stage together for this one-time only show.

Tickets are $5 each. For more information about Chelsea McBee and the First Thursday series at the Shepherdstown Opera House, visit www.ChelseaMcBee.com.