Gray United Methodist Church is hosting a benefit concert by Redline Express and The Cowtippers on April 5, 2008, at 7:00 P. M. in the Family Life Center located on South Jefferson Street in Gray. Monies raised will support GUMC’s youth choir, “The Believers’”, annual summer choir tour. Choir members have tickets available for $15-adults and $7-chldren (ages 5-12). There will be a nursery available for children 4 and under. Please call Julie Jackson (986-1310) if you wish to take advantage of the nursery. In order to staff the nursery well, we need an approximate number of expected children. You may also call the church office (986-3668) or Julie Jackson (986-1310) to reserve tickets. Space is limited, so please make your reservation early.

Redline Express is made of a group of accomplished musicians whose range of interest span from the founders of bluegrass to the newest innovators in acoustic music. Redline Express has shared the stage with Marty Rabun, Rhonda Vincent, John Cowan, Randy Kohrs, and many others. They have recently completed recording their first CD project, which is due for release in May of 2008. The much sought after regional group has had a limited playing schedule this past year due to family obligations, work, and farm chores. The chickens are laying good right now and the garden is about ready to put in! Sandy and Stelling Nelson founded the band along with Jason Lowe. Aubrey Nelson joined very soon after the ball got rolling. Charles Duffey recently joined the group on Fiddle. Alan Ralph from Forsyth, GA, is now picking Mandolin with Redline Express. With Sandy Nelson on the upright Bass, Tenor Vocalist Stelling Nelson on Guitar, Lead Vocalist Aubrey Nelson on Resonator Guitar, Baritone Vocalist Jason Lowe on Banjo, Lead & Tenor Vocalist Charles Duffey on Fiddle, and Lead & Tenor Vocalist Alan Ralph on Mandolin, Redline Express produce an unbelievable sound. If you have not had the pleasure of attending a Redline Express concert before, you may enjoy viewing some pictures of this fantastic group and listening to some of their exciting, original arrangements on the web at www.myspace.com/redlineexpress.

The Cowtippers feature Joe Cullison on guitar, mandolin, banjo, dobro and vocals, Nina Talon on upright bass and vocals, and Jessica Whaley on fiddle, mandolin, guitar and vocals. The group has performed twice on the stage of the Douglass Theatre, wowed the crowd at the Foodies Awards in 2006 and 2007, and was an opening act for the Lovell Sisters at the Chic-fil-A Rock Ranch bluegrass festival in 2007. They have been featured at several other local venues including The Golden Bough and The Joshua Cup and have played at numerous private and corporate events. Drawing from the likes of Nickel Creek, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, and Gillian Welch, The Cowtippers serve up a variety of gritty songs thoughtfully orchestrated with guitar, fiddle, dobro, mandolin, banjo, and upright bass topped off with solid three part harmony. Each song promises to take you down an interesting musical path... and then tip you over. The Cowtippers are available for local bookings and can tailor their style from Americana to bluegrass to delicate instrumentals you can marry off your daughter with. They have beautiful arrangements of Seasonal and Christmas music orchestrated with guitar, mandolin, fiddle and bass, that will add sparkle to any gathering. For information about booking The Cowtippers, call Joe Cullison at 478-405-0076. See more at www.myspace.com/thecowtippersband.

We promise you a great time and the acquaintance of some super nice folks when you attend the Redline Express and The Cowtippers concert on April 5th at Gray United Methodist Church. Our youth will serve delectable concessions. You will be supporting a most dedicated and appreciative group of young people. They held a yard sale, hosted a Christmas tour of Homes, put on a Valentine Banquet, and had a Sausage Biscuit Breakfast before the Vine at Nine Worship Service, all for the Washington D.C. Summer Choir Tour. This concert by Redline Express, an Italian Night, a Mother-Daughter Banquet, the Road Kill Café night and a Karaoke night are scheduled over the next three months. Spreading the Gospel through the musical, “Made to Worship”, arranged by Dennis and Nan Allen, from Gray, GA, to Washington D.C. is exciting to these young people and they have worked extremely hard to insure every single one gets to go. Mark your calendars, April 5, 2008, GrayUMC, Redline Express and The Cowtippers!!!!