. . . Meanwhile Back At The Ranch

	RAFFLE ENDS SATURDAY MAY 24, 2014  Our raffle for an Epiphone Jack Casady Signature Bass ends this weekend.  Get your tickets now . . . tickets will be available online until 5PM Saturday May 24, 2014.  The drawing will be held on the Fur Peace Station stage before David Lindley begins his second set. Epiphone Guitars, the Athens Area Citizens for the Arts and Fur Peace Ranch are teaming up to raffle off one of the finest instruments to ever feature a "superb balanced electric tone and the response of an acoustic bass" - Epiphone's Jack Casady Signature Bass Guitar, signed by Jack.   Jack with bass at signing event in Psylodelic Gallery The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee worked closely with Epiphone's luthiers, designing an instrument that could fulfill his dream. The hollow, maple body features a single Humbucker pickup that really "packs a wallop," with classic machine heads, and a metallic gold and ebony finish. Casady's devotion to music and desire to encourage other players naturally lead to teaching bass guitar workshops at Fur Peace Ranch, the music-and-art wonderland of his lifelong friend and bandmate, Jorma Kaukonen. "He's been here since the beginning," said Fur Peace Ranch Director Vanessa Kaukonen. "When I decided what I wanted for a bass class, he was the first person I went to. He set the bar for what should be the curriculum." "He's not only one of my dearest friends, he's an integral part of the Fur Peace Ranch structure," she added. "He's one of the greatest living bass guitar players today. Nobody plays like him and that's a fact. Jack wrote the book on that style of playing." Kaukonen, who is also an AACA board member, said raffling off the guitar is a great way to bring in money for events like the upcoming Athens Jazz Festival, April 11-13. "The AACA shows the amount of money that the arts is bringing to this area. It's staggering if you break down the economic impact," said Kaukonen. "I wanted to be a part of that. I have access to a host of artists looking for ways to help organizations. There are people out there who are looking to give back." The drawing will be held Saturday, May 24, at 8 p.m. at Fur Peace Ranch, 39495 St. Clair Road, Pomeroy, Ohio 45769. Tickets are $20 each and may be purchased at www.furpeaceranch.com; www.athensareaarts.com; Blue Eagle Music, 40 N. Court St., Athens; ARTS/West, 132 W. State St., Athens; the Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St.; or through AACA board members or Athens Municipal Arts Commission commissioners. Proceeds benefit the Athens Area Citizens for the Arts, a regional partner of the Ohio Citizens for the Arts.