Get a taste of the American south with latest Motley show

North Carolina's Jonathan Byrd performs with his trio, The Pickup Cowboys (Johnny Waken and Paul Ford) at the Motley Kitchen March 26 as part of the venue's dinner and a show series.

Opening the show will be special guest, Eliot Bronson, from Atlanta, Georgia.

Byrd grew up singing in the Southern Baptist church, where his father preached and his mother played piano. After four years in the Navy, he returned home to play in rock bands.

It was at an old-time fiddle festival in the mountains of southwest Virginia where his writing began to change.

Assimilating the sounds of southern traditional music, Byrd began to write new songs in an older style. After 10 years as a full-time touring songwriter and seven acclaimed albums, he is now getting a lot of attention on both sides of the border.

Bronson, originally from Baltimore, but now living in Atlanta, was raised by a family for which life was expressed and enjoyed in song.

At an early age, Bronson discovered his parents’ folk collection of 1960s artists. These became formative musical influences shaping Bronson’s purposeful, pensive, and poetic songwriting. Though his own music adventures took him away from these roots, he has now returned to them.

"I spent a long time trying to get away from where I came from, but it never really felt right,” he said. “This is the music I’ve always had in me.”

Dinner and entertainment costs $50. Only 36 seats are available for dinner, so reserve early. On the menu are sesame hoisin pork back ribs, rigatoni with slow roasted tomato and bacon blush, house spice roasted potatoes, fresh mixed vegetables, grill fennel and cous cous salad with oranges, mixed green salad with white balsamic dijon dressing and fresh homemade desserts.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the buffet dinner served at 6:30 p.m. so the show can start at 8:00 p.m. and wrap up around 10:00 p.m.

Seats for the show only will also be available by pre-paid reservation in advance for $19.00 each.

For pre-paid reservations, drop by the Motley Kitchen at 70 Young St. during business hours (Monday- Friday 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) or phone 705-222-6685.