30 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 23-29, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com MUSIC Throughout her 30-plus-year career, the fiddler, guitarist, bass player and singer-songwriter Laurie Lewis has been heralded as a groundbreaker— across genres, geography and the myth that women just can’t play or sing bluegrass. But to hear her tell it, that’s not the whole story. “I never set out to be a groundbreaker or to challenge any stereotypes at all,” Lewis says. “Those things may have been affected by my career, but none of those were why I became a musician. I got into the business for only one reason: because I absolutely love to play music. Period.” Lewis grew up in a musical house— her father was a classical flutist who held a seat with the Dallas Symphony. “My dad would have other wind players over to the house frequently,” Lewis recalls. “They would play these elegant woodwind quintets in the living room, and I marveled at the way the different voices of the instruments interacted, as the melodies wove their way through the music. That was why I became fascinated with how the structure of music was made.” This translated into a compelling interest in songwriting. She recently found an old high school journal in which she had written, “I so want to write a song.” “It was actually driven by jealousy, if you can believe that,” Lewis says of her desire to write songs. “I knew a lot of musicians and singers who were writing songs…I wanted something that was all mine, just like they had.” In 1986, Lewis decided to sell her violin shop in Flagstaff and move back to her hometown of Berkeley, California, resolved to be a full-time musician. The move was a fruitful one, as Lewis’ career blossomed in the 1990s. She twice won the California Women’s Fiddling Championship, was twice named Female Vocalist of the Year (in 1992 and 1994) in the International Bluegrass Music Awards (IBMA), and won IBMA’s Song of the Year in 1994 for her tender ballad, “Who Will Watch The Home Place.” Lewis makes a pitstop on the Monterey Peninsula this week, appearing with her longtime band The Right Hands, a name she decided upon back in 2000. “It has nothing to do with them all being right-handed,” Lewis says. “They are the right hired hands to do the job.” Laurie Lewis and The Right Hands 7pm Thursday, March 23. Monterey United Methodist Church, 1 Soledad Drive, Monterey. $35. 375-8285, otteropry.org. IRENE YOUNG Fiddling Through Singer-songwriter Laurie Lewis never set out to break barriers—she just loves to play music. By Paul Fried Laurie Lewis started out as a classical violinist, but by age 14 she had a guitar and a banjo. “I was smitten with bluegrass and folk music,” she says. Low cost vaccination clinic for dogs & cats. Microchipping. Prescription flea/tick medication. OPEN SAT 3:30PM-5:30PM • SUN 10AM-1PM Baby Chicks are here! 101 W. Laurel Dr, Salinas • (831)443-6161 Mon-Sat 9am-6pm Sun 10am-5pm $5 OFF Any purchase of $25 or more $10 OFF Any purchase of $50 or more $20 OFF Any purchase of $100 or more CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS. LIMIT 1 COUPON PER CUSTOMER. NOT VALID ON HAY SHAVINGS, FRONTLINE/ADVANTAGE, OR SERESTO COLLARS. MUST PRESENT COUPON AT TIME OF PURCHASE. Ready for your Chick Up? Quality feed & pet supplies • DIY dog & cat vaccines • Premium hay at great prices Passion Week 2023 Calvary Chapel Lighthouse Fellowship • 515 Junipero Ave • Pacific Grove Palm Sunday - April 2nd, 10am 515 Junipero Ave, PG Good Friday - April 7th, 7pm 515 Junipero, PG Sunrise Service - April 9th, 6:30am Lower Persidio Park, Monterey Easter Service - April 9th, 10am 515 Junipero Ave, PG “I brought my Subaru to Hartzel on advice of a friend and I was so pleased with the service & attention I got from them. Not only finished on time, but under the estimate I was given. Very rare these days. So pleased with the whole experience & great peace of mind knowing it was done correctly. Highly recommend this guy.” —David F., Seaside 2/14/19 510 California Avenue | Sand City | 394.6002 hartzelautomotive.com EXPERT SERVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT. Subaru Mazda Lexus Infiniti Saab vintage MG SCHEDULE YOUR NEXT SERVICE ONLINE TODAY
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