Go green for a good time

Published 10:49 pm Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Concert lovers in Suffolk will feel the luck o’ the Irish this weekend when they come see a Hampton Roads band known for its spin on popular music.

The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts will host the St. Patty’s Dance from 8 to 11 p.m. this Saturday. The dance will feature music by Little Country, a five-piece rock, pop and country band based in Virginia Beach.

The ensemble includes guitarist Mark Dunn, bassist Ross King, fiddler Lucy Hull and drummer Tripp Johnson, along with Johnson’s wife, Mary, and Maggie DeLaura on lead vocals.

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Johnson said in a phone interview that the band plays a little bit of country — hence its name — but the musicians pride themselves on catering to their audiences with their own takes on familiar rock and pop tracks.

“We’re able to scratch the creative and artistic itch while keeping the audience happy,” he said.

They’ve gotten audiences pumping with intense renditions of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” and “Carry On My Wayward Son” by Kansas. The harmony of male and female voices creates a unique sound for these well-known tracks.

“We’ll also throw in some modern dance songs to keep people moving,” Johnson said.

The older crowd in the audience will be right at home with the classics, while the younger listeners will recognize some favorites from their playlists. The fiddler may even play an Irish tune.

“We’re there to make sure everybody has a good time,” Johnson said.

Tickets are $15. Visit suffolkcenter.org or call 923-0003 for tickets and more information.