It’s not every town where you can walk down the street and listen to old-time and bluegrass music played at a Saturday open-air market. But come spring, summer and fall mornings, when the weather’s cooperating, that’s exactly where members of the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association can be found. Their music got them noticed.
“We were playing under the trees in the summer time and (Bob Henkel) said he had this great building and a great idea, ‘Come on down and I’ll show you,’” said Linda Boyer, BCTMA chairwoman.
Their music got them a home: the Union Alley Coffee House, a performance space in the Inner Banks Artisans’ Center on Main Street in Washington.
Since then, BCTMA has hosted two to three shows per month at the Union Alley Coffeehouse, from local “moonshine stomp” band Carolina Still, to the Canadian group Naming the Twins. Festival favorites Mandolin Orange, L-Shape Lot and Lightnin’ Wells have all sat in at the small space that holds 65 people regularly. On top of the quality talent from outside, said Boyer, are the bands spawned by BCTMA, their ranks made from the BCTMA membership roster.
In addition to jams on Thursday nights and Saturday mornings, in which all players are invited to participate, an open-mic variety show held the first Saturday of the month  — that is, with the exception of this month.
Saturday, BCTMA celebrates three years of UAC performances with a special event featuring singer-songwriters Jim Avett and Rebekah Todd. Avett is an accomplished guitarist, who is also well known for passing his musical talents on to his sons, Scott and Seth of The Avett Brothers, whose 2012 album, “The Carpenter,” was nominated for best Americana album at the 55th Grammy Awards.
Jim Avett is no stranger to the BCTMA — he performed at the organizations Tar Landing Jam in October 2011.
Tickets to Saturday night’s performance are $10 each for BCTMA members and $12 each for nonmembers. Boyer said they’re always looking for new members. The show starts at 7 p.m.
For more information, visit www.bctma.org.