John Lilly is well known to Dahlonega music lovers. This will be his seventh appearance at Bear on the Square, and he has also performed several times at the Crimson Moon Cafe on the historic Public Square in Dahlonega.
John is a multi-talented acoustic music performer from Charleston, W. Va., specializing in Americana, roots country, and traditional folk music. He writes new songs that sound as old as the hills, and performs older songs like they were made yesterday. He even throws in humor and an occasional yodel.
John has released five self-produced CDs. His 2007 release, “Haunted Honky Tonk,” achieved the #1 position on both the Freeform American Roots (FAR) and the Euro Americana radio charts. “Broken Moon,” released in 2000, earned enthusiastic reviews and widespread radio airplay. John’s second CD, “Last Chance to Dance,” released in 2003, debuted at #1 on the FAR radio chart and rose to #4 on the Euro Americana radio chart. His 2005 CD release, “Blue Highway,” is a collaboration with legendary Tennessee fiddler Ralph Blizard. In 2010, he released "Live on Red Barn Radio." John spent years playing traditional string band music with groups including Ralph Blizard and the New Southern Ramblers. John is also widely recognized as a powerful performing songwriter. In 2010, he won the "Next Great Road Song" contest, sponsored by Midas and Spin. In 2005, he won the national "Ghost Writers In the Sky" songwriting contest, sponsored by HankFest, a Chicago-based festival honoring the music of Hank Williams. John has toured Scotland three times, has appeared in 48 of the 50 states, and been a three-time guest on the popular Mountain Stage radio show. According to one reviewer, "If Hank Williams had a sunny disposition, he'd be John Lilly."
Join us on facebook.
and traditional folk music. He writes new songs that sound as old as the hills, and performs older songs like they were made yesterday. He even throws in humor and an occasional yodel.