Hickory Ridge Concerts welcomes nationally acclaimed bluegrass multi-instrumentalist Chris Walz to the stage on May the 18th at 7:00 pm at the historic Ellisville Opera House in Ellisville, IL. Walz combines a joy of performing with a reverence for America’s musical story. A natural born storyteller, Chris has a masterful presence as he weaves his songs and remembrances, one to the next, into a night of music that is not easily forgotten.

Chris started playing guitar when he was 17 and soon perfected his Scruggs-style banjo playing as he diligently studied all his musical heroes from Pete Seeger to Mississippi John Hurt to Woody Guthrie to Dave Van Ronk. He spent a few years as an actor, and in 1990 got the chance to play Woody Guthrie in a national tour of the show called "Woody Guthrie's American Song". He stayed with that show for a number of years, and though he played other roles in and around Chicago, he was primarily going on the road playing Woody Guthrie.

Chris delivers a fulfilling performance, whether it is his lightning speed on the banjo’s fretboard, his hard hitting grooves on the guitar or his tender melodic touch on the mandolin, To top it off, Chris is an extraordinary singer, using his rich voice to buoy up a traditional ballad, a unique original composition, or a rousing ‘tear down the house’ bluegrass medley. His many years touring with bluegrass, Grammy nominated Special Consensus, honed his group and solo prowess.

The Hickory Ridge Concert Series is hosted by singer-songwriter Chris Vallillo. Concerts are usually (but not always) held on the 3rd Saturday of the month and begin at 7:00 p.m. with the doors opening at 6:00 p.m. The Ellisville Opera House an intimate listening room where folks can relax and hear a wide range of acoustic music. though it is a historic second story venue, they have an elevator and air conditioning. Audience members can enjoy Coffee, drinks, popcorn, and a variety of desserts before the show and during intermission. There is an admission charge of $10.00 per adult and $5.00 for children under 12. Hickory Ridge Concerts is supported in part by WIUM 91.3 FM, your source for NPR programming, local news and a variety of music and by a grant from the Two Rivers Arts Council. Follow Hickory Ridge Concerts on facebook, or on the website, www.hickoryridgeconcerts.com.