Athens County Historical Society Host 2nd Annual Moth Ball Fund Raiser Athens, Ohio

Music of the past and somewhat present will fill the night air when the Athens County Historical Society & Museum (ACHS&M) and the AthensNEWS hosts The Moth Ball, ACHS&M’s signature fund raiser on Saturday, August 28. The event takes place at Robbins Crossing on the campus of Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio. The Moth Ball fund raiser aims to bring back beloved Athens bands by inviting them to return to the stage to entertain an audience both old and new. “The Moth Ball fund raiser is a way to put these beloved bands ‘on exhibit’ for the music fans in Athens County and beyond to enjoy. This year’s event aims to build on the success of the first Moth Ball, held last summer at Eclipse Company Store. We hold the event in an historic Athens County setting as a way to celebrate the efforts people in the area have made toward preserving our past,” Riesbeck says. This year’s Moth Ball features The Billycats and The New Vinton County Frogwhompers Marching, Singing, Strumming & Plucking Society. The Billycats features musicians Dave Borowski on vocals and guitar and John Borchard on lap steel guitar, both of whom have played in other bands in Athens’ past like Close Enough for Jazz, Aces & Eights, the Kings of Hollywood and Realbilly Jive. Rounding out the Billycats are Bob Prebe on bass, Ted Harris on vocals, sax and clarinet and Ken Dean on the drums. The Frogwhompers were a popular, self-described “newgrass” band in Athens in the 1970s. The Frogwhompers’ unique blend of bluegrass and rock is remembered by many Athenians today as the sound that rocked a bar called Mr. Bojangles (currently The Other Place clothing store) every Wednesday and Thursday night in the late 1970s. The Frogwhompers include Charlie Lewis on the guitar, Jim Prouty on the banjo, Jim McGaw on the autoharp. All of the members contribute to the harmonic vocals for songs like, “You Done Stomped On My Heart”, “Fox On The Run”, and “Athens County”, made famous by former Ohio University student Jonathan Edwards. Food will be provided by Purple Chopstix and Restaurant Salaam and a cash bar with beer brewed locally at Jackie O’s will be served. A silent auction with donations from Athens County businesses will be featured as well. Tickets are available at Little Professor Book Center, 65 South Court Street in Athens; at the Athens County Historical Society & Museum at 65 North Court Street; at the main office at the AthensNEWS located at 14 North Court Street; or by calling the historical society at 740-592-2280. The Athens County Historical Society & Museum is located at 65 North Court Street in Athens. It is open Tuesday through Saturday, 12-4 pm. Admission is free for members, school groups, and on the third Saturday of each month. For other, admission is $4.00 for adults, $2.00 for seniors, ages 13-21 and university students (with ID), and $1.00 for 12 and under. Free parking is available. Call 740-592-2280 or visit www.athenshistory.org for more information.