By Ed Simmons, Jr.
cpreporter@verizon.net

If your ears've been overly jangled lately, listening to the "Milford Station Bluegrass Band" last Saturday night at Ladysmith Village was a great way to sweeten them up.

Expert pickers singing high lonesome mountain harmonies, Milford Station drew a crowd that raised $416 for the Armed Forces Foundation.

A national non-profit, the Armed Forces Foundation helps service members and their families with housing improvements, making transitions, career advice, funeral arrangements, counseling, and pays for airline tickets and hotel bills so families can be near their loved ones in trying times. Ninety-five percent of donations go directly to military members and their families.

The four band members of Milford Station were decked out for the occasion in matching U.S. flag shirts and white cowboy hats. Locally-based, they've achieved fame in the Bluegrass world playing festivals throughout Virginia including the Amelia Bluegrass Festival and Graves Mountain Lodge. They've also opened for Nashville acts. Here in Caroline they play at Mr. B's Bluegrass Park and often during the off-season at the Route 2 Diner, seven miles north of Bowling Green. The intimate atmosphere at the Route 2 Diner allows the band to play without amplification, which is a special – and rare – treat for the ear. When they do play amplified as they did at Ladysmith, their sound system is clear and well-modulated.

Busy with festivals this summer, their next local date is at the Fredericksburg Fair, performing on July 29 and August 1.

Starting the band four years ago were Robby Carruthers and Mike Whitley. Carruthers, who plays banjo when he's not farming "Newmarket Plantation," said his wife Ada suggested they name the band "Milford Station" after the nearby railroad stop. She also does all their photography for their CD covers and website, milfordstation.com. Mike Whitley, who lives not far away from Caruthers in Partlow, plays guitar and sings in the traditional, haunting style of the Appalachians where his family came from before moving to Caroline. His voice combines with mandolin player Johnny Starkey from Farmers to produce an indescribably beautiful mountain sound. Singing solo, Starkey's long high notes on "Ruby" can only be described as a melodious amazement.

Joining in on the singing is Donny Nicholson who plays the upright bass. A gifted vocalist, Nicholson chimed in for the third voice of "Fox on the Hunt" and also sings with Johnny Starkey on "I'm Head over Heels."

Expertly blending the sounds of the band's voices and instruments was sound man Boe Satterwhite. Helping him at the Ladysmith show was Karen Bauserman who is their web master.

Significantly, GHS Strings has endorsed the band – a prestigious thing – and features them on their website. If you're not already a fan of Milford Station, the time has come. Banjo-player Robbie Caruthers can mail you their CD called "At Home." Call him at 540-582-6618 or 804-366-6562.

The Ladysmith Village Summer Concert Series has so far raised $1,300 for charitable causes. The next and last Ladysmith show this summer is August 16, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., featuring "Back to the Future" playing Rock of the '80s.