When local country singer Jeremy Randall lived in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, he was a regular performer in a popular show called the Grapevine Opry. Combining country music with family-friendly humor and showcasing talented local singers, the Opry had developed a far-flung reputation for presenting quality performances at a reasonable price.

Last November, Randall debuted as the lead singer of the Hometown Band in a new monthly music series, the Hometown Hootenanny, which takes place in Everett but is driven by folks from all over Snohomish County. To celebrate the 1-year anniversary, "The Best of the Hometown Hootenanny" is set for Friday, November 12, at 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave. in downtown Everett.

The Hootenanny is produced by Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts, a nonprofit arts education organization headquartered in Marysville. As part of its education focus, the Hootenanny is designed to provide learning opportunities for performers, technicians, and even the audience.

Mark Hibbert, owner of Whiskey Ridge Recording Studio in Marysville and the musical director for the show, explained the concept.

"The focus for each show is loosely defined by the country, folk and bluegrass musical genres," he said, "but in reality, we've featured blues artists, alt-country and classic rock numbers, and quite a few performers who really don't fit any specific category."

Past guest artists at the Hootenanny have included the Whateverly Brothers, a traditional folk trio, the classic rock group Jimi Lee's All-Stars, an "outlaw" country band fronted by Michael Oneill, cowboy poets and musicians Rockin HW, and Jimmie Rodgers throwback J.W. McClure. In addition, dozens of local amateur singers have auditioned and earned a showcase spot on the show, performing with the Hometown Band.

The professional 6-member band serves as the backbone of each show, nimbly entertaining the audience with a set of 8 to 10 songs that wrap around the show's theme-everything from "Songs of the American Cowboy" to "Rockabilly," "Folklore and Tall Tales" and "Superstars of Modern Country." For the anniversary show, band members Hibbert, Randall, Roger Kehler, Larry Greenleaf, Buck Hammock and Dave McCabe will perform a variety of audience favorites including "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," "Ghost Riders in the Sky," "City of New Orleans" and "T-R-O-U-B-L-E."

Greenleaf and McCabe live in Everett, Hammock is a Stanwood resident and Kehler lives in Arlington.

The list of guest performers returning to the stage for the "Best of the Hootenanny" show includes the sensational young bluegrass band Northern Departure, charismatic bluesman and saw player Reggie Miles, world-renown guitarist David Lee Howard, local musicians Rick and Jim Barella in an Everly Brothers tribute, and 14-year-old singer-songwriter Dakota Neuman of Monroe.

Emcee Michael McFadden adds to the entertainment value of the show with a series of characters specially created for the Hootenanny audience. The engaging local actor adds a touch of theatricality to the music show...and he sings and plays guitar too!

Advance tickets for the Hometown Hootenanny are priced at $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, and $5 for kids 12 and under. A special family package of two adult and two child/student tickets (up to age 18) is available online only (at www.brownpapertickets.com) at the reduced price of $37.50.

Purchase tickets 24 hours a day online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/134887 or by calling 1-800-838-3006. Tickets are available at the theatre box office at 2911 Colby Avenue in downtown Everett during regular hours or by calling (425) 258-6766. (Note that presale tickets may be subject to additional fees.) Admission to the show can also be purchased at the door, beginning one hour prior to showtime.

For more information about upcoming shows and guest artists, visit www.hometownhootenanny.com.