Fourth of July celebration to include live country music

Country music by a local duo will crown Genoa’s annual Americana Festival, a celebration of Independence Day, on July 4.

Duane “Beans” Sousa and his songwriting partner Slade Rivers will lend their talents at Mormon Station State Historic Park.

The two will be joined by mandolin player Bill Griffin, of Kate Wolf and Cache Valley Drifters fame, and Steve Doss, a bassist from Sacramento Valley.

The celebration will kick off at 10 with traditional Americana music followed by the Children’s Parade at 11 a.m. Sousa and Rivers will take the stage at 3 p.m.

The audience may hear songs off their recently-released album, “Honky Tonk Highway,” from the Shop Records label.

Sousa’s career includes collaborations with Country Music Hall of Fame’s Lacy J. Dalton. His early career included guitar playing and co-songwriting for Dalton during the start of her CBS Records career in Nashville. He went onto produce her “Wild Horse Crossing” album and tour with her for two decades.

Sousa, of Carson City, met Rivers, a singer and songwriter from Jackson, Calif., several years ago while fishing in the Carson River.

“Some old musician friends and I were playing music around the campfire when, after about 20 minutes or so of song sharing, this tall shadow of a cowboy appeared out of nowhere,” Sousa said. “The stranger complimented our music and then asked, you mind if I go get my guitar and join you boys?”

“Sure,” Sousa said. “You can join us — if you know any Merle Haggard songs.”

Sousa said Rivers returned with a Martin acoustic guitar and played a horde of Haggard songs.

The pair’s performance at Mormon Station will be followed by an Independence Day tribute from the Carson Symphony Orchestra at 5 p.m.

In addition to live music, the celebration offers a raffle and a barbecue feast.

For information about the festival, go to http://www.genoanevada.org. For more about Sousa and samples of his music, go to www.beanssousa.com.

Also, “Honky Tonk Highway” can be downloaded for $9.99 at www.ShopRecords.com.