Start with a strong dose of lyrical singer-songwriter acoustic folk. Add a helping of catchy rhythms, mixed with modern rock arrangements and searing, soulful vocals.

Then package everything in a hot-rod American string band format featuring some of the Southeast's finest bluegrass pickers and rockers. The finished product is Tennessee Jed.

Tennessee Jed, accompanied by Eric Chesson on guitar, will be performing a string of tour dates throughout the North Carolina Piedmont this spring as an acoustic duo.

They will be appearing live in Pinehurst Saturday, May 30, at Easy's.The show is slated to begin at 10 p.m.

Jed's critically acclaimed 2007 debut CD, "Acoustica," brought together a veritable who's-who list of established and up-and-coming stars in the rock, Americana, country, and bluegrass world, including Robert Sledge (Ben Folds Five), Andy Thorn (Larry Keel's Natural Bridge, Emmitt-Nershi Band, Big Fat Gap), Nicky Sanders (Steep Canyon Rangers), Walt Hensey (Barefoot Manner), Nick Campbell (Jam Pain Society), and John T. Boulding (Shady Grove Band).

Co-produced at The Rubber Room in Chapel Hill, by Jerry Brown (Doc Watson, Jack Lawrence, Steep Canyon Rangers, Red Clay Ramblers, Carolina Chocolate Drops), "Acoustica" boasts two songs co-written with Billboard's top new male country artist of 2007 and Jed's former band-mate, Jason Michael Carroll.

Since the release of "Acoustica," Tennessee Jed has jumped onto the southeast U.S. live music scene, having shared the stage with a wide variety of artists including The Marshall Tucker Band, The Duhks, The Infamous Stringdusters, Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band and Chris Barron (singer of The Spin Doctors).

Past performances also include VIP tent sets with Alison Krauss and Union Station and Widespread Panic.

Recently relocating to join his friends in the Asheville music scene, Jed has begun work on his follow-up release, "Barn Burner," which will feature seven-time IBMA banjo player of the year, Jim Mills of Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder.

For more information on Tennessee Jed and his Saturday, May 30, performance in Pinehurst, visit www.tenneseejed.net or call Easy's Bar & Grill at (910) 215-0346.