The Rooster's Wife keeps cool this summer with plenty of hot music. Four Sunday shows, and a special blues performance Friday, July 13, make up the remaining summer schedule.

On Sunday, July 8, Town Mountain takes the stage at Poplar Knight Spot in Aberdeen.

"Town Mountain's not your granddaddy's bluegrass," or, "Town Mountain is a great traditional bluegrass band."

Fortunately, both of these statements are true and false all at the same time, therefore canceling each other out and in turn making it hard to pigeonhole just what Town Mountain can be called.

How is a new sound developed and maintained? A lot of it has to do with influence. Everybody in the band brings their own unique musical background to the table.

Some of the band's members grew up listening to classic country such as George Jones and Waylon Jennings, while others were paying attention to Jimi Hendrix and The Grateful Dead.

Making a strong connection to live music, they all started to expand their musical horizons. Some found jazz, some found punk, some found Americana, but it's safe to say that all of them, at about the same time, began to pay attention to a distinctly American musical form, bluegrass.

Ten years after this discovery, the band is well into their sixth year of performing. In 2005, they joined ranks with The Steep Canyon Rangers and Yonder Mountain String Band, winning the prestigious Rockygrass band competition. That win kicked the band's future into high gear, establishing the group as a force among American string bands.

They have performed at major festivals across the country, from Yonder Mountain's String Summit to North Carolina's Merlefest, sharing the stage with some of their heroes, like the Del McCoury Band, Seldom Scene or their contemporaries, the Infamous Stringdusters and the Steep Canyon Rangers.

Musical influence, fine-tuned vocals, precision-crafted instrumentalists, and charming stage presence are all ingredients in what makes Town Mountain unique.

The final essential ingredient is new songs. Town Mountain has the capacity to bring fresh and exciting material to their high quality music. With topics ranging from love lost and heartache to the weariness of a midnight drive, and even current politics, Town Mountain's songwriting is heartfelt, sincere and honest.

This year Town Mountain has teamed up with Pinecastle Records to release their third album, "Steady Operator." The musically mature band has honed a sound that suits them collectively and individually.

There is seating inside, and outside under the awning and under the stars. Picnics are welcome. Tickets are available online, at theroosterswife.org, or at the door if still available.

Admission for this week's show is $12 in advance, and $15 the day of the show. All Sunday shows begin at 6:45 p.m.

The Blues Crawl opener featuring Eden Brent and the Harris Brothers begins at 8 p.m. Tickets for that special event are $18 in advance and $22 the day of the show.

The Rooster's Wife is a community arts organization committed to bringing the best in live music to the Sandhills.

Poplar Knight Spot is located at 114 Knight St. in downtown Aberdeen.

The doors open at 6 p.m. for this week's show.

For more information, visit www.the roosterswife.org, call (910) 944 7502, or email theroosterswife@yahoo.com.