ATHENS-The musical group The Pine Hill Haints perform what they say the modern world considers being dead music, perhaps one reason its vocalist fine-tuned his singing skills in a graveyard.
The group will bring that music to life with a rocking energetic performance in Downtown Athens on Friday, Jan. 3, at The Loft above Village Pizza. The performance is part of Athens Arts League’s Alabama Music Series that supports Alabama-based musicians and provides hands-on experience to students interested in music careers.
According to the band’s Spotify site, vocalist Jamie Barrier learned the musical traditions of his native Alabama by attending local hootenannies with his grandfather. Barrier honed his voice by singing in a graveyard named Pine Hill Cemetery and while in elementary school, helped form a “raucous rockabilly outfit” called The Wednesdays. He helped form The Pine Hill Haints in 1998. His wife, Katie, occasionally plays a saw to add an eerie tone to some of their “dead music” selections.
Examples of the genres The Pine Hill Haints perform include rockabilly, Celtic, gospel, bluegrass and 
the blues mixed with popular rock and roll. The audience will hear original work and songs like “Where The Soul of Man Never Dies,” “I Ride An Old Paint,” “Goodnight Irene” and “Back In The Saddle Again.”
“We invite music lovers to start out the New Year enjoying this dynamic band and helping support art and music events in Athens and Limestone County,” Athens Arts League Board President Jennifer Hilton-Sampieri said.
Local group The Redeemers will open for The Pine Hill Haints at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10 at the door, cash preferred. Proceeds will benefit Athens Arts League. Village Pizza will have food and beverages for sale. The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, Steelcase, Valley Mowing and Village Pizza are helping sponsor the event.
Athens Arts League is a non-profit entity whose mission is to support artists, provide art education and bring cultural events to Athens and Limestone County.
