LOWESVILLE––The Cockman Family of Sherrill’s Ford will perform a free concert Jan. 28 at 6 p.m.

The Vineyard Church of Lowesville is the place to be, according to noted gospel singer and concert co-ordinator Carroll Cooke. And although the concert is free, as Cooke recently noted, a free-will offering will be taken up.

The Cockman Family has developed a distinct bluegrass gospel style that has gained audiences throughout the Southeast. Their arrangements of old gospel songs have been very popular. Their tight harmonies and original songs have been applauded for their unique sounds.

Band members include John Cockman, Sr. on guitar, Caroline Cockman Fisher on lead vocals, John Cockman, Jr. on fiddle and bass vocals, Billy Cockman on banjo and tenor vocals, David Cockman on bass and Ben Cockman on guitar and mandolin and baritone vocals.

The Cockmans have been nominated for Bluegrass Artists of the Year, Instrumentalist of the Year and Bluegrass Band of the Year by the Country Gospel Music Association and for Gold Cross Bluegrass Group of the Year by the International Country Gospel Music Association. They were named one of the “Twelve Most Creative Families in America” by American Greeting Cards and USA Today. They were the recipients of the Community Traditions Award by the North Carolina Folklore Society. They were awarded “Bluegrass Gospel Group of the Year” by the Southern Branch Bluegrass. They were also featured in a PBS special, “Maker of the Stars: A Cockman Family Christmas,” and they’re known in North Carolina as cast members on a series of seven one-hour PBS specials, “The Arthur Smith Show: Now and Then.”

Plus, the Cockman Family grandkids have started a new band called Terrapin Creek. This group features Arwen Cockman on vocals, fiddle and banjo; Lorien Cockman on vocals, bass and Dobro; Samuel Fisher on vocals, guitar and mandolin; and Joseph Cockman on vocals, guitar and bass.

The Vineyard Church is located at 1062 NC-16 South in Lowesville, just down the road from Hill’s Chapel United Methodist Church. The church features Southern, bluegrass and/or acoustic gospel concerts every Saturday evening.