"Wood, Strings & Painted Dreams," a benefit for the Georgia Pick and Bow Traditional Music School will feature live music and the unveiling of a folk art bass fiddle hand painted by renowned artist Billy Roper at 6:30 p.m. Sunday night at The Crimson Moon Cafe in Dahlonega.

For North Georgia folk artist Billy Roper, whose work is in collections throughout the United States and in more than 30 countries, the folk art bass evolved as colorful imagery in his dreams, slowly emerging as paint strokes that follow the wooden contours of the bass fiddle.

The hand-painted bass is more than a work of art; it also represents another dream that is near and dear to Roper's heart — that all children have the right to play music.

The "Wood, Strings & Painted Dreams" event also features an evening of music performed by the talented Pick and Bow children, instructors and others involved in the program. The lineup of musicians includes the Georgia Pick and Bow Band, John Grimm with Buck Peacock and Rick Taylor, Geoff Hohwald, Sonny Houston, Curtis Jones, Wayde Powell, Jim White/The Buzzard Mountain Boys, Ann Whitley/The Rosin Sisters, Sarrah Ellen McDonald and Tonia Conner/Barefoot Creek.

Each reserved seat ticket includes one ticket for the raffle on the folk art bass, which is Pick and Bow program's major fund raising activity for the year. Additional raffle tickets can be purchased at the event, and the raffle drawing will take place next April at the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival in Dahlonega.

Proceeds from the raffle will be used to help provide funds for the music instruction program for students in grades 4-12 that encourages learning and teamwork, while passing down the treasured tradition of Appalachian music to the next generation. More information about Pick and Bow can be found here.

Sponsors of the bass project include the Dahlonega Arts Council, Bryson Wilkins, and the Pender Family.

More information about purchasing raffle tickets between now and the drawing can be obtained at jimmy@jimmybooth.com.