Offshoot Productions'

Stars on the Southern Crescent coffee houses have always been one of the

best bargains in the area. The audience gets top-notch local and regional

entertainment at a nearby venue with the promise of delicious desserts

and beverages.

Though the

site of the coffee house has moved several times, it appears the have

a solid venue at the Fayette Family YMCA on Huiet Road. This weekend's

coffee houses will bring some of the best area bluegrass bands to the

stage, while people snack on some tasty treats.

Friday's show

will feature Justus and Stranger 2, while Saturday's show will feature

Red Line Express and Counterpoint.

Justus has

performed in clubs and at corporate events all over Georgia and has been

the opening act for notables as The Doobie Brothers, Air Supply, REO Speedwagon,

Chuck Berry, .38 Special, Little Anthony and the Imperials, and Lee Greenwood.

They are well known in the area and will also perform at the American

cancer Society's Cattle Baron Ball in October.

Red Line Express,

based in Gray, Ga., is known for its members' two- and three-part harmony.

They perform standard bluegrass tunes and mountain music, in addition

to a number of originals.

Counterpoint,

formed in 1998, plays a variety of music including hard-core bluegrass

and old-time country. Counterpoint vocalist Joy Smith was a recent inductee

into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame and has appeared at the Grand

Ole Opry.

The Bluegrass

Festival is supported by a grant from the Endowment Committee for the

Cultural Arts of Fayette County. The ECCA has promoted a wide variety

of creative endeavors in its 20-year history. They also award scholarships

to Fayette County students pursuing a career in the arts each year.

"It is

encouraging that an established and respected organization such as the

ECCA is behind us in our ambitious undertaking this fall," said Offshoot

artistic director Susan Steadman."We are enormously grateful for

this support."

The show begins

at 8:15 each evening.Patrons who bring their own mugs from home may take

advantage of a discount on hot drinks and are eligible for the "Most

Unusual Mug" award.In addition to gourmet coffee, cold beverages

and hot apple cider, Stars offers home-made desserts from EJ's Sweets

and Gift Shop in Fayetteville and tea from Teavana in Peachtree City.

Tickets, sold

at the door only, are $8 ($6 for senior citizens and children 12 and younger).Series

passes, which cost only $16 for all three fall coffee house events (including

the Jazz and Blues Weekend, Oct. 24-25, and the second annual Celtic Christmas

Coffee House, Nov. 21-22), are available at the Peachtree City Library,

770- 631-2520, the Fayette County Library, 770-461-8841, and at the door.

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