Nashville, TN - Fan Fest is the indoor music festival of the year held, October 5, 6, 7 at the Nashville Convention Center, featuring performances by the industry’s top performers on four stages including the Fan Fest Main Stage, Master’s Workshop Stage, Roots & Branches Stage, and the Grand Masters Fiddler Championship. A 100 + booth Exposition Hall, scores of jam sessions and more! Visit the IBMA website for more information.

Performance Schedule

All lineup and performance times subject to change

Main Stage - Sponsored by CMT

Friday, October 5 - Nashville Convention Center
11:00 AM - World International Bluegrass Band
11:30 AM - Cadillac Sky
12:00 PM - Steep Canyon Rangers
12:30 PM - Sierra Hull & Highway 111
1:00 PM - The Greencards
1:30 PM - Grasstowne
2:00 PM - The Mark Newton Band
2:30 PM - Nashville Bluegrass Band
3:00 PM - The Claire Lynch Band
3:30 PM - Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time
4:00 PM - John Starling & Carolina Star
4:30 PM - J.D. Crowe & The New South
5:00 PM - Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
5:25 PM - (INTERMISSION)
6:10 PM - IIIrd Tyme Out
6:40 PM - Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers
7:10 PM - Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
7:55 PM - Emmylou Harris
9:00 PM - The Isaacs
9:45 PM - Mountain Heart
10:30 PM - The Grascals
11:15 PM - Cherryholmes
11:35 PM - (End)

Saturday, October 6 - Nashville Convention Center
11:00 AM - Donna Hughes
11:30 AM - Daughters Of Bluegrass
12:00 PM - Charlie Sizemore
12:30 PM - Blue Moon Rising
1:00 PM - The SteelDrivers
1:30 PM - Randy Kohrs & The Lites
2:00 PM - David Parmley & Continental Divide
2:30 PM - Don Rigsby & Midnight Call
3:00 PM - Randy Waller & The Country Gentlemen
3:30 PM - Alecia Nugent
4:00 PM - Special Consensus
4:30 PM - NewFound Road
5:00 PM - Bradley Walker
5:25 PM - (INTERMISSION)
6:10 PM - The Larry Stephenson Band
6:40 PM - Dailey & Vincent
7:05 PM - (Grand Master Fiddler Champion)
7:25 PM - The Infamous Stringdusters
7:50 PM - (Martin Guitar prize drawing)
8:00 PM - Kathy Mattea
8:30 PM - Ronnie Bowman
9:15 PM - Marty Raybon & Full Circle
10:00 PM - The Songs Of Tom T. & Dixie Hall
11:20 PM - (End)

Sunday, October 7 - Grand Ballroom - Renaissance Hotel
9:00 AM - Chapel Service & Singing
9:50 AM - The Anita Fisher Band with Ray Deaton
10:15 AM - Pine Mountain Railroad
10:40 AM - The James King Band
11:05 AM - Paul Williams & The Victory Trio
11:35 AM - The Whites
Noon - (End)

The Roots & Branches Stage
Renaissance Hotel - Grand Ballroom (Level 1)

Friday, October 5
1:00 PM - Banjo Celebration with Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, Tony Trischka & Bob Carlin
2:00 PM - Pete Wernick & FLEXIGRASS
3:00 PM - Dick Kimmel & Jerilyn Kjellberg
4:00 PM - The Red Stick Ramblers
5:00 PM - missy raines & the new hip
7:00 PM - Kids on Bluegrass featuring Courtney Burroughs, Houston Caldwell, Stephanie Dilling, Ben Doerful, Eddie Doerful, Joe Doerful, Kim Doerful, Scott Gates, Asa Gravely, Ryan Holladay, Kati Huntley, Tori Huntley, Nick Keen, Aissa Lee, Carly Pearce, Ruby Jane Smith, Molly Tuttle, Jarrod Walker, Tyler Walker, Austin Ward, Christian Ward and Austin Wilder

Saturday, October 6
Noon - Get Up Johns
1:00 PM - Anne & Pete Sibley
2:00 PM - Mark Johnson & Emory Lester
3:00 PM - Barbara Lamb
3:30 PM - The Laura Love Band
4:30 PM - The Old Tyme Opry Show

The Masters Workshop Stage
Sponsored by Bluegrass Now Magazine
Nashville Convention Center Room 209/210 (Level 2)

Friday, October 5
11:30 AM - Mandolin - Sierra Hull, Alan Bibey, Danny Roberts, Adam Steffey, Emory Lester
12:30 PM - Out of the Box - Acoustic Eidolon, Pete Wernick & FLEXIGRASS, Benji Flaming
1:30 PM - Fiddle - Michael Cleveland, Jim VanCleve, Jimmy Mattingly, Molly & BJ Cherryholmes
2:30 PM - Guitar - Robert Bowlin, Tim May, Skip Cherryholmes, David Grier, Bryan Sutton
3:30 PM - Banjo - Matt Menefee, Barry Crabtree, Pete Wernick, Charlie Cushman, Cia Cherryholmes
4:30 PM - Bass - Mark Schatz, Travis Book, Andy Moritz, Ben Isaacs, Jason Moore
5:30 PM - Songwriter - Wil Maring, Bryan Simpson, Steve Gulley, Larry Cordle, Sonya Isaacs, Becky Isaacs, Cia Cherryholmes

Saturday, October 6
11:30 AM - Banjo - Justin Moses, Richard Bailey, Greg Cahill, Kristin Scott Benson, Chris Pandolfi
12:30 PM - Dobro - Randy Kohrs, Andy Hall, Josh Swift
1:30 PM - Mandolin - John Frazier, Ashby Frank, Justin Moses, David Harvey
2:30 PM - Guitar - Rebecca Frazier, Pat Flynn, Justin Carbone, Sierra Hull, Andy Falco
3:30 PM Songwriter - Donna Hughes, Donna Ulisse, Gary Ferguson, Mike Ward
4:30 PM Clawhammer - Mark Johnson, Bob Carlin, Dick Kimmel, Dan Levenson
5:30 PM Bluegrass Karaoke - with Bull Harman & Friends

Grand Master Fiddler Championship
Sponsored by Diversity Brands & Metro Nashville Arts Commission
Nashville Convention Center - Room 205/206 (Level 2)

Friday, October 5
8:30 AM - Contestant Registration
11:00 AM - Preliminary Round Competition #1
1:15 PM - Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain
2:00 PM - Preliminary Round Competition #1
3:45 PM - Special Consensus
4:30 PM - Rocky Top Revue Square Dancers
5:15 PM - Finalist Presentations
5:30 PM - The Grascals

Saturday, October 6
8:30 AM - Contestant Check-in
9:45 AM - Grand Ole Opry Square Dancers and Band, Youth Square Dancing
10:30 AM - Dr. Ming Wang - Chinese Erhu Concert & Demonstration
11:00 AM - Finals Round Competition
2:00 PM - Broken Wire Band
2:45 PM - The Whites
3:30 PM - Championship Round Competition
4:45 PM - Judges Performance
5:00 PM - Fiddle Frenzy Youth Fiddlers (Crystal Plohman)
5:30 PM - Randy Kohrs & The Lites
6:15 PM - Awards Presentations

For detailed information about contest registration - visit
http://www.grandmasterfiddler.com/

Fan Fest Ticket Prices:
Advance Ticketing for Fan Fest has ended but Tickets CAN be purchased at the gate!
Tickets to Fan Fest are general admission. There is NO reserved seating.

3-Day Tickets @ the Gate $80
Single Day Tickets (Friday or Saturday) $45
Student Discounted Tickets (single day admission & must have valid student ID) $25

** Children under 16 are admitted free with adult ticket purchase.

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Mike Sumner, a thirty-eight year old IT Systems Manager from Interlochen, MI took first place in the National Bluegrass Banjo Contest. This was Mike’s third time to enter the contest having placed second in 2000 and first in 2001. Mike said, “I set a goal of returning and winning this contest for a second time.” His dad, who also plays, gave him a starter banjo when he was 8-years old and he was hooked on the instrument. Sumner said, “It’s kind of neat to play music with your father.”

Mike recently recorded his first CD “Winds of Winfield.” Assisting him on this CD are a few well known artists like Cody Kilby on guitar, Andy Leftwich on mandolin and fiddle, Bryn Davies on bass, and Randy Kohrs on dobro. Sumner played the title cut in the finals to secure a first place finish in the contest. For his efforts he chose an Ome Megatone Bluegrass Banjo by Ome Banjos of Boulder, CO.

Placing second in this competition was a thirty-six year old welder from Natrona Heights, PA. Jason Ericsson came for the first time in 2002 and made the cut to the top five that year. He returned this year and not only did he make the cut to the top five, he took home the 2nd place trophy and a Deering Calico Banjo by Deering Banjo Company of Spring Valley, CA. Jason says he has been playing the banjo for 28 years and comes to the Festival to enter the competition and to “hang out with all the great Parkin Lot Pickers.”

Brett Martin of Auburn, AL placed in the top five in this contest last year. This year he won the 3rd place trophy and a Deering Black Diamond Banjo by the Deering Banjo Company of Spring Valley, CA. He has been playing the banjo for the past 35 years and he also got his first banjo from his dad. Brett plays in a band entitled “Blue 32″ a bluegrass band out of Auburn, AL.

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BluegrassJournal.com’s Bob Dieterlen caught up with Bobby Osborne at the Franklin, KY Music Festival September 7th.

Bobby was gracious enough to sit down and talk about his music - past, present and future…along with a glimpse back into the genre’s glory days when radio stations used bands live over the air and he also shared a great story about the Osborne Brothers playing for First Lady Pat Nixon’s birthday celebration as the White House.

If you missed the rest of this interview you can find part 1 of this interview here and part 2 is available here.

Bob Dieterlen – When was the first time You and Sonny played the Opry together?

Bobby Osborne – The first time as a guest was about 1960. It took us… we finally got aquainted with Teddy Doyle of the Wilburn Brothers. We signed with their publishing company and their agency. We had recorded for MGM through Acuff-Rose and we were kinda not doin’ much. Just a goin’ along a straight line and then we got with the Wilburn Brothers.

They got us a new contract with Decca Records and it really all started there. They helped us pick material out to record and they had a big publishing company with all kinds of songs. At that time they handled Loretta Lynn and they took us on and we recorded brand new songs. They helped us an awful lot. The Wilburn Brothers really helped get our career in gear.

Bob Dieterlen – You still do any Opry shows?

Bobby Osborne – Yeah, I’m still a member of the Opry. I think I’m on my 43rd year I believe. Let’s see… 64 to 04 was 40. I’ve already been there 43, I’m starting my 44th year.

Bob Dieterlen – Is it a little different now than it used to be?

Bobby Osborne – Yeah – It’s different now than it was back then. The people like Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb, Monroe, Hank Snow and a lot of the old members back then that had the number one hits. Webb Pierce…A lot of them, they’re all gone now. New people have come along.

I’m thankful to still able to be a part of The Grand Ole Opry. The Opry has meant so much to me down through the years. The first thing I ever heard of country music on was the Opry. I always wanted to be there and finally I got there.

Bob Dieterlen –How many tour dates do you do a year?

Bobby Osborne – Since Sonny left, I’m not doin’ to many. I might have done thirty of them last year and about 40 some this year. Next year’s looking real well. I’m kinda just tryin’ to build back up.

There’s no use in me to keep goin’ on and trying to keep the Osborne Brothers name going when there’s just one brother. I’m just tryin’ to get Bobby Osborne as a solo artist going. I’ve done pretty good at it. I’ve got a good talent agency and I think next year we’ll be doin’ better. I’m gonna stay in this business as long as it will keep me… as long as I can sing. I’ll put it that way. I’m tryin to start… really a new career for Bobby Osborne.

Bob Dieterlen – The band that you’ve got right now, is that something you’ve put together or is that the same band the Osborne Brothers used?

Bobby Osborne – Same band that me and Sonny had. They stayed with me. I asked them, when Sonny quit, retired, however you want to put it…I asked ‘em, everyone, I’m gonna go on, Sonny’s gonna quit, do you want to stay with me or go find something else. They all said “we’re gonna stay with you.” So there still with me.

Bob Dieterlen – Are there any new albums in the future?

Bobby Osborne – Glen Duncan is a great fiddle player and harmony singer and he’s my producer and I wouldn’t do one with out him. We’ve got all the tracks down for a brand new CD. It’s gonna be comin’ out. Got the songs picked out and Rhonda [Vincent} did the “Go Rest High…” with me on this last one here. We traded out and we’re gonna do another one. I’ve got another song picked out for her and she’s gonna have me….We were talkin’ a while ago… we’re gonna try to write one for her.

Bob Dieterlen - If you had to pick something, and I know you’re going back years, what stands out the most? What’s your biggest achievement, you’re crowning point in your career if you will?

Bobby Osborne – I think the turning point and the crowning point would be The Grand Ole Opry because we worked so long to get there after listening to it for years and years. Going from radio station to radio station, doing programs and little shows in the area… I think, to start with, the Grand Ole Opry was the turning point or the crowning point in our career.

Since that, I’ve done some great things, I got to play for a president at the White House.

Bob Dieterlen – Which President was that?

Bobby Osborne – President Nixon. I got to sing “Ruby” in the East Room. [bobby’s laughin’]

Bob Dieterlen – Did you get to stay in the White House?

Bobby Osborne – No. We didn’t get to stay there. We had another date the next day.

We worked in Fort Worth, Texas and we flew form there to the White House and did a performance for Miss. Nixon’s birthday… her birthday’s always on St. Patrick’s Day. They celebrated on the Saturday night. But, it’s always on that Monday I think.

We had the Saturday off and we flew from Fort Worth to the White House. They put us up in a motel across over there a ways you know.

Bob Dieterlen – It wasn’t Watergate was it?

Bobby Osborne – It was just before Watergate broke out. [Laughin] No. No it wasn’t that. I was thankful for that.

We did the performance at the White House for the President and Senator’s and Congressmen and their wives, and people… the one’s that were invited at Miss Nixon’s birthday party.

So the East Room was crammed full of Senator’s and Congressmen from all 50 states and the President…after it was over with… He stood in that big front room of the White House and everybody went by and shook hands with him. We talked to him a little bit.

His wife…Pat, she came over and she said “You need to get a picture of these guys.” So here we stand, with our tongues a hangin’ out, got to shake hands with the President and get a picture.

When we did the show He’d sat… he was right down… right in front of you. I mean, here I am from over and around thousand-six Kentucky and all the sudden I’m standin’ in that East Room singing to the President with him right down in front… What am I doin’ here?

Bob Dieterlen – How’d you do?

Bobby Osborne – I did fine. I didn’t get scared until after it was over with. I never had a chance to get scared.

I got to know him. He came over took a picture with us and we talked to him quite a bit. He introduced us [when we performed]. He said, “We know what good moonshine is. Now we’re gonna hear what good bluegrass is.”

When he retired for the night, they opened the complete White House main floor. They had little treats for people, you know…tooth picks run through crackers. All these people were having a big party in there for her birthday.

They opened up the upstairs [of the White House] back then… about 2 or 3 times a year and that was one of the times.

I got to go up there and look around. I got to see Lincoln’s Bedroom. It was just like it was. I got to see the actual paper that Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on. Some things like that. Got to see the Oval Office and that was just a great thrill to get a chance to do that.

Bob Dieterlen – Not bad for some Kentucky Boys.

Bobby Osborne – [laughin’ ] yeah, sure was.

Bob Dieterlen – Are you having some success with the new album.

Bobby Osborne – As far as I know. It only came out July the 10th. I’ve had some good reports on it and I’ve done lots of interviews since the album came out wanting to talk about the CD. They [Rounder Records] sent me probably 100 advance copies and I mailed all of them out to DJ’s, called them, did interviews,… I’m sure that’s helped quite a bit.

I’m hearin’ good reports from Rhonda on “Go Rest High…” This is the first time we did it live, tonight… I thought it’d be appropriate to do it. Rounder’s looking forward to the next one.

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