Col. Jim Peva, author and historian, addresses the crowd during a June festival at the Bill Monroe Memorial Bluegrass Park and Campgrounds. Peva is active in a group that wants to purchase and preserve the park property.

Leadership roles have been formed and filled for the Bean Blossom Jamboree Foundation, the group that has formed to purchase and preserve the Bill Monroae Memorial Music Park and Campgrounds at Bean Blossom, Ind.They include:

THE BOARD: Steven L. Johnson, president; Cary A. Fields, vice president and treasurer; Richard Hersberger, secretary; and board members Thomas A. Adler, Neil V. Rosenberg, Saburo Wantanabe Inoue, Sarah Wasson, Penni McDaniel, Ken Perlman, Dixie Hall, Ralph Stanley II, Andrea Roberts and Sam Jackson.

The ADVISORY COMMITEE: Col. James R. Peva, Roger Brock, Don Meadows, George V. Garrett, Lanny Harmon, Karl Shiflett, Jim Denny and Pastor Paul Baggett

A non-profit group, formed to purchase and preserve the Bill Monroe Music Park and Campground in Bean Blossom, Ind., emerged from the annual June bluegrass festival at the park with a generous pot of seed money. Still in its infancy, The Bean Blossom Jamboree Foundation received gift pledges worth $20,000 and has since received additional pledges.

“We are on a good path to accomplish our goal of purchasing the music park,” foundation president Lloyd Johnson said. “We are confident we can meet our mission.

“Response to our efforts has been so overwhelming that we are in the process of recruiting a part time employee,” Johnson said in a statement on the foundation’s Web site, http://bbjfoundation.org.

“We plan to support the help through our ‘give an hour’ campaign that will be launched on our Web site. Please consider supporting us through the ‘give an hour’ campaign.”

Johnson expressed appreciation to donors”for the countless hours of assistance, services, feedback, donations, and promotion they have offered to the foundation. We would not be where we are without you.”

The foundation’s president singled out Jim Peva, Bean Blossom’s noted historian; Dwight Dillman, current owner of the property; Cary Fields, the foundation’s vice president and treasurer; and foundation secretary Rich Hersberger “for all their efforts in moving the foundation to where we are today.”

Fields, a bluegrass disc jockey in the Indianapolis area who shared emcee duties during the June Bean Blossom festival, said being backstage to talk to the artists and mingling with the crowd at the foundation’s booth gave him a new-found appreciation of the music park.

“It was very gratifying to hear first-hand how much that music park means to the campers, pickers, festival goers, vendors, and musicians alike,” he said. “Many of the people I talked to … had a long history with the park and were anxious to share how much those happy memories meant to their respective families. And how they couldn’t bear the thought of that coming to an end.

“Having the opportunity to be backstage to hear giants of the genre such as Bobby Osborne, Dave Evans, Larry Sparks, J.D. Crowe, Ralph Stanley, and Michael Cleveland reflect on what that park has meant to their own musical journey over the years reinforced the sense of history one gets when you walk out onto the stage during a festival that’s now in it’s 42nd year. And you’d better know that they associate that place with Bill Monroe and his legacy. That was a reoccurring theme in conversation.”

Dillman, who would be the one signing the property deed over to the foundation if a sale takes place, said he shares the new organization’s goals in preserving the park. Speaking during the June festival, Dillman said he is especially interested in one idea to utilize the park as a bluegrass education center.

Through the years, veteran festival goers and returning bands have lauded Dillman for the many improvements he’s made to the park and campground over his decade of ownership. But Dillman said in June those improvements might only be a scratch in the surface if the foundation realizes its goals.

“I want to see this preserved as a music park, and the idea of having this as a place for bluegrass education is a wonderful idea,” he said. “It could really turn into something even more special than it is today.”

Fields conceded that many folks are keeping a tight hold on their purse strings with $4 gas and a general, gloomy downturn in the national economy.

“It’s important to remember at a time like this that the park is still here after 42 years in which wars and worries have come and gone,” he said. “This music is as popular as it’s ever been, and the health and vitality of one of it’s most historically significant institutions is a direct reflection of what bluegrass music means to it’s fans.”

Despite the widespread jitters about the national economy, Fields said the foundation’s next phase will definitely be a focus on fundraising.

“Corporate donations and endorsements given by companies that see the value of having Bean Blossom alive and well and living in Brown County, Ind., will be an important part of the picture,” he said.

But Fields predicted the fans — the true financial supporters of the bluegrass industry — will be the ones to rescue the park.

“Make no mistake, it’s the yearly individual and family memberships that are donated by hard-working men and women that will be the backbone of the effort. It will be that support, from those that value what Bean Blossom represents, that will insure there will still be festivals held in the same place Bill Monroe set all this in motion when the festival is in it’s 142nd year.”

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Pinecastle Records set to launch new venture, Mountain Ridge Marketing, specializing in Marketing Services for Bluegrass Artists.

Pinecastle Records, with 19 years of experience marketing bluegrass music, is readying the launch of a new venture, Mountain Ridge Music Marketing.

The company will apply its knowledge of the bluegrass market by providing services tailored specifically for bluegrass artists. Among the marketing services available will be tour support, graphic design and print services for posters, online press kits, press distribution, CD duplication and an inclusive Premium Release Package.

To help launch the new company, Mountain Ridge Music Marketing online is looking for a single talented bluegrass band to offer up their publicity services for free. The selected bluegrass artist, to be selected September 1, 2008, will receive free tour support for 15 dates (chosen by the artist) starting in October and lasting no longer than six months. The artists will also be offered a free online press kit and be included in advertising and promotions to coincide with the launch of the new company.

Bands often reach the point in their careers where they want and need to take their commitment to the music industry a step further. Frequently, aspiring acts are left with the daunting questions of how best to market themselves and pursue this idea. The company will offer artists marketing support - much like a record label - yet without a contract.

Services will be provided at an affordable price with a straightforward al a carte pricing system which allows artists to tailor their marketing campaign to their individual budgets and needs.

Submissions may be mailed to:
Mountain Ridge Music Marketing online
Artist Submissions
PO Box 753
Columbus, NC 28722

By submitting, you agree that MountainRidge Music Marketing can use your name and likeness for promotional purposes. Materials submitted cannot be returned. US residents only. The artist is welcome to continue services with MountainRidge Music Marketing following completion of the stated intentions, yet are in no way obligated to do so

.

For more information visit Mountain Ridge Music Marketing online.

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The 10th anniversary edition of the Bean Blossom (Ind.) Gospel Jubilee is right around the corner.

The festival, hosted by the Sullivan Family, will be held July 31 through Aug. 2 at the Bill Monroe Memorial Music Park & Campground in Bean Blossom, which is 5 miles north of Nashville in scenic Brown County, Ind. It’s advertised as “the best in bluegrass gospel and Southern gospel.”

Besides the Sullivan Family, performers include the Balos Family, the McPhersons, the Rev. Lawrence Bishop, the Chapman Family, the Carl Turman Band, Big Jim Williams, Dave Wilburn,, the McCormicks, the Uplanders Singing Band, The Howards, the Jimmy Hicks Family, Judy Marshall, the Hymn Tymers, the Golden Valley Crusaders, Crystal River, the Lighthouse Gospel Singers and the Bush Family.

On Thursday, the jubilee’s opening day, attendees are invited to participate in a potluck dinner.

Tickets are available by the day or a three-day combo.

A festival flyer and additional ticket and camping information is available at www.beanblossom.com or by calling (800) 988-6422.

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Colorado

July 25-27 — Rockygrass - Lyons CO.
Bluegrass artists scheduled to play include: Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, and Edgar Meyer, Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile, JD Crowe & The New South, Dan Tyminski Band, Peter Rowan, Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet featuring Béla Fleck, Infamous Stringdusters, Chatham County Line, Bearfoot, The Steeldrivers and more. Tickets are sold-out.

Maine

July 25-27 — Fort Fairfield County Bluegrass Festival, Fort Fairfield, ME.
Bluegrass artist scheduled to appear include: The Gibson Brothers, Blistered Fingers, White Mountain Bluegrass, The Muellers, The Adrians and more. A weekend festival pass at the gate will be $50 with rough camping included. Single day tickets at the gate run from $10 - $20.

July 24-27 — Ossipee Valley Bluegrass Festival - Cornish, ME.
Bluegrass artists currently scheduled to appear include: Nashville Bluegrass Band, Dailey & Vincent, Dan Paisley & Southern Grass, New Found Road, Donna Hughes, John Jorgenson Quintet, The Bagboys and more. Weekend festival passes at the gate are $60 and single day tickets run from $22 - $30 depending on the day. Rough Camping is $12.

Michigan

July 24-26 — Salt River Bluegrass Festival - Oil City, MI.
Bluegrass artist slated for the bill include: Mark Newton Band, Wildwood Valley Boys, Buck & Company, Dixieland Bluegrass Express, Hardline Drive, All American Bluegrass Band, Steep Canyon Rangers and more. Weekend festival pass at the gate runs $55 and single day tickets are $25 (Thur) and $30 (Fri and Sat).

Pennsylvania

July 25-26 — Crows Nest Bluegrass Festival - Patton, PA.
Bluegrass artists scheduled to appear include: South wind Bluegrass, Remington Ryde, Nine Mile Run, Allegheny Drifters, Blue Shades, Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers, Mountain Therapy and more. Tickets are $5 day or $8 for the weekend. For More info call (814) 327-5662.

Tennessee

July 24 at 7:30 P.M. — Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, with special guest The Whites. - Nashville, TN.
For ticket availability and information visit the Ryman Auditorium online.

Virginia

July 25 (7:30 P.M.) — Braddock Nights Concert Series with Williams & Clark Expedition - Royal Lake Park in Fairfax, VA.

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