Bean Blossom, IN — The 34th Annual Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Uncle Pen Days Festival will be held September 24-27, 2008 at the Bill Monroe Memorial Bluegrass Music Park & Campground in Brown County, Indiana. The 4-day event includes a stellar line-up of over 25 bluegrass bands, instrument and vocal workshops, jam sessions, camping, food, vendors, flea market and fellowship.

This year’s Bluegrass Hall of Fame Inductee is Carlton Haney, creator of the first multi-day bluegrass festival. The induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, September 27, 2008.

The Uncle Pen Days Festival hosts the top bluegrass bands in the bluegrass industry including performances by: Ralph Stanley & Clinch Mountain Boys, J. D. Crowe & The New South, Lonesome River Band, The Grascals, Marty Raybon & Full Circle, IIIrd Tyme Out, Cherryholmes, Bobby Osborne & Rocky Top Xpress, Dale Ann Bradley, Randy Waller & The Country Gentlemen, James Monroe & The Midnight Ramblers, Ralph Stanley II, Dave Evans & River Bend, Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain, David Parmley & Continental Divide, The Gibson Brothers, Karl Shiflett & The Big Country Show, Larry Stephenson Band, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, James King Band, Larry Efaw & Bluegrass Mountaineers, Ronnie Reno & Reno Tradition, Country Gentlemen Tribute Band with Bill Yates & Friends, Paul Williams & The Victory Trio, and Eddie & Martha Adcock.

Emcees for the festival will be Sam Jackson, Cary Fields, and George Riddle.

Advanced tickets can be purchased by September 1, 2008: Wed $20, Thurs $25, Fri $30, Sat $30 and a 4 day combo package price of $90. Children 12 & under FREE, when accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased online at www.beanblossom.com or by phone 800-414-4677.

Festival ticket includes, admission to Bluegrass Hall of Fame, Country Star Museum and Uncle Pen’s cabin tour; and all music and instrument workshops scheduled. There will be plenty of food concessions and merchants. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the fun. Shows rain or shine.

The 34th Annual Bill Monroe Hall of Fame & Uncle Days is sponsored by Bluegrass Now Magazine, Rebel Records, Bluegrass Radio Network, and Hope River Entertainment.

Share This

The 9th Annual Bluegrass Festival will be held at Arbuckle Mountain Bluegrass Park near Wynnewood, OK. Sept. 7-13. The featured stage shows will begin on Thursday, Sept. 11th with Opening Ceremonies taking place at 12:30.

As the park has continued to grow the schedule for the Early Bird Events has kept pace. Early Bird Events will start on Sunday the 7th with a Devotional Service at 10 am. The Festival will also be offering various workshops through out the week according to a recent press release. “This year we will be offering workshops for levels 1 & 2 on Mon. - Wed. and level 3 on Thur. - Sat. We have a free Open Stage Show at 7 pm, Wed. Sept. 10th. Bring your lawn chair and see what you have been missing. The complete schedule can be found on our website.”

Thursday begins with Opening Ceremonies at 12:15. Featured bands begin each day at 12:30 p.m. and include: Flint Hill Special, Ellis County Bluegrass, Mark Phillips & IIIrd Generation Bluegrass, Boggy River Bluegrass, Lonesome Prairie, Henderson Family Band, Saltgrass, Triple L Bluegrass, Bluegrass Solution & No Turning Back. The Saturday show begins at 10 a.m. with the Oklahoma Jr. Fiddle Contest with the first 15 entries competing for $500 in prizes.

The campground has hookups for 300 RV’s . There are clean hot showers, restrooms and 2 dump stations and a honey wagon. There are no drugs or alcohol allowed and modest dress is required.

RV camping is $12 daily with stays of 7 or more days receiving $2 off the nightly fee. Single day admission is $12 (Thu-Sat), or a 3 day pass can be had for $30. Children under 14 are free. Arbuckle Mountain Bluegrass park will provide a shuttle service. A quilt drawing will be held around 7:30 Thursday - Saturday. Food vendors will be in the park Wednesday - Saturday.

“You can still hear music after the stage shows at the many jams throughout the campgrounds. Bring your instrument and join in. Acoustical instruments Only. Bring your lawn chair and plan to have the time of your life!”

Arbuckle Mountain Bluegrass Park is located ON I-35, Exit 60 (Ruppe Rd). Follow the signs about 1 ½ miles east to the park.

For more information contact Allen or Rosemary Bowen at (405) 665-5226, rosemary@brightok.net or our website: www.arbucklemtbluegrasspark.com.

Share This

Dailey & Vincent are scheduled to play in Winfield, KS at the Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival.

Winfield, Kansas — There’s good news and bad news concerning the premier performance at the Walnut Valley Festival of bluegrass sensation Dailey and Vincent. The good news is that this hot new band, fronted by bluegrass veterans Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, is tearing up the bluegrass charts with their new self-titled CD. Dailey and Vincent have been nominated for 10 IBMA Awards, including male vocalist for Jamie, bass player for Darrin, album of the year and two songs of the year, for “By the Mark” and “More Than a Name On a Wall.” Their debut album has been at the top of the chart for the last three months. To say they are making a huge splash in the bluegrass world is an understatement.

Jamie Dailey burst onto the bluegrass music scene in a big way when he was hired in 1998 to join Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. During his tenure with the band, they won 11 IBMA Awards including six consecutive Vocal Group of the Year awards from 2001 through 2006. Dailey displayed his high tenor lead voice on “Blue Train,” which was also a Song of the Year. The group also picked up four Grammy nominations and several Dove awards with Dailey as a member. He left the band in 2007 to form his own band along with his good friend Darrin Vincent. Dailey has also recorded with Rhonda Vincent, Dolly Parton, and as a guest on Ricky Skaggs’ “Brand New Strings” album in 2005.

Darrin Vincent has a pretty impressive bluegrass pedigree as well. He first began performing as a singer at age 3 and playing at age 6 with his family band. He was a member of Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for 10 years until leaving to form the band with Jamie Dailey. While with Skaggs, the group received 8 IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year Awards, 7 Grammys and 3 other Grammy nominations and a Dove nomination as producer. Vincent has been inducted into the Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame, and has performed with a veritable Who’s Who of bluegrass and country music stars, including Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Doyle Lawson, Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Keith Urban and Emmylou Harris among others.

Their self-titled debut album features incredible vocal harmonies along with the signature high tenor lead vocals from both, Dailey and Vincent, as well as impeccable instrumental accompaniment from band members Jeff Parker, Joe Dean and Adam Haynes. Whether performing an up tempo bluegrass classic or singing the beautiful lyrics of their sacred offerings, Dailey and Vincent are THE hottest thing going on the bluegrass circuit.

So what’s the bad news? They are only performing on Sunday for two sets at this year’s Walnut Valley Festival, and they are in such demand that they are completely booked throughout 2009, meaning Sunday at this year’s festival will be your only chance to see them in this area. Dailey and Vincent will be playing on Stage 3 at Noon on Sunday, and Stage 1 at 3:00 p.m. Don’t miss Dailey and Vincent – they are guaranteed to impress.

Advance tickets are currently available for the Walnut Valley Festival set to begin on September 17th at the Winfield Fairgrounds. Additional information can be found on the World Wide Web at wvfest.com or from the Walnut Valley Office at 918 Main Street in Winfield, Kansas. Tickets are available at the office or by calling 620-221-3250.

Share This

Tony Rice plays Thurs. Sept. 4 at the Claremore, OK Bluegrass & Chili Festival. Photo by Thomas Stout.

For the past three decades, folks have been flocking to Claremore, Okla., for hot and spicy chili — and bluegrass.

Fans of both those American favorites are being beckoned back Sept. 4-6 for the 29th annual Bluegrass & Chili Festival on the grounds of the Claremore Expo Center. Besides a chili cook off with a $1,000 first-place prize, festival goers will find bluegrass music by national and regional artists — including several International Bluegrass Music Association award winners and 2008 nominees — on three stages.

The Thursday night line-up includes Mountain Heart, Tony Rice and a special reunion concert of Stonehorse. Friday’s line-up includes, 2007 IBMA Entertainers of the Year, The Grascals, plus the Kenny & Amanda Smith Band and Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out. Saturday headliners include Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, festival favorites Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and the Dan Tyminski Band.

Top regional acts on the three stages performing a variety of music including country, gospel, bluegrass and classic rock include: Heartland Xpress, Spring Street, Oklahoma Heartland, Rockin Acoustic Circus, Sixx Gunn Hill, Oklahoma Summer, Prarie Dawgs, Cross Current, Faded Glory, Honky Tonk Attitude, Charis Music Studio, Praise Band FUMC & Cedar Ridge and more. In addition to the free concerts, other musical entertainment highlights include The

Also featured at this year’s festival are the“Junior Showcase” presented by US Cellular and “The Best Country In The City Vocalist Competition” presented by Wal-Mart.

Junior stars can participate in the Junior Showcase a non-competitive showcase for those 21 and under with singing, instrumental or dancing talents. The showcase is designed to give talented youths stage exposure and experience.

Vocalists of any age may apply to participate in the “Best Country In The City” competition. Winner will be awarded a cash prize. Dancers will “kick up their heels” during the festivities. Country dancers and cloggers will offer dance exhibitions and audience participation.

New at the festival this year is the Mid-America Ranch Rodeo and trade show. Teams from actual working ranches from a four-state area will compete in several events for a top prize of $10,000. The rodeo begins at 6 p.m. each day.

The younger set can spend time at the festival at the Kiddie Korral, and big boys with fancy toys will line up for an open car show presented by McDonalds & The Claremore Optimist Club.

The International Chili Society Division winning cook will represent the Festival in the World Cook-off that boasts a $25,000 first prize and the Chili Appreciation Society International qualified contestants will earn travel money and prizes for the International Cook-off at Terlingua. The non-profit division is open to non-profits, schools, churches etc. ONG will award a $1,000 first prize. Open and corporate division teams will compete for awards and of course bragging rights! All teams will vie for booth decorations, showmanship and ham-manship honors. Festival attendees can also sample the award winning chili with an official taster kit!

The festival opens at 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, while Saturday festivities from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

For festival information and applications, people can contact: Bluegrass & Chili Festival, Claremore Chamber at 419 W. Will Rogers, Claremore, OK 74017. Hotel information, festival updates and a complete list of festival partners can be seen at: www.claremore.org or Claremore Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.visitclaremore.org. 918-341-8688 or 918-341-2818.

Share This

Flat Rock, NC — The 13th annual Flat Rock Music Festival is again looking for volunteers for the 2008 festival. Applicants are encouraged to go to the website: http://www.flatrockmusicfestival.com to register as a candidate for consideration. All applications must be submitted no later than September 5th, 2008. Eight (8) hours - 2 (4 hour) shifts are compensated for one festival ticket and camping permit.

The Flat Rock Music Festival is one of the largest in the area, with multiple choices for volunteer placement. “Our volunteers are the backbone of our event,” states Sarah Benoit, volunteer coordinator. “The festival director and staff know we count on our family of volunteers to support the festival. Without everyone who chooses to contribute their time the festival wouldn’t run nearly as smoothly,” said Benoit.

“Plus the people who have been involved with this festival in the past are some of the most fun loving and amazing people I have ever met,” Benoit continues. Volunteer positions are available in security, parking, kitchen staff, Kid’s Village staff, waterfront, housekeeping, set up and clean up.

The 2008 Festival is home to the Flat Rock Music Festival Emerging Songwriter’s Contest, which features singer/songwriters from all over the Southeast. Talented songwriters and musicians compete for a chance to play the Main Stage if they are picked and win the Showcase.

Intimately nestled in the Blue Ridge mountains, the Flat Rock Music Festival brings people and musicians together from all over the southeast. Come enjoy a wonderful weekend at Camp Ton-A-Wandah. As always, this is a family event and no drugs, dogs or weapons are allowed. For more information please visit http://www.flatrockmusicfestival.com/

Share This