The North Florida Bluegrass Assoc. (NFBA) will be conducting their 1st annual membership drive during an NFBA event June 20 and 21, 2008. The event will take place at the Flamingo Lake RV resort in Jacksonville, FL.

An annual membership can be had for the bargain price of $15 and gains you access to monthly meetings, voting privileges in the annaul election of Officers and Board Members. You will also receive a one-year subscription to the Midnight Flier monthly newsletter and a membership directory that is published every two years.

The event, which is free to attend, will feature lots of parking lot picking and Saturday will feature workshops geared towards children, beginners and intermediate players that start at 11:00 A.M. and a concert featuring the music of Blast of the Grass, Southern Lite and Gentle River begins at 2:00 P.M.

Camping is available for the weekend with a special discounted rate for NFBA members. The campgrounds feature a swimming pool, fishing lake, restaurant and a large store. More information can be found at http://www.flamingolake.com/ or you can email flamingo Lake.

• 11:00 am - Children’s Workshop
• 12:00 - Slow Jam Workshop
• 1:00 - Slam Jam Workshop
• 2:00 - Concert Begins with Blast of the Grass, Southern Lite and Gentle River

The NFBA currently consist of over 1,000 active memberships and meetings (with pickin’ sessions) happen on the third weekend of every month at a different location in North Florida or South Georgia except in December. The NFBA also hosts an annual Bluegrass Expo in November that features two days of music, instrument workshops and fun.

NFBA Raffling a Mike Long HD-18 Herringbone Custom guitar

The North Florida Bluegrass Association is also conducting a raffle for a Mike Long Custom HD-18 Herringbone acoustic guitar to generate funds for the organizations operating budget.

The guitar features forward shifted scalloped bracing pattern, Grover open back tuners, Vintage tortoise style pick guard, abalone pearl rosette, Herringbone Trim and an Ebony fingerboard and bridge.

TIckets can be purchased at any NFBA event or online at www.nfbluegrass.org and cost 1 ticket for $5 or 3 tickets for $10.

The drawing will take place Oct. 18, 2008 at the NFBA Expo at Twin Oaks Park in Georgia. You WILL need to be present to win and must have stub to validate winning ticket.

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Tim Graves

Tim Graves & Cherokee will headline The Bluegrass Family Gathering festival, now in its 11th year, Dec. 7-8 at Craig’s RV Park in Arcadia, Fla. The festival will run from noon to 10 p.m. both days.

Other bands scheduled to perform are Swinging Bridge, Florida Bluegrass Express, the Bluegrass Parlor Band, Ernie Evans Band, the Wilson Family, the Hall Family and Generations Bluegrass.

Festival tickets are $30 per person, and campers may begin arriving on Monday, Dec. 3.

Information about the festival and camping accommodations are available by calling the RV park at 863-494-1820 or by emailing contact@craigsrv.com.

According to the facility’s Web site, “Craig’s RV Park was literally built on Bluegrass music and our residents return each season for the music events at the park. … Each March the Bluegrass Family Gatherings featuring some of the best in local, regional and national Bluegrass artists.”

The park is also home to the Southwest Florida Bluegrass Association’s monthly Jam/Fests.

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Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain

Live Oak, FL - Don Miller and Just Right Productions have announced details for the 2008 Spirit of Bluegrass Music Fest scheduled for Thursday, March 20 - Saturday, March 22, 2008 at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida. Returning to the Main Stage next year will be the Lonesome River Band and the 2007 International Bluegrass Music Association’s Emerging Artist of the Year Nominee, Cadillac Sky. Main Stage performers also include, Mountain Heart, Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, Honi Deaton & Dream, Grasstowne, Southern Lite, The Wilson Family and more to be announced at a later date.The Spirit Stage will again offer festival goers an opportunity to get up-close and personal with the music as well as the artists in an enhanced workshop experience. Mark Brinkman will present his “Monroe Out of the Box” mandolin instructional Workshop that will give pickers an insight into the notes and tones used by Bill Monroe…. and how to achieve them on your mandolin. Songwriters are featured in the Workshop Tent along with great local and regional talent. Some of these attendees have gone on to perform on the Main Stage at Spirit of the Bluegrass Fest.

Honi Deaton

Advanced 3-Day Ticket Packages are on sale now for $50 for Adults, $15 for ages 6-12 if purchased before 2/28/08 and are available at www.jrp3.com or by calling 1-866-752-5220.

Gate and Day passes are: Adults- $15 Thursday only, $25 Friday only, and $25 Saturday only; Children 6-12 are $10 per day. Children 5 and under free.

The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park offers many amenities including: RV and tent camping, cabin rental, stables, canoes, and much more. For camping and cabin reservations, please contact the park directly at (386) 364-1683 or www.musicliveshere.com. Attendees are encouraged to make their reservations soon to ensure park accommodations.

For more information on the 2008 Spirit of Bluegrass Music Fest including off-site lodging information, please visit www.jrp3.com. The event is sponsored by: Gibson Pure, Budweiser, Hope River Entertainment, Suwannee Log Homes, Inc., Roberts Land & Timber Investment Corp., and Subway Restaurants. Sponsorship opportunities are still available by calling 678.377.3298 or contact@hoperiverentertainment.com

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Boilin’ Oil

Dixieland Music Park in Waldo, Fla., has announced the lineup for its annual Labor Day Weekend festival Aug. 29-Sept. 2.

Produced by Steve Dittman of Original Bluegrass Productions, the lineup features regional bands peforming Friday through Sunday. Groups include White Sands Panhandle Band, Roger Bass and Hillbillies, Florida Bluegrass Express, Swingin’ Bridge, Southern Bridge with Ernie Evans, Backwater, Boilin’ Oil, Sawgrass Revival, Orange Blossom Rambler, Gentle River, Bits of Grass, Lake City Slickr and Jackie Hill and the Blue Shades of Grass.

Camping is available on site and the Classic Cafe, featuring home cooking, will be open all weekend. A flea market will also operate during the festival.

Details and contact information is available at www.DixielandMusicPark.com

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