Great causes usually draw great people, great support and great crowds — a combination for great results.

That’s been the case for the past several years as Musicians Against Childhood Cancer is staged at Hoover Y-Park in Columbus, Ohio. The benefit has raised and donated well over $400,000 to childhood cancer research and care.

The dates for this year’s festival — officially billed as the 24th annual MACC/Bluegrass Classic — are July 23, 24, 25 and 26. It goes under the trademark name of Darrel Adkins and The Bluegrass Classic.

The cause couldn’t be any closer to Darrel Adkins and his family. Adkins and his wife Phyllis get deep and personal with this message on the M.A.C.C. Web site:

“Our daughter, Mandy, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain stem tumor, and lost her battle with cancer on November 25, 2000. I have experienced first-hand the devastation childhood cancer causes the patient and the family. After witnessing the great need that exists for continued research and highly qualified doctors and staff, we felt compelled to do something to help make sure that other children, facing the biggest challenge of their young lives, have hope and the best possible care. With this in mind, we have founded M.A.C.C., Musicians Against Childhood Cancer.” Darrel & Phyllis Adkins

The benefits were formerly held at Frontier Ranch, and more recently moved to the Hoover Y-Park in Columbus, Ohio. They traditionally draw thousands of fans from all over the world.

“We plan to continue the tradition of quality family entertainment but with one major change, the proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.,” Adkins said.

Entertainer Danny Thomas founded St. Jude in 1962 with the promise to help children and families regardless of race, creed, color, religion or their ability to pay. Since 1962 treatment protocols developed at St. Jude, which are shared with the world medical community, have brought survival rates for childhood cancers from less than 20% to better than 70%.

With a daily budget exceeding $1.5 million, St. Jude depends entirely on donations of which 90% of every dollar donated goes toward patient care.

As has become tradition, this year’s festival will feature an all-star lineup of artists, who all donated their performances to the M.A.C.C fund.

Special performances have been arranged for the July festival, topped by the original Longview, which includes Dudley Connell, Joe Mullins, James King, Don Rigsby and Marshal Wilburn.

The Friday M.A.C.C. Opry will also perform. It features J. D. Crowe & The New South with special guest The Grascals.

The Saturday M.A.C.C. Opry show will include Carl Jackson , Jerry Salley, Larry Cordle, Shawn Camp and Morgan Hayes.

The MACC Children’s Band will also perform. Young instrumentalists and vocalists are required to attend daily rehearsals in order to perform on stageat 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Ticket and camping information is available at http://www.bluegrassclassic.com/tickets.html

Adkins is inviting donations from folks who can’t attend the festival. Those contributions should be made payable to Musicians Against Childhood Cancer®, and mailed to 1434 S. 3B’s & K Road, Galena, OH 43021

Here’s a rundown of the all-star lineup:

Wednesday

• Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
• Lonesome River Band
• Mountain Heart
• Lost and Found
• James King Band
• Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice
• David Parmley & Continental Divide
• New Found Road

Thursday

• Blue Moon Rising
• Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
• Daily & Vincent
• Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers
• Pine Mountain Railroad
• Rhonda Vincent & the Rage
• Larry Stephenson Band
• Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
• The Original Longview

Friday

• Ernie Thacker & Rt 23
• Mark Newton Band
• J.D. Crowe & The New South
• The Grascals
• Steep Canyon Rangers
• Blue Highway
• Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
• Don Rigsby & Midnight Call
• Bill Emerson & The Sweet Dixie Band
• The MACC Opry

Saturday

• The MACC Children’s Band
• Kenny & Amanda Smith
• Grasstowne
• Ronnie Bowman & The Committee
• Bradley Walker
• Randy Kohrs & The Lites with Jim Lauderdale
• Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time
• The Harley Allen Band
• Steeldrivers
• Carl Jackson, Jerry Salley, Larry Cordle & Shawn Camp, aka The Saturday M.A.C.C. Opry

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Wilmington, OH — Next weekend, some of the nation’s best Bluegrass acts will take the stage at The Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival, March 28 and 29, at the Roberts Convention Centre in Wilmington.

The Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival features Bluegrass, Old-Time and Gospel music. Nationally and internationally known acoustic music groups are billed for March including Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top X-Press, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, Don Rigsby and Midnight Call, IIIrd Tyme Out, The Rarely Herd, Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers and more.

New this year is Humana’s “Jam Session Central”, an expanded area for pickers, and a larger seating area. Door prizes, raffle prizes, an instrument check, food and various vendors offer value-added extras to all attendees in a smoke and alcohol free environment. The spring festival will also offer a Bluegrass History Workshop hosted by Paul Williams and Blake Williams and a Music and Memories Kids Show hosted by the VW Boys.

The Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival is the largest indoor Bluegrass, Old-Time and Gospel event in the region and continues to grow with each event. The Roberts Centre, located 12 miles south of Xenia, 5 miles north of Wilmington at the intersection of US 68 and I-71, exit 50, is convenient to fans from all over Ohio and neighboring states. This accessible location is less than an hour drive from Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus. The Roberts Centre also includes a Holiday Inn hotel, Max and Erma’s Restaurant, and RV parking adding to the comfort and convenience of the attendees.

Classic Country Radio, WBZI AM 1500, WKFI AM 1090 and WEDI AM 1130, is the media host for this event. Listen to Classic Country Radio weekdays 2 p.m. -5 p.m. as festival producer and station manager, Joe Mullins, broadcasts the best traditional Bluegrass music from past and present. Listen on-line at www.myclassiccountry.com.

For additional festival information, ticket purchases, hotel rooms, comments and talent suggestions, visit www.somusicfest.com.

Ticket Information
Tickets are on sale now for advance purchases online or via phone for both reserved and general admission seating.

Advance ticket sales end, Tuesday, March 25th, at 5 p.m.

Tickets will be available at the door during the festival. All sales final.
2-Day Reserved Seating

• $60 for AdultsChildren
• 16 and under-$10

General Admission Seating

• 2-Day in advance-$52
• 1-Day in advance-$27
• 2-Day at the door-$55
• 1-Day at the door-$30
• Children 16 and under free with adult purchase.

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In less than 4 weeks, award-winning Bluegrass acts will be heading the buses and vans towards Wilimington, OH., to take the stage at the 2008 Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival, March 28 & 29, , at the Roberts Convention Centre in Wilmington. This is one of southwest Ohio’s most entertaining acoustic music events, occurring twice a year, in March and November.

The Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival features Bluegrass, Old-Time and Gospel music. Nationally and internationally known acoustic music groups are billed for the March festival including Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top X-Press, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, Nothin’ Fancy, ···Don Rigsby and Midnight Call, Williams and Clark Expedition, IIIrd Tyme Out, The Rarely Herd, Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers and more.

New this year is an expanded jamming area for pickers and an expanded seating area. Door prizes, raffle prizes, an instrument check, food and various vendors offer value-added extras to all attendees in a smoke and alcohol free environment. The festival will also offer a Bluegrass History Workshop hosted by Paul Williams (Paul Williams and the Victory Trio) and Blake Williams (Williams & Clark Expedition) and a Music and Memories Kids Show hosted by the VW Boys.

The Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival is the largest indoor Bluegrass, Old-Time and Gospel event in the region and continues to grow with each event. The Roberts Centre, located 12 miles south of Xenia, 5 miles north of Wilmington at the intersection of US 68 and I-71, exit 50, is convenient to fans from all over Ohio and neighboring states. This accessible location is less than an hour drive from Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus. The Roberts Centre also includes a Holiday Inn hotel, Max and Erma’s Restaurant, and RV parking adding to the comfort and convenience of the attendees.

Classic Country Radio, WBZI AM 1500, WKFI AM 1090 and WEDI AM 1130, is the media host for this event. Listen to Classic Country Radio weekdays 2 p.m. –5 p.m. on-line at www.myclassiccountry.com.

For additional festival information, ticket purchases, hotel rooms, comments and talent suggestions, visit www.somusicfest.com.

Ticket Information
Tickets are on sale now for advance purchases online or via phone for both reserved and general admission seating. Advance ticket sales end, Tuesday, March 25th, at 5 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door during the festival. All sales final.

2-Day Reserved Seating

• $60 for Adults
• $10 Children 16 and under

General Admission Seating

• 2-Day in advance-$52
• 1-Day in advance-$27
• 2-Day at the door-$55
• 1-Day at the door-$30
• Children 16 and under free with adult purchase.

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Classic Country Radio, WBZI AM 1500 in Xenia, WKFI AM 1090 in Wilmington and WEDI AM 1130 in Eaton, is proud to present an evening with world acclaimed gospel group, The Isaacs, Saturday, April 5, at the Murphy Theatre in Wilmington.

The Isaacs, a family group that has traveled for over 30 years, are based out of Lafollette, TN but have roots in the Ohio area. The Isaacs have a unique style that fuses bluegrass harmonies and instrumentation with modern southern gospel lyrics. Current group members are Lily Isaacs - vocals, Ben Isaacs - vocals & upright Bass, Sonya Isaacs - vocals & mandolin, Rebecca Isaacs Bowman- vocals & guitar, Jesse Stockman - fiddle, Nathan Fauscett - drums, cajon, Troy Engle - banjo, guitar & fiddle.

All genres of music have influenced The Isaacs including bluegrass, rhythm and blues, folk, contemporary acoustic and southern gospel. They perform frequently at the Grand Ole Opry, are active members of the Gaither Homecoming Videos and Concert Series, and travel throughout the year performing nationally.

The April 5 concert begins at 7 p.m. All seats are reserved. For tickets and information, call the Murphy Theatre Box Office toll free at 1-877-274-3848.

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Classic Country Radio, WBZI AM 1500 in Xenia, WKFI AM 1090 in Wilmington and WEDI AM 1130 in Eaton, participated in the Xenia Lock-Up to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association on January 31.

Classic Country Radio participated in fundraising efforts to meet a goal of $1300.00. They were fortunate to raise over $1400.00 with the generosity of network friends.

One of the fundraising efforts was routed through The Classic Country Connection, the recording store adjacent to the Classic Country Radio studio. The Classic Country Connection hosted the Music Money for MDA promotion from January 24 through 31, donating 10% of all proceeds to MDA.

Classic Country Radio would like to thank the following people who helped them exceed their goal:

Howard Epstein, James Investment Research, Jen Brugger, Kari Ladrow, Tracy Raffety, Evan McGregor, Cristie Yontz, Scott Stockslager, Louisa Tsuchida, Les Bodine, Joe Mullins, Matt Hammons, Greg Gabbard, Roy Hatfied, Steve Shaw, Deb Roe, John Lucchetta, Andy Vance, Tiffany King, Paula Shell and Lorrie Steele.

For more information regarding the Muscular Dystrophy Association, please visit, www.mdausa.org.

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