Carolina Road Homecoming Bluegrass Festival March 27th & 28th, 2009 - Ramada Inn, Burlington, NC

I know you’re just itching to begin the festival season and I can’t think of a better way to get your feet wet than the “Carolina Road Homecoming Bluegrass Festival” at the Ramada Inn in Burlington, N. C.

Lorraine Jordan and her band Carolina Road have been hosting this event for several years now and each year it grows in stature as the kick-off event for the Bluegrass festival season in the central Atlantic region.   This is an indoor event, but unlike Cabin Fever it is not a jamming weekend.  Even though there is a large room for open jams, the spotlight is on the performances of the bands.  And what a line up of bands will be there.  Of course Carolina Road will perform both days.  But, there are many other bands performing over the course of the weekend.

On Friday these bands are playing: Chris Jobe & Jordan, Nixon, Blevins, Gage & McDonald, Frances Mooney & Fontana Sunset, Blu-Js, Al Batten & Bluegrass Reunion, Constant Change and Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road.

Then on Saturday comes: Chris Jobe & Jordan, Crossroads Gospel, Steel Magnolia, Damascus Ridge, Al Batten & Bluegrass Reunion, Code Blue, Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass, Roby Huffman & The Bluegrass Cut-ups, Carolina Sonshine, Big Country and Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road.  Wow!  That’s a weekend full of fine Bluegrass music.  The festival is at the Ramada Inn, Burlington off I-40 at exit 143.  Call 336-227-5541 for room reservations.

Ticket are $60 for a two day pass, however advance tickets ($50/two days) are available through March 25th.  You are guaranteed a reserved seat with an advance ticket, so I believe that would make it doubly worthwhile.  Call 919-779-5672 for last minute advance tickets.

The snows are gone and gas is fairly cheap right now, so go ahead and make that drive down to Burlington and be at the season’s first Bluegrass Festival.

Mr. B's "Spring Into Bluegrass" April 23rd, 24th & 25th, 2009 Mr. B's Park, Ladysmith, Virginia

Held every last full weekend in April, Mr. B’s “Spring Into Bluegrass” festival is a weekend of Bluegrass you don’t want to miss.  Mr. B’s is the first full fledged outdoor Bluegrass festival in Virginia and it is a really fun event. Of course there’s Bluegrass and I’ll get to that shortly, but first let me tell you a little about Mr. B’s Park. 

Camping is available with complete hook-ups (water & electricity) at $25 per night.  Also there is rough camping at $5 per night, first come, first served.  Please understand, if you wish to camp you must have a three-day ticket.  Unlike many festival parks, Mr. B’s takes reservations for camp sites.  This year most sites have been reserved, but you can attend this year and reserve your site for next year before leaving the park.

Tickets are $65 in advance and since I could not find a cut-off date anywhere on the flyer, I would assume advance tickets could be purchased as late as the day before the festival actually begins.  To be sure of getting the advance rate, which represents a $10 savings of the “at the gate” price, call Mr. B’s at 804-449-6350 or purchase on line at www.MrBsPark.com.  The flyer with all needed information is included
with this last printed newsletter.

Don’t forget that if you arrive early on Wednesday April 22nd, there will be a free bean pot supper at 5:30PM.  Bring along your favorite dish or dessert to throw in with the meal.

Also, Mr. B’s has an extra added bonus with a Night Owl show, much like ours at Cabin Fever, at 11PM after the show is over on Saturday night.

I don’t have an actual band schedule, but I can tell you who’ll be performing at Mr. B’s.  Bands playing over the course of the weekend are: The Honakers, Joey Tippet, Lonesome Will Mullins, Ernie Bradley, Heather Berry, Code Blue, Paul Williams & The Victory Trio, Dark Hollow, Charles Frazier, Mark Templeton & Pocket Change, Kody Norris & The Watuga Mountain Boys, Al Batten & Bluegrass Reunion, The James King Band, The Anita Fisher Band, Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie, The Bluegrass Brothers, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out and Dailey & Vincent.  Believe me when I tell you that is a super line up of talent.

Don’t forget Mr. B’s famous fried chicken and burgers and hotdogs. So, mark that calendar with Mr. B’s “Spring Into Bluegrass” festival and make those plans to drive up I-95 to exit 110 at Ladysmith.

"Festival In The Pines" April 29th, 30th, May 1st & 2nd, 2009 Tripple Creek Park, Rocky Mount, Virginia

If you couldn’t make it to Mr. B’s or you simply didn’t get enough of that good ol’ Bluegrass music then the “Festival In The Pines” at Tripple Creek Park in Rocky Mount, Virginia is coming up the very next weekend over April 29th, 30th and May 1st and 2nd, 2009.  There’s so much to tell you I don’t know if I can fit it all into this one page, but I’ll try.

On Wednesday there’s the Barn/Square Dance & Showcase.  That’s right dance along with the Roan Mountain Hill Toppers and The Patrick Henry Travelers Dance Team to the music of the Friday Night Bluegrass Band.  Either sit back and watch the dancers or join in the fun.

On Thursday the festival gets underway with: Marcie Horn & Next Step, Jonathan Dillon & Phantom Grass,  Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice (Wow!)and The Bluegrass Brothers.

Then on Friday there's: Hard Drivin’ Grass, The Churchmen, The Larry Stephenson Band, Williams & Clark Expedition and The James King Band.

But, that’s not all! On Saturday: The Little Mountain Boys, Solid Rock, Michelle Nixon & Drive, The Larry Stephenson Band, Dailey & Vincent  and The Bluegrass Brothers.  That’s four big days filled with some of the best in Bluegrass.

As has become popular with Bluegrass festivals there is a pitch in supper for early arrivals.  On Tuesday April 28th bring out your favorite dish or dessert and join together for a old fashioned covered dish dinner.

There are “early bird” prices available for 4 day advance tickets.  Get your advance ticket before April 1st for only $67. That’s $8 off the “at the gate price.”  In these tough economic times any savings is welcome.  

Camping is on a first come first served basis, however, there are reserved sites.  These reservations were made before the close of last year’s festival.  The same offer is made this year.  Reserve your site for next year’s festival before 6PM on May 2nd, 2009.

Tripple Creek Music Park is located off US Route 220 south of Roanoke, Virginia,  Make plans now to enjoy a big weekend at the Festival In The Pines.

Central Virginia Family Bluegrass Music Festival May 14th, 15th & 16th, 2009 Amelia Family Campground, Amelia, Virginia 30 YEARS! 1980 thru 2009

It’s always a pleasure writing about my “home” festival and with this being the 30th year of Bluegrass produced by John & Fern Hutchinson and their family, well, the pleasure is even greater.  Presented each 3rd weekend of May and August, the “Central Virginia Family Bluegrass Music Festival” is one of the best.  

Keeping things in the family John & Fern’s only daughter “Sweet Brenda” and her husband Calvin Lawson are the emcees for the weekend as they present the best in Bluegrass.

Starting on Thursday are: The Sargent Family Bluegrass Band, Junior Sisk & Rambler’s Choice, Lawson Creek, Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass and The James King Band.

Friday promises another great day of Bluegrass featuring: Country Fried Grass, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, The Virginia Ramblers, New Found Road, Lonesome Will Mullins and Dailey & Vincent.

The Saturday morning Gospel sing gets underway with The Bluegrass Brothers followed by a group that took the recent showcases at Cabin Fever by a storm, The Church Sisters (Their only performance at the festival!).  Then the regular Bluegrass gets underway with: Sky Line Express, Buck & Company, Ted Jones, The Appalachian Express, The Bluegrass Brothers and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage. 

I feel I should mention especially that the show by The Appalachian Express is a very rare reunion concert and if you remember (Or even if you don’t!) this great group you should make every effort not to miss this special performance.

As usual, the Amelia Volunteer Fire Department will be serving up BBQ, burgers and fries as well as typical breakfast items all weekend.

Again, this is the 30th year of promoting festivals for John & Fern.  They won promoters of the year in 2006 and 2008 at the prestigious SPBGMA awards in Nashville, Tennessee.  Note this is a national award! 

I can boast that I have been to every festival in all of those 30 years.  I can hardly believe it’s been that long.  I want to offer a special thank you to the entire Hutchinson Family for their hospitality throughout these many years.

Tickets are $50 in advance (Cut off May 5th!) which is a $10 savings over the at the gate price. 

Camping is first come, first served, so plan to arrive early since space is limited.  John has always offered camping “in the rough” free.  This a rare thing,especially with today’s tight economy.  Join me in Amelia for the Central Virginia Family Bluegrass Music Festival.

12th Annual "PreddyFest" May 21st, 22nd & 23rd, 2009 Memorial Weekend Bluegrass Festival Franklinton, N. C.

Has PreddyFest really been happening for twelve years?  Gosh, it’s hard to believe!  Rodney started his festival as a picking party and as it grew and grew he realized that the only thing to do was to make it into a full blown festival.  Once held on the first weekend in August I used to call PreddyFest SweatyFest it was so hot. 

Last year Rodney decided to move his festival to the 1st weekend in June and wouldn’t you know it.  That weekend last year was the hottest of the entire year.  This year the long running festival called The Bass Mountain Bluegrass Festival was cancelled, so Rodney quickly chose to move his festival to that weekend, the weekend of Memorial Day.  I have a feeling this will be the charm and PreddyFest will be the best yet.

All camping is in the rough and it is free with a 3 day ticket.  Advance tickets are $50 if ordered by May 9th.  That’s a $10 savings over the at the gate price.  PreddyFest is easy to get to.  simply drive south into North Carolina.  Get off I-85 at the Rt. 56 exit and take Rt. 56 east to Green Hill Road.  Turn north of Green Hill Road and it’s a short 4 miles to PreddyFest. 

Things get underway on Thursday with: Sourwood Mountain followed by Lost Co. 35, and Constant Change.

Then on Friday the bands performing are: Hagar’s Mountain Boys, Samantha Casey & The Bluegrass Jam, GrassStreet, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road and Roby Huffman & The Bluegrass Cut-ups.

There’s a great line-up on Saturday, too with: The James King Band, Al Batten & Bluegrass Reunion, Michael Cleveland & The Flamekeepers, Barry Scott & Second Wind and The Grass Cats.

Michael Cleveland is the IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year and his album is Instrumental Album of the Year 2008. With Roby Huffman & The Bluegrass Cut-ups on Friday’s show and Al Batten & The Bluegrass Reunion on Saturdays show you can be guaranteed of two great traditional Bluegrass bands.  There are none
finer.

Contact Rodney Preddy at 919-494-7471 or via internet at www.PreddyFest.com.  Or write via email rpreddy@touchnc.net or U.S. mail at PreddyFest, 2284 Green Hill Road, Franklinton, North Carolina, 27525. PreddyFest offers a nicely shaded concert area with concessions and hot showers.

The Graves' Mountain Festival of Music May 28th, 29th & 30th, 2009 Graves' Mountain Lodge, Syria, Virginia

This year marks the 17th annual "Graves’ Mountain Festival of Music" at the Graves’ Mountain Lodge in Syria, Virginia.  I can proudly say I only missed the first one and I’m sorry I missed that one.  There's a lot to tell you so I better get with it.

On Thursday the bands performing are: Heather Berry & Tony, The Wells Family, Junior Sisk & Rambler’s Choice, Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time and Cherryholmes.

If that wasn’t a top line up Friday just keeps getting better with: Next Best Thing (Rhonda Vincent’s daughters and the 5th generation of Vincent family Bluegrass), U. S. Navy band Country Current, Mark Templeton & Pocket Change, The James King Band, The Lonesome River Band, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out and a very special event, The Heights of Grass reunion featuring Don Grubb, Billy Lux, Vernon Hughes, Richard Ward and more.

Jimmy Graves didn’t want Thursday and Friday to be beat out, so the line up for Saturday will be: The Bluegrass Brothers, The Mark Newton Band, Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, The Steeldrivers, The Seldom Scene, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage followed by a special Graves’ Mountain Jam hosted by Carl Jackson and Mark Newton with many special guests.

Specially priced 3-day advance tickets are only $70 if purchased before May 1st.  This is a $20 savings per ticket  if bought at the gate,  so, I urge you to order these advance tickets now.  Camping in the rough is free with 3-day tickets.

There’s no need to bring food with you as there is an abundance of the Graves’ Mountain Famous Foods available.  The specialty for Thursday is BBQ Pork Spare Ribs (available throughout the weekend), for Friday is Fried Rainbow Trout and on Saturday is Rib-Eye Steak.  Also available are burgers, fries, ice cream and soft drinks.

The Graves’ Mountain Festival of Music is Virginia’s largest Bluegrass festival which means there are lots of people wanting to sit at the stage.  Chair tickets are available beginning on Wednesday morning May 27th, with the placing of chairs based upon your ticket number at 1PM that day (2 chairs per ticket!) So, if you want to be close to the stage arrive early! Join me at Grave’s Mountain as we enjoy the beautiful scenery while enjoying the best of Bluegrass music.

Grottoes Family Bluegrass Festival June 18th, 19th & 20th, 2009 Grand Caverns Regional Park - Grottoes, Virginia

Sweet Brenda & Calvin Lawson as Lawson Entertainment present the spring edition of the “Grottoes Family
Bluegrass Festival” this coming June 18th, 19th & 20th, 2009 at the Grand Caverns Regional Park in
Grottoes, Virginia.
There’s a lot to do at the Grottoes Festival including walking along the river, seeing the caverns and
swimming in the Olympic sized pool, but the most important and best thing to do at the Grottoes Bluegrass
Festival is see and hear the bands.
Coming up on Thursday at Grottoes is the humor and fine Bluegrass of Gold Wing Express doing two great
shows at 5PM and 7:30PM.  In between those shows there’ll be a pit luck dinner, so bring along your favorite dish or dessert and join in the fun and fellowship.

The festival get seriously underway on Friday and the following great bands perform: Allegheny Blue, Skyline Express, Next Best Thing, The Josh Williams Band and Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out.

There’s another great day of Bluegrass on Saturday with: The Little Mountain Boys, Big Country Bluegrass, The Deer Creek Boys, Country Fried Grass and The Nothin’ Fancy Bluegrass Band.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at $50 for the weekend by sending a check or money order to: Grottoes Family Bluegrass, 5401 Cralles Road, Amelia, Virginia 23002.  You may phone Lawson Entertainment at 804-561-0705 or 804-921-0606.  Or email them at lawsonentertainment@aol.com.  Also check out the festival at www.grottoesfamilybluegrass.com.
Rough camping is $20 for the entire weekend with the gates opening on Tuesday at 4:30PM. Grand Caverns Regional Park is a beautiful little park with green grass and nice large shade trees.  Mark your calendar of the Grottoes Family Bluegrass Festival.