Bluegrass Festival Will Feature 14 Bands Over Four Days
Posted
Staff Report-
KENDALLVILLE - The 32nd annual Fall Tri-State Bluegrass Festival will be held over Labor Day weekend, Aug. 28-31, at the Noble County Fairgrounds, Kendallville.Sponsored by the Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association, a not-for-profit organization, this fun-filled weekend is genuine family entertainment. In addition to the stage shows, there is plenty of music around the camp fires, day and night, and pickers are welcome and encouraged to join in.
There are three large covered areas at the stage and concession stands with a variety of food, novelties, compact discs and tapes. Limited bleacher seating is available, so lawn chairs (low-back only) are suggested. Limited parking for persons with disabilities is near the stage area.
Fourteen national, regional and local bands will perform more than 31 hours of high-energy acoustic music on an outdoor stage. Featured at this year's festival is the award-winning Larry Stephenson Band.
Other attractions include the 4-H fundraising dinner Aug. 28, adult crafts Aug. 29 and workshops Aug. 30. The workshops will be conducted by professional musicians for most acoustic instruments, a beginners jam session and a one-hour autoharp workshop conducted by Linda Sanderson. There also will be a two-hour Kids' Korner, with complementary snacks, on the morning of Aug. 30.
Performing bands include, Aug. 28: Badly Bent, Bluegrass Stagecoach, Spanky Moore, Pickin' Up Speed; Aug. 29: Badly Bent, Bluegrass Stagecoach, Midnight Ramblers, Spanky Moore, Pickin' Up Speed; Aug. 30: Badly Bent, Bluegrass Brothers, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Midnight Ramblers, Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, Southern Skye, Robert Hale & Wildfire; Aug. 31: Bluegrass Brothers, Detour, Rick Prater & Midnight Travelers, Runaway Freight, Southern Skye, Larry Stephenson Band and Robert Hale & Wildfire.
Show times are 7 to 10 p.m. Aug. 28; 6:45 to 10:30 p.m. Aug. 29; 11:15 a.m. to 10:40 p.m. Aug. 30; and 11 a.m. to 10:10 p.m. Aug. 31.
Admission is $25 for a weekend pass. Camping is included. There is limited electricity, and water is $5 extra. Camping prior to Aug. 29 is $10 per night.
Thursday only, the show is free. The 4-H Club dinner from 5 to 7:30 p.m. is $6.75.
Friday only, admission is $8 per person; Saturday only, $15 per person; Sunday only, $12 per person.
Children 15 and under are free when accompanied by a parent.
For more information, visit online at www.BluegrassUsa.net
For information on the history of bluegrass, visit online at www.ibma.org/about.bluegrass/history
