July 26, 2007 issue
Ola Belle Reed Homecoming Festival Returns to Lansing August 17 to 19
Tim O’Brien To Headline List of Nearly 20 Performers
The second annual Ola Belle Reed Homecoming Festival is an opportunity to celebrate the life and music of the remarkable woman in the locale where her life's journey began—in the small community of Lansing located in Ashe County. The festival will take place at the American Legion Memorial Ball Field and the Old Lansing School.
The Ola Belle Reed Homecoming Festival is proud to announce that Tim O'Brien will be headlining the list of performers for this year’s festival. O’Brien, one of the most respected and critically-acclaimed performers in all of contemporary bluegrass, won two IBMA awards in 2006 including Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year for "Look Down That Lonesome Road." In 2004, O’Brien was nominated for two IBMA Awards including Best Song for Ola Belle Reed's "I've Endured" and Male Vocalist of the Year.
In addition to his IBMA recognition, O’Brien’s CD Fiddler's Green won a Grammy award for Best Traditional Folk Album at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards in 2006.
The Festival will also feature the music of 17 more acts, including several Reed family members and musicians who played with her over the years, new groups carrying on her tradition and a number of talented local musicians.
Performers won’t be the only ones picking at the festival, as many of them will be leading instrumental workshops open to all festivalgoers. Those already confident in their playing will have a chance to show their skills in the fiddle and banjo contests. The fiddle contest winner will receive a handmade fiddle by Lansing luthier and Ola Belle Reed Festival Master of Ceremonies, Dick Wilson. The banjo contest winner will receive a Recording King California Deluxe open-back banjo with Whyte Laydie tone ring.
Perhaps the most unique event at this year’s festival will be the attempt to put the town of Lansing on the list Guinness World Records for a 24-hour picking session. Starting on Friday at 6:00 p.m. and lasting until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, all musicians are welcome to meet at the school to attempt the record-breaking picking session.
Ola Belle Reed (Aug 17, 1916 to August 16, 2002) learned to pick the banjo at an early age and began writing songs about her life in the mountains. During the Depression, Reed moved to Baltimore with her brother Alex, where she performed on radio stations across the state and began performing with the North Carolina Ridge Runners. In 1949, she joined The New River Boys as a singer, banjo and guitar player.
In 1951, Reed founded the popular music venue the New River Ranch with her husband Bud, brother Alex and his wife Lucy.
Best known for her songwriting, Reed penned more than 200 songs including "High on a Mountain", "I've Endured," and "The Leading Role."
Reed received the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Award, was honored by the Smithsonian Institute, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Maryland, and was recently inducted into the Washington Area Musicians Hall of Fame for her contributions to Appalachian Traditional Music.
Join Reed’s family and friends and the people of Lansing for a weekend of music and fellowship. For details, including camping and ticket information, click to www.olabellefest.com, or call Beth Rembert at 336-384-5716.
Want To Go?
Date: Friday to Sunday, August 17 to 19
Location: Old Lansing School and American Legion Ball Field
Cost: $20 presale for three-day package tickets
Performers Appearing at Second Annual Ola Belle Reed Festival
The second installment of the Ola Belle Reed Festival will feature a bigger and more impressive lineup than last year’s inaugural proceedings. Though the music will start on Friday with the instrumental contests, most of the performers will take the stages on Saturday and Sunday. Links to most artists’ web sites can be found at www.olabellefest.com.
Tim O'Brien
Jeff Little & Steve Lewis
The Wolfe Brothers
The Ola Belle Reed Family
Bud, Ralph, David Reed & Andy McKean
Hugh and Zane Campbell
The Demolition String Band
Chris Testerman and Friends
Mark Brine
The White Top Mountain Band
The Blue Ridge Rounders
The Grayson Highlands Band
Rock Bottom Bluegrass
DJ and Randy Sheets
Pole Cat Creek
Dan Paisley and the Southern Grass
The Elkville String Band
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer
Wayne Henderson Guitar to be raffled at Ola Belle Reed Festival August 19
National recognized guitar builder and top-notch musician Wayne Henderson has built guitars for some of the world’s best-known guitarists including Doc Watson, Eric Clapton and blues guitarist John Cephas, with many other famous pickers reputed to be on an extremely long waiting list.
Through the guitar maker and musician’s generosity, the Ola Belle Reed Festival is raffling a Henderson D-18 guitar on Sunday, August 19, to raise funds for the festival. Tickets will be $1 per chance or six chances for $5.
Raffle tickets may be purchased on the website in increments of $5 multiples through PayPal. The drawing will be held at the festival on Sunday, August 19th at 6:00 p.m. Ticket holders are not required to be present to win.
Henderson is the recipient of a 1995 National Heritage Award presented by the National Endowment of the Arts. He also hosts his own annual festival at Grayson Highlands State park in his native Virginia.
For more info, click to www.waynehenderson.org/Wayne/AboutWayne.htm.
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