JULY 9, 2009 ISSUE
Third Annual High Country Bluegrass Festival July 25
Headliners Include Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Grascals
Seven-time IBMA Vocal Group of the Year Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver will headline the 3rd Annual High Country Bluegrass Festival on Saturday, July 25, at the High Country Fairgrounds. Photo by Jim Morton
While many local music fans are preparing for this weekend’s MusicFest ‘N Sugar Grove, live bluegrass offerings in the area are just heating up. On, Saturday, July 25, things will really get cooking as the 3rd annual High Country Bluegrass Festival returns to the High Country Fairgrounds.
Taking place from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., the festival will be headlined by bluegrass legend and seven-time IBMA Vocal Group of the Year Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, two-time IMBA Entertainers of the Year The Grascals and the Darin Aldridge/Brook Justice Quintet. Local acts the Surefire Bluegrass Band and Southern Accent will round out the day’s performers. Beginning with Southern Accent’s opening set at 11:00 a.m., each band will perform two sets.
A native of East Tennessee, Lawson is bluegrass royalty. Before starting his own band in 1979, Lawson performed along such bluegrass luminaries as Jimmy Martin, J.D. Crowe and The Country Gentlemen. Since releasing their debut album in 1979, Lawson and Quicksilver have released dozens of albums of bluegrass and gospel material, achieving iconic status in the world of bluegrass.
The Grascals began their career in 2004, when they recorded their debut album and were invited by Dolly Parton to open her fall tour. They opened additional dates for her in 2005, including her sold-out concert at Radio City Music Hall, and they have also shared the stage with Brooks & Dunn, Dierks Bentley, Patty Loveless, Mac Wiseman, J. D. Crowe, Charlie Daniels, Kenny Rogers, Steve Wariner, Vince Gill, the Jordanaires and many others.
In addition to the IBMA awards, The Grascals won the 2008 SPBGMA Bluegrass Awards for Instrumental Group of the Year (for the third consecutive year), Bluegrass Band of the Year (for the second consecutive year) and Mandolin Player of the Year (Danny Roberts’ second win in three years). In 2006 the group also took home Album of the Year for their self-titled debut and Song of the Year for “Me and John and Paul.” The group earned a Dove Award nomination in 2007 for Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year for “Did You Forget God Today,” featuring the Jordanaires, which is included on Long List of Heartaches.
Aside from the stellar cast of players providing music on the main stage, Avery County native and veteran fiddler Alan “Big Al” Johnson and banjo master Terry Baucom will join forces to host an all-star jam at the end of the festival.
For those looking to brush up on their bluegrass banjo skills, Baucom and Joey Cox will conduct a banjo workshop at 4:30 p.m., followed by a fiddle workshop led by Johnson at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets are $20 in advance and can be purchased at Fine Musical Instruments in Statesville, Bluemoon Guitars & Music in Jefferson, Appalachian Music Shoppe in Boone and Old Hampton Store in Linville.
For more information, click to www.highcountrybluegrassfestival.com or call 828-733-8060.
Want To Go?
Date: Saturday, July 25
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Location: High Country Fairgrounds
Cost: $20 in advance/$25 at the gate
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