From: Robert Everhart [ruralcountrymusic_at_gmail_dot_com]

Sent: 10 July 2012 15:56

Subject: IOWA'S LARGEST ACOUSTIC FESTIVAL OPENS BIG-TIME TO BLUEGRASS

IOWA'S LARGEST ACOUSTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL OPENS BIG-TIME TO BLUEGRASS

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE USE

Prepared by Bob Phillips, Public Relations Director, National Traditional Country Music Association, Inc.

P O 492, Anita, Iowa, 50020 - 712-762-4363 - ruralcountrymusic_at_gmail_dot_com - http://www.ntcma.net/

     LeMars, Iowa.....The largest ice cream manufacturing company (Blue Bunny) is joining forces with the National Traditional Country Music Association in bringing big-time Bluegrass music to Iowa.

     According to the NTCMA President, Bob Everhart, "We've had Bluegrass at our acoustic old-time music festival all 37 years that it's been going.  Then it shifted somewhat to traditional acoustic country music, and this year it seems to be going back to Bluegrass.  We never know for sure how many Bluegrass bands will attend, and then we often get 'star' performers from other groups that gather together the musicians they need to do their shows while they are with us.  It's exciting this year because Tom T. Hall and his wife Dixie are headlining the Bluegrass contingency.  They are both avid Bluegrass songwriters, performers and fans."

     Dates for the festival are August 27-September 2nd, seven days of old-time acoustic music on no less than ten stages.  "We used to only do five days and five stages, but over the years we started getting so many acoustic musicians, we wanted them to have a place to perform as well as an audience to hear them, and that works out pretty well now," Everhart added.

     The Plymouth County Fairgrounds, in LeMars, Iowa, is large enough to accommodate this gathering, over 500 electrical outlets for RV campers, and the main staging area is a 2,000 seat air conditioned building.  "It's pretty neat," Everhart said, "the weather is usually very nice in this time frame, and one of our biggest objectives is to provide ample areas for jamming.  We get something like 650 musicians coming for seven days, so the music is pretty fantastic.  I really like to see some of the solo Bluegrass performers team up with 'new' musicians and put their shows together on the spot.  This leads to some incredible rehearsals that turn into spontaneous outrageously good acoustic music jams.  It's like no other in America.  Our combination and blending of old-time traditional country music alongside Bluegrass music is a natural.  Everything we do is compatible to both musical genres."

     Heading up the 'country' music side of the 37th National Old Time Bluegrass-Country-Folk Music Festival and Pioneer Exposition of Arts, Crafts, and Rural Lifestyle, is none other than Lynn Anderson.  Joining her is Michael Martin Murphy, and Terry Smith the composer of "Far Side Banks of Jordan" for Johnny and June Carter Cash.  The song is also a very popular Bluegrass tune.  Bobby Atkins (at one time Bill Monroe's banjo picker) is making an effort to be with the players from North Carolina.  "We've got a few surprises up our sleeves," Everhart said.  "Ralph Stanley was supposed to be with us last year but he got caught in a hurricane in NYC, and couldn't get a flight out.  He's also going to try to be with us this year."

     Sheila Everhart, Bob's wife, helps with the bookings and scheduling.  "We have a super bunch of pickers coming this year," she said.  "and they are coming from all over.  The Jacob Austin Band (Tx); Bluegrass Playground (Ne); Bruce Bernhart (a fantastic mandolin picker) (Mn); Ronnie Dean (Tn); Jack Ferguson (perhaps Iowa's best Dobro player)(Ia); Crystal River (Ok); I-35 Bluegrass Band (Mo); Froemming Family Bluegrass Band (Mn); Jake Simpson (an incredible fiddler from Oklahoma); Highway 52 Bluegrass Band (Ia); Scotty Howard (another fantastic Bluegrass guitarist)(Ok); Richards Family (this family has 13 children playing Bluegrass)(Ne); Jim & Dave (an old time Bluegrass duo)(WV); Kenaston Family (Ne); One on the Mountain (WV); Ophoven Family Band (Mn); and of course the 'put together' bands that eventually work their way to stage time.  That's 19 Bluegrass performing acts, and we sure are looking forward to hearing what they will do for the seven days we are running."

     The festival also hosts workshops in many different aspects of acoustic music performance from beginning banjo to advanced guitar by none other than Nashville super-picker Tom Smith.  "We also have workshops on other kinds of instruments," Everhart said, "lap dulcimers to a harmonica howl all takes place at one of the smaller stages."

     "We encourage jamming," Sheila added, "and will even provide free admittance for acoustic musicians that want to come and jam. We don't always have stage time for everyone, even though we have ten of them, but the musicians already scheduled will have a wonderful time performing for our large audience."

     More information about the festival can be obtained at their website http://www.ntcma.net/ or contacting them at 712-762-4363 or bobeverhart_at_yahoo_dot_com

Be with us for our big 37th annual Old-Time Music Festival at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds in LeMars, Iowa, August 27-Sept 2, 2012.  Over 650 performers on ten "sound" stages, including Hall of Fame inductions and RRMC CD's of the Year Awards.   ...AND, our Rural Roots Music Festival October 5-6-7, 2012 at the Christensen Field House in Fremont, Nebraska.  Visit our website: http://www.ntcma.net/

--

PLEASE   If you do not want to receive these press releases about old-time music in Mid-America ....please....  simply write 'remove' in the subject line and return to us.  Don't forget our 37th Annual National Old-Time Music Fest, Aug 27-Sept 2, 2012, LeMars, Iowa, AND the Rural Roots Music Gathering Oct 5-6-7, 2012 in Fremont, Nebraska.  Our website is at http://www.ntcma.net THANK YOU!