From: Robert Everhart [ruralcountrymusic_at_gmail_dot_com]

Sent: 07 August 2012 20:33

Subject: CELEBRITY LINE-UP FOR 37TH NATIONAL OLD TIME MUSIC FESTIVAL - IS A BIG ONE!

 

CELEBRITY LINE-UP FOR 37TH NATIONAL OLD TIME MUSIC FESTIVAL IS A BIG ONE

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE USE

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

P O Box 492, Anita, Iowa, 50020  -  712-762-4363  -  ruralcountrymusic_at_gmail_dot_com

 

     LeMars, Iowa.....The town where the world's largest ice cream manufacturer (Blue Bunny) is located, turns into an oasis of old-time acoustic music for a full week, beginning August 27th, all the way through September 2nd.  "It's amazing to see the number of acoustic musicians and music-makers that spend the entire week with us," says Bob Everhart, the President of the National Traditional Country Music Association.  "We have consistently, over the years, maintained our strong belief that there should still be an oasis for those who like their music acoustic, non-digital, totally a one-on-one experience between an artist and an acoustic musical instrument.  It is for these same reasons that celebrities come from around the world to not only support what we do saving America's great rural music, but how we present it.  We are also an Agricultural Expo, that still keeps 'farm life' alive and well, the music included."

     This year none other than the "Lady of Country Music" Lynn Anderson will be making her presence, and the rose garden she never promised, is well known in LeMars, Iowa.  "Ms. Anderson is the ultimate 'lady' of country music," Everhart added, "she has been such a stunning contributor to the music so many rural folks apprecdiate here in the upper Midwest.  Her huge hit "I Never Promised You A Rose Garden" sits well with our rural people, especially the farmers.  They take that advice seriously, and today during the drought that is affecting all of our rural crops, the farmers also know that God never promised them a 'corn crop' or a 'soybean crop.' They also know the weather, the soil, the hard toil, the lack of moisture, all play a major role in how well they do this year.  Since harvesting usually takes place right around our festival time, we've invited those farmers to come see us, spend some time with good old-timey rural music, and delight in the talent and the charm of Lynn Anderson, who will be inducted into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame this year."

     There are a number of other celebrities coming to this once-a-year event.  According to Bob Everhart's wife, Sheila, "Sometimes in dealing with our older celebrities, it's not always a 'done-deal.'  We were so excited to learn that Tom T Hall and his wife Dixie would be with us, but just this last week, Mrs. Hall headed for the hospital.  We never know for sure how anything is going to come out, but one of our dear friends in Nashville, Charlie McCoy, one of the world's finest harmonica players, agreed to take Tom T and Dixie Hall's place.  Charlie is also up for "Instrumentalist of the Year" for his new tribute album to Hank Williams, so it's going to be very exciting to have him with us.  Also on the agenda is Ed Bruce.  Mr. Bruce wrote the fascinating song "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys," which Willie Nelson recorded.  It's still a very memorable song, and hopefully this is the first step to getting Willie Nelson into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame.  Mr. Bruce will be inducted on Friday, Aug. 31 this year at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds where the festival is located."

     "There's quite a few others that we are going to honor," Bob Everhart noted, "Terry Smith the songwriter that wrote "Far Side Banks of Jordan" for Johnny and June Carter Cash, will be with us all week.  His abilities as a songwriter are simply unequaled, especially the songs that appeal to our rural folks.  Smith draws upon his own experiences growing up on a farm in Texas, so these Iowa farmers can really relate to that.  We also have Michael Martin Murphy coming to represent the cowboy segment of our audience, but no date is set yet.  Ted Vigil, a sound-alike look-alive John Denver music-maker will be with us on the weekend, and Ben Steneker from Holland, Greta Elkin from Ireland, and Peter Trenholm from Nova Scotia, will be on hand to help us induct Minnie Pearl and Woody Guthrie into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame."

     Everhart went on to note, "My wife Sheila and I record for the Smithsonian Institution, and we are doing a program they like to call a "Traveling Museum of Music."  We are traveling to Florida this fall doing lots of these shows for museums there, and have pretty much worked the program out doing museum shows here in Iowa.  We'll also be placing that same kind of 'historical' approach on a number of celebrities that are no longer with us, but would have celebrated their 100th birthdays.  Among them Woody Guthrie, Minnie Pearl, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Bill Monroe, and Jay Silverheels.  Jay Silverheels was 'Tonto' to the Lone Ranger, for those who might remember, and was the son of a Mohawk Chief.  We have gathered together some of our very best local Native American country music performers to pay tribute to 'Tonto.'

     More information about this old-time music festival is available at their website www.ntcma.net.  RV camping is available on the grounds with electrical hook-ups, and other activities include a tipi village set up in an old pioneer ghost town, a log cabin front porch stage ,one of ten functioning from 9am to midnight every day featuring over 600 performing artists.  There are contests, workshops, dances, even free food, ice cream, and watermelon.  The festival non-profit association are members of SPBGMA, IBMA, R.O.P.E., IAFE, and the Pioneer Ag Expo.

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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!

 




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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!