From: Robert Everhart [ruralcountrymusic_at_gmail_dot_com]

Sent: 18 August 2012 22:57

Subject: THE NEWEST MUSIC MINI-VACATION.....And you keep your arm and your leg!

 

THE NEWEST MUSIC MINI-VACATION....and you keep your arm and your leg!

 

     PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE USE

     Prepared by Bob Phillips, Public Relations Director, National Traditional Country Music Assn., 501(c)3 non-profit music preservationists

     P O Box 492, Anita, Iowa, 50020 - 712-762-4363 - www.ntcma.net

 

          LeMars, Iowa.....The most jaded traveler, the most caustic adventurer, the most bored (and sometimes boring) tourist, is finding a new outlet in the travel field. The entire philosophy of a tourist center like Branson, Missouri, was, and still is, bringing the tourists where the artists are.  It used to be the other way round, the artists traveled to the tourist.  Today, the cycle is changing again, simply because the price of gasoline has slowed down the tourist.  The prospect of finding the artist closer to the tourist is a prospect that is not only a phenomenon, in and of itself, but is also proving to be new and fertile exploration for even the most weary traveler.

     Everyone knows 'festival.'  We've been to Rio, and the Mardi Gras.  We've been to the Olympics and London.  We've been to Florida, South Texas, and California in the winter time.  Cost of gas still slows down any upper Midwestern traveler, or any other traveler for that matter.  The newest, most untrampled 'festival' outgrowth is not really a festival at all.  It's a combination of all that those 'other' tourist attractions have, but all of it in one location with one ticket.  'Imagine,' as John Lennon used to say.  Ten sound stages, 500 performers, 7days of non-stop music from 9am to midnight every day.....for seven days?  And affordable?  Does that still play a part?

     "Absolutely," says Bob Everhart, the Director of the oldest acoustic music festival in the upper Midwest.  "Not only do we have ten stages functioning 15-hours a day, we have over 500 performers participating, including celebrities.  All of them in pursuit of one very important objective.  Country music, and it's many variations.  This is an elderly musical genre in America.  It's as old as America itself.  We don't play the old country music of today, we play country music when country music was 'young.' and this year celebrities like Lynn Anderson, Ed Bruce, Michael Martin Murphey, Charlie McCoy, June Webb, Terry Smith, and a host of other top professional entertainers join forces with some who are just beginning.  The reason?  Preservation.  We want to make sure that the music that grew up with America has a chance to be heard by not only this generation, but the next generation as well."

     Banning electronic devices, and electrical musical instruments, the promoters of this event seek to not only re-visit the musical past of America, but also endeavor to provoke large audience participation on a level somewhat higher than spectator.  Folk music you say?  Not quite!  It's true that many traditional music festivals do include folk music as part of it's entertainment offerings, but the new 'participation' element depends largely upon the opportunity to 'jam.'

It's a means of satisfying the needs of a growing semi-professional performer (unable to find a niche in today's popular corporate-controlled music market), and the audiences that are growing somewhat weary of the sameness in today's popular and country music, with similarities much stronger than differences. Therefore, integrity on the part of the promoter plays a highly important role in the presentation of a successful 'traditional' music event.

     The greatest growth area seems to be the Midwest and the deep South.  A music hardly changed since it's origin many years ago by the Father of Bluegrass Music, Bill Monroe, still perseveres.  It still maintains an acoustic approach to music, and utilizes the same high-tenor singing of the early mountain music makers.  The instrumentation usually consists of fiddle, mandolin, banjo. guitar, and acoustic bass.  "Young' country music is basically the same, just shift the instruments around a little, add accordion or Dobro, harmonica or bones, and you have a similar basis.  Lower the number of instruments and you have 'Folk.'

     The festivals that honor this particular kind of traditional music are usually small in size, although in recent years the Appalachian Mountain area has seen spectacular growth in attendance at these kinds of events.  So is this true in the State of Iowa.  The audience is extremely loyal, and the fans are dedicated.  The problem with staying with just 'one' genre of music, has little room for variety.  Most of these absolute events rarely invite, or will allow, some of the other traditional forms of music to participate. 

     Strictly providing Bluegrass music tends to gather that 'sameness' so prevalent in today' popular country music idiom.  According to Everhart, "We just simply saw a way to combine the wonderful elements of Bluegrass music with 'young' country, and even 'folk' music.  By hosting different stages in one venue, we are able to provide it all at one location, the audience can attend whichever stage they like.  Add celebrities to the mix and it turns out to be a definite alternative to driving all the way to Branson, or Nashville, or even New York City, to see great artists.  They are already here, on no less than ten stages."

     Everhart, and his wife Sheila, are recording artists for the Smithsonian Institution.  The music they play, perform, and record, the Smithsonian calls a 'Traveling Museum of Music.'  For the Everharts it's simply playing country music, when country music was 'young.'

     Dates for the 37th National Old-Time Country-Bluegrass-Folk Music Festival and Pioneer Exposition of Arts, Crafts, and Rural Lifestyle along with an Ag Expo is Aug. 27-Sept 2.  "We make it as easy as we can" Everhart remarked.  "We have electrical hook-ups for RV campers, so the 'tourist' can rest in their own bed. We keep attendance prices down, even allowing anyone under the age of 18 in free.  This makes it easy for us to share 'young' country with the young.  We keep only the highest standards in food at this event, and we even have a Tipi Village set up in an old Pioneer ghost town where the International Busking Championship takes place, among a number of other 'contests' for those who want to compete.  Oh yes, we have contests, workshops, jams, all over the grounds.  This is a mini-vacation that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, and its for old-timers and new-comers alike.  This is the only annual fundraiser we have for the Pioneer Music Museum, which is home to America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame."  The festival takes place at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds in LeMars, Iowa.  They have a website at www.ntcma.net

 

    


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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!