By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
The Carter County Shrine Club is gearing up for their annual Shriners Bluegrass Festival next weekend. The festival, which kicks off Thursday afternoon (July 17) and runs through Saturday night (July 19), features some of the most preeminent names in modern Bluegrass music and draws fans from across the region, the nation, and even from abroad. In the past visitors have come from across the Americas, Europe, and even Israel and the Middle East. No matter where they come from, though, they all show up for one reason – the music.Â
This year that includes sets from Elijah Boggs & Mountain Echoes, Southridge, Tommy Webb Band, and Turning Ground on the opening day of the show. Boggs, Southridge, and Webb are slated to play two 45 minute sets each, starting at 2 p.m. and then again at 6 p.m. following a 5 p.m. supper break, with Turning Ground closing out the night beginning at 9 p.m.
Friday follows much the same, with Kevin Prater Band kicking things off at Noon, followed an hour later by Lacy Creek, Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers, and Edgar Loudermilk Band. After an early supper break the four bands return to the stage at 4:30, with the addition of the Olive Hill All-Stars (Steve Dilling, Skip Cherryholmes, Ronald Hibbits, and friends) into the mix following Lacy Creek, at 6:30, and Ralph Stanley II & the Clinch Mountain Boys closing the show playing from 9:30 to late.
On Saturday Fenced In starts the show at Noon, followed by Hammertowne, West Liberty Mountain Boys, Dave Adkins, and Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out. After a 4:30 supper break, the groups return to the stage for a second set each, starting at 5:30 with Fenced In, and continuing until event closer Russell Moore and crew run out of steam.
After that, the music fans all get to go home – no matter where in the world that may be. But no matter where they may go, they’re all united; by the music, and the good cause they contributed to.
Last year the Shriners were able to collect more than $6,000 for the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Because while the music is important, so is the impact of the money raised for those children who need the hospital’s services. All services are provided at the network of Shriners hospitals regardless of family ability to pay.
“I’ve been there more than once, at the old one and the new one,” Carter County Shrine Club member Donny Owens Jr. said of the children’s hospital. “I personally think that all Shriners need to go. It is an emotional trip. But the kids want for nothing. It’s a good thing.”
If you want to contribute to that “good thing” all you have to do is show up for the bluegrass show. You get a night, or a weekend, of good music and the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting a good cause. You can also contribute by reaching out to a Shriner, supporting any of their other fundraising events, or visiting shrinershospitalsforchildren.org for more information.
Tickets to the Shriners Bluegrass Festival are available locally at Sturgill’s Music Center on Scott Street in Olive Hill, or online at shrinersbluegrassfestival.com by clicking on the Tickets tab at the top of the page.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
