Peter Rowan and Tony Rice will light up the crowd with their legendary talent, while Daily and Vincent will fire up the stage with their high energy performance.
The festival is set for July 17 at Tri-State Exhibition Center with a warm-up party and band competition the night before, July 16, at Hardee’s on Keith Street.
Hardee’s is the presenting sponsor of this all-star line-up. Organizers say Hardee’s generous support has made this festival, with first-quality talent, possible.
Initially inspired by the possibilities and flexibility inherent in classic bluegrass, Peter Rowan and Tony Rice have helped reinvent American roots music over the course of their respective solo careers. When they joined forces these two established master musicians began a bold new chapter in their continuing artistic journey.
Rowan’s aching vocals and poignant, poetic songs coupled with Rice’s unmatched flat-picking, results in a group that bears distinct traces of each man’s prior accomplishments, yet works together to create a sound all its own.
Returning to the White Oak stage, Dailey and Vincent will put on a show to remember. Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent are veterans of bluegrass music, having some 20 years of experience between the two of them from long tenures with bluegrass and country legends Doyle Lawson and Ricky Skaggs. In 2008, Dailey & Vincent won “Entertainer of the Year,” at the International Bluegrass Music Awards.
Saturday’s line-up also includes the Dismembered Tennesseans. In 1945, a group of McCallie students formed this popular bluegrass band. The group has been playing traditional bluegrass ever since. Easily one of the most popular bands in their hometown of Chattanooga, they have made their mark singing bluegrass music for people who don’t particularly like country music.
The slate of talent also includes Dehlia Low, a band out of Asheville, N.C., that Bluegrass Unlimited calls “a musical force to watch for.”
“We are looking forward to a great event with this incredible line-up of talent,” said Jordia Waller, festival chair. “I can’t wait to enjoy the world-class musicians featured this year.”
“We couldn’t book this kind of talent without our sponsors.” Waller said. “Hardee’s has been a great partner and their generous support has made festival possible as well as US-101 and their help getting the word out to their huge listening audience.”
The festival will start at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday with a special Biscuits & Jam session including a devotional. Hardee’s will bring a limited number of biscuits and you bring the jam — your instrument and voice, that is. Join in the picking and playing or just sing along and enjoy the music and biscuits while they last.
Tickets will be sold at the gate, which will open at 9 a.m. Discount coupons are available at all 42 area Hardee’s restaurants owned by J&S Restaurants.
A warm-up party featuring a band competition will be held at the Hardee’s on Keith Street at 7 p.m., July 16, before the festival opens. US-101 will be on hand for a live remote broadcast and Hardee’s will be open for dinner. Admission is free to the warm-up party and the audience should bring a lawn chair for the show.
The winning band will open the festival the next day with the first performance of an incredible slate of talent as well as being awarded $500. It’s easy to enter the contest. Just show up at 6 p.m. to register. Check out the festival website at www.whiteoakbluegrass.com for details.
Primitive camping is available on the grounds as well as a limited number of RV hookups. Call 476-9310 for information or to reserve a spot.
The White Oak Mountain Bluegrass Festival benefits operations at Tri-State Exhibition Center, a multi-use event center located at exit 20, just west off I-75.
