The Upper West Fork Bluegrass Festival has a big schedule today.
Regional and local bluegrass bands include Denny Dobbins and Friends, Big Otter Bluegrass, Muddy River Bluegrass Boys, Larry Lowe and Black Diamond, Spirits of Bluegrass, Muddy Krick Mountain Boys, Calhoun County, High Mountain Bluegrass and Mystery Mountain Boys.
There is plenty of room for outdoor jammin', lots of food, a pig roast, crafters and a flea market.
Saturday's schedule is 12 noon to 12 midnight.
And it costs only $5 a day.
There is free camping in the rough, with $5 electrical hook-ups available.
Organizers say "Bring your RV, tent, lawn chairs, umbrellas, clogging shoes, even your musical instruments."
FESTIVAL INFO: Mary Watkins 304-655-7231, Michelle Sears 304-655-8172, Sharon Settle 304-655-8280.
FESTIVAL DIRECTIONS: From I-79 Big Otter Exit (40) take Rt. 16 north 10 miles to park; from Arnoldsburg (US 33-119) go south on Rt. 16, about 10 miles to park.
The really big event is the 8th Annual Fireman's Bluegrass Festival, scheduled for
August 11th, 12th, and 13th. That's the one with the giant fireworks.
Mountain music is not a newcomer to the West Fork of the Little Kanawha, with some of the state's finest old-time musicians springing from the hills and hollers up and down the narrow valley.
Bluegrass music has become a staple at the Upper West Fork Park these past few years, with weekly and special festivals scheduled throughout the year.
The park is not far from where one of the country's most famous old-time fiddlers would visit up on Stinson in the early part of last century - Blind Ed Haley.
Several of Haley's tunes were likely composed in the backwoods of Calhoun, including one called "Down at the Mouth of Old Stinson," probably while visiting his old friend Lawrence Hicks. Another tune was "West Fork Gals."
Hicks, who lived near the mouth of Walker, died in 1937 and Haley in 1950.
Haley said "Stinson was rough in those days, a good place to stay away from."
That is no longer true.
You'll never find a more hospitable place.
- Read BLIND ED HALEY'S "SLURS AND INSULTS" under PEOPLE, HUMOR AND HISTORY - Calhoun Hub For Great Fiddlers And Musicians
3/23/2003
- To learn more about the Festival click ...
Firemen's Bluegrass Festival
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