37th Annual National Old Time Country & Bluegrass Festival & Pioneer Exposition

Over the years, this event has become an oasis of acoustic music that now features ten sound stages and well over 600 performers through the seven days it runs. It is the largest gathering of acoustic old-time traditional acousticd country, folk, and bluegrass music west of the Mississippi, and has gained recogntion on an international scale. Celebrities come to be inducted into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame (Patti Page, Bill Anderson, and Cindy Cash were present in 2010), Jim Ed Brown, Little Roy Lewis, and Ralph Stanley were scheduled for 2011. Stanley was caught in the hurricane in NYC and couldn't make it, but promises to be with us in 2012. International performers come to participate in concerts on ten different stages (including one 'jam' stage); the Rural Roots Music Commission give their annual "Best" CD of the year awards for projects recorded the previous year; showcases are presented for talent buyers from significant users of old time acoustic music; contests take place on the weekend for those just beginning or those non-professionals who desire to know their standing among their peers; a Corps of Discovery Tipi Village features early fur trader music, storytelling, and lifestyles; the Log Cabin features a small stage with a very close small audience; nine other stages have sound systems; the Intimate Concert Series makes it possible for the audience to enjoy their favorite celebrity up close and personal; the main staging area is a huge building (seating 1,000) with air conditioning; rustic style arts and crafts are available; high quality food is on the grounds featuring Culver's Restaurant, Tailgater char-broiled steaks, Longhorn chicken fish and tacos; jamming is everywhere, under trees, beside campers, in the tipi village, in nooks and crannies everywhere. Over 10,000 people came to observe, share, and partake of this one-of-a-kind music gathering. It was featured recently in the national magazine National Profile.

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