Bluegrass festival features celebrated Missouri musicians including

Missouri State Fair News
For more information contact:
Tammie Nichols, Marketing Director
2503 \y'f. 16, Sedalia, MO 65301
660-827-81 1 1 Fax: 660-827-8162
FoR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, July 12,2011
Bluegrass Festival Features Gelebrated Missouri
Musicians including a Tribute to the Ozark Opry
(SEDALIA, Mo.) - The Missouri State Fair has broadened its medley of free nrusic this year
with the addition of the new Show-Me Bluegrass Festival Aug. 17, sponsored by AgriMissouri.
The public
will enjoy more than 10 notable bands
staged throughout the grounds Wednesday
with Missouri's own bluegrass star, Rhonda Vincent, perfonning at the Pepsi Grandstand at 7:30
p.m.
'"The addition of the new Show-Me Bluegrass Festival will bring a unique atmosphere to the
grounds," said Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe. "The soothing sounds of acoustic
stringed instruments will create a great accompaniment to a piece of Missouri heritage."
Also, among the lineup for the festival are Missouri-based bands Midnight Flight and The
Chapmans.
Midnight Flight has earned a reputation as one of the Ozark's premier bluegrass bands. Their
outstandittg instrumentation, tight vocal harmonies and spontaneous humor make for a dynamic
stage show.
The Chapmans are a true American bluegrass family, consisting of father and sons who excel on
acoustical instruments. The group holds several awards including the emerging artist award
from the International Bluegrass Music Association.
Another highlight of the festival will be a tribute to Lee Mace's Ozark Opry, hosted by Dan
William Peek, former Opry member and author ofZ ive! At the Ozark Opry.
The tribute will be at 10 a.m. and I p.m. in the new Show-Me Tent, located west of the Womans
Builditg, and will feature Peek and other Opry nnrsicians.
"The tribute will be kind of a song circle moderated by David Webb, nephew of Opry owner Lee
Mace, ffid Dr. Joe Pryor, the president of the Miller County Historical Society. Film clips from
the Opry will also be shown with some alums talking about their experiences," Peek said.
LeRoy Haslug, longtime Opry fiddler, will be a featured musical guest during the tribute along
with The River Berry Players and the Hazel Kinder Band, playing tunes that were often
performed on the Opry stage.
The public is invited to bring instruments and pick with professionals in the 4 O'Clock Jam
Session also in the Show-Me Tent. The jam will end in time for a contest for amateur banjo
enthusiasts on the Touchstone Energy Stage at 6 p.m.
Contestants will have three minutes to perform one tune, unaccompanied, on an acoustic-style
banjo. The winner will be chosen by audience applause and will have 30 seconds to grab casll
Missouri Lottery vouchers and other sponsor prizes in the Money Madness Machine.
The new Show-Me Bluegrass Festival will end on a high note as Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
perform at the Pepsi Grandstand. Joining Vincent will be Dailey & Vincent and The Next Best
Thing.
Tickets are available for $20 and $ 10 and can be purchased from Ticketmaster.com or from the
Missouri State Fair Box Office, now open any weekday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The annual Senior Appreciation Day is also on Aug. 17. The day will offer many other activities
and a $2 gate admission discount to seniors and adults with a State Fair banner advertisement
from the front page of any Sedalia Democrat published Aug. l1-17.
Explore more of the Aug. 17 schedule at Lrttp:/lwww.Lnggtertefair.coru or call 1-800-422-FAIR
(3247). The Missouri State Fair is Aug. 11-21 in Sedalia, and is themed "It's a Show-Me
Thing!"
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