Ironton, Missouri, May 5, 2014 (McKenzieNewsService.com) – This year’s Spring Mountain Music Festival will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday May 16, 17 and 18 on the grounds of the historic Iron County Courthouse in Ironton, MO. This year’s festival will feature not only three days of bluegrass, country and gospel music, but also clogging and square dancing. The event is free. With the spring festival will come the traditional 5K Walk-Run starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday. In addition to music, vendors and crafters, they will have a wide variety of wares and food for purchase. There’ll be an area set up for pickers, so musicians are being encouraged to bring their instruments. Musical guests scheduled to appear at this spring’s event include: Trinity River Band, Wailin’ Wood, Friends Pickin,’ Ozark Spirit Cloggers, The Baker Family, and the Arcadia Valley Jam Band. For more information about the Mountain Music Festival, visit www.mountainmusicfestival.net or call Bobby Powell at 573.546.1441. ABOUT THE PERFORMERS: Trinity River Band: This is an Americana, Bluegrass and Acoustic Roots band from Callahan, Florida that has burst onto the national acoustic music scene in just six short years. Tracing their beginnings to performances in their local area churches starting in 2008, they went to full-time touring in 2011 and quickly gained a devoted following nationwide. The years spent honing their vocals are evidenced by their recorded and live performances. The group includes the talents of Mike Harris (Guitar, Lead & Harmony Vocals); Lisa Harris (Bass, Harmony Vocals); Josh Harris (Banjo, Dobro, Harmony Vocals); Brianna Harris (Fiddle); and the mesmerizing lead singer and Mandolinist, Sarah Harris who was a 2013 IBMA Momentum Award Nominee in the Vocalist of the Year Category. Wailin’ Wood: Back in 1994, fans of music festivals in the mid-South began to notice a new kid on the scene. He was a wiry, animated, funny crowd-pleasing young man who knew all of the old-time contest favorites like “Liberty” and “Whiskey Before Breakfast,” who could hold his own with the best pickers at these contests, and who even knew a couple of chicken songs. But he was also different, in a very important way. His instrument was not the fiddle or the banjo or the dulcimer, but the harmonica. Now middle Tennessee has been a hotbed for harmonica players ever since the 1920’s when DeFord Bailey, Dr. Humphrey Bate, and the Crook Brothers used the instrument to help start up the Grand Ole Opry. And most every festival in the area today still has a harmonica competition. But the kind of music this young man was playing was unlike most of the harmonica music normally heard there. It was cleaner, sharper, more innovative, and incredibly faster than anything else. It might best be described as “bluegrass harp,” with the rich, rapid cascading runs of notes resembling the three-finger rolls of Earl Scruggs – only played on an instrument more commonly associated with cowboy laments and sentimental songs. Here’s a chance to experience some more of the excitement of this breathtaking new sound – and to meet the man who created it: Wailin Wood. ~ Dr. Charles Wolfe. Friends Pickin’: This band plays a combination of bluegrass, gospel, country, and even rock ‘n’ roll with a little comedy thrown in. Hailing from Ellington, Mo., you’ll enjoy watching their videos from their YouTube. Ozark Spirit Cloggers: Ozark Spirit Cloggers are a group made up of folks who desire to dance and promote the fun and fellowship of clogging. Clogging is fun, great exercise, and a lot of entertainment. While most of the dancing is for fun and exercise, they love to perform. The Ozark Spirit Cloggers, which number just under 20 members, are drawn from throughout the Rolla, Missouri area. The Baker Family: Trustin Baker is 15 years old and plays fiddle/banjo/guitar and sings lead/harmony. He is the 2013 Jr. National Grand Masters fiddle championship winner at The Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. He won 2013 Male entertainer of the year at National fiddle contest in Weiser, Idaho. Trustin also holds many state fiddle championships such as Texas State Freshman Champion, reigning 3-time Missouri Jr. State Champion, and Arkansas 2-time Jr. State Champion. Carina is 13 years old and plays mandolin, sings lead/harmony and old time jig dances. She has won numerous dance competitions. Elijah is 10 years old, plays upright bass and sings lead/ harmony. Carrie is their mother and plays the guitar and sings lead/harmony. The Baker Family is a contracted act at Branson’s Silver Dollar City. The Arcadia Valley Jam Band: The band formed in 2013, after several of them harmonized together at the Friday night “Pickin on the Square.” A group of seven guys, from teenage to 80, they enjoy their music and their time together. Each lends their own expertise to the band. http://www.mountainmusicfestival.net
Tom Merello
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