Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival Announces Headliners

The Laurel Highlands Bluegrass festival is proud to announce the headliners for their upcoming festival. June 15 & 16 2012, Benefit Ligonier Twp (Waterford) VFC, Ligonier PA.

Scheduled to appear:
The Larry Stephenson Band
The Jeanette Williams Band
Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie

Full lineup coming soon.
Website is not yet updated, but will be soon.

Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival - Line Up Announced‏

June 17-18,
It's the 9th annual...
LAUREL HIGHLANDS BLUEGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL 2011

Route 271, Waterford, Just 5 Miles North of Ligonier, PA

WE'RE GETTIN' READY!

Mark your calendar --because it won't be
long until it's time for the Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival! It'll be hard
to top last year's festival, as the weather was great, the bands were amazing,
the music workshops were full, and the crowd was the biggest we've seen so far.
But from all indications, our 9th Annual will be the best one yet. (We've even
scheduled perfect weather once again.)
We're now putting the final touches
on everything. Last year's dinners were a rousing success, but we're tweaking
the menus and adding some new items to provide an even bigger and better variety
of great food. The music workshops and craft show will be back, as will the
kids' activities and "cow plop" contest. Also, Dan Schall will be back on Sunday
morning, providing his musical ministry that features bluegrass and country
gospel favorites.
New this year... special Saturday evening pricing and
special deals on local accommodations.
Check back here for updates and
news!

ON STAGE...

As always, both the Friday evening and Saturday
lineups will be filled with top-notch national, regional and local bluegrass
performers. GREAT music will be provided by:
+ Blue Moon Rising - Super
national touring band from Tennessee!
+ Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers
- Award-winning banjo player and great band from Ohio!
+ Remington Ryde -
Entertaining traditional band from central Pennsylvania!
+ Lonesome Highway -
Great band from West Virginia, back again!
+ Northwest Territory - This fine
Ohio band is always a hit with our fans!
+ Mountain Therapy - Good to have
this solid band back with us!
+ Allegheny Drifters - Great vocals and pickin'
from these local favorites!
+ Mon River Ramblers - Hot young band from
Pittsburgh, made their debut with us last year!

Full details can be found
on the festival website. http://www.laurelhighlandsbluegrass.com/

ON LINE BOX OFFICE OPPENING SOON - check web site

25th Anniversary Recognition

Rep. Petrarca              John

(Photo by Savanna Gray)

Jeff

At the Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival a very special event took place that was not on the published program.
I was honored by friends and fans by the Celebration of my 25th anniversary as host of "Traditional Ties" on
Pittsburgh's WYEP.
I was presented with a Pennsylvania State House of Representatives Legislative Citation by Representative Joe Petrarca, who I was surprised to find out is a "Traditional Ties" listener.
The festival sponsor presented a commemorative plate to mark the occasion, and the mandatory cake was there for all who wished to partake. Note: Festival co-emcee and I suspect was the chief instigator of the recognition, was quick to point out that payment is being withheld on the cake because the radio is not tuned to 91.3.

Thanks to All.

Workshops at Laurel Highlands

Poverty Hollow

Greg Cahill

Top notch workshops have always been a part of The Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival, This year was no exception.
Greg Cahill conducted the banjo workshop. Greg has fronted Special Consensus for 35 years, and he has always been a champion of bluegrass education. A major part of Special Cs tours has always been their appearances at schools playing and teaching bluegrass.
Before becoming IBMA board president, Greg chaired the bluegrass in the schools committee.
A master of the banjo Greg has released four instructional DVDs.

A own region's Poverty Hollow has a shorter resume than Greg, but their emphasis on high quality harmonies has quickly become their trademark, and made them an obvious choice for the vocal harmonies workshop.

Saturday at Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival

The Saturday show at LHBF was when measured by the many positive comments received. It was a less than perfect weather with a hot oppressively humid afternoon followed by a very heavy evening shower.

Less than ideal conditions, but the bands were all true pros and did great shows that evoked an enthusiastic response from the audience. The sound provided by Soaring Eagle Productions from Bedford was excellent.

Band pictures follow:

Special Consensus

Hard Ryde

Buck and Company

Lonesome Highway

Poverty Hollow

Mon River Ramblers

Additional Posts of LHBF coming soon.

Great Night of Bluegrass

Jeannette Williams Band

Blue Shades

Lonesome Highway

Friday night at The Laurel Highlands Bluegrass festival was outstanding, all three bands were at the top of there game.


The show continues at noon Saturday, with Lonesome Highway, Mon River Ramblers, Poverty Hollow, Hard Ryde, Special Consensus and Buck and Company.

Complete festival details at http://laurelhighlandsbluegrass.com/

Dinner Music at Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival

Things  got started tonight with some pickin' during dinner at The Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival.

Complete festival details click.  http://www.laurelhighlandsbluegrass.com/

The music was provided by:

Mountain View

Stationary Ramblers

Mountain Laurel Bluegrass

Bluegrass At Ligonier Country Market

Some good friends from various bands gathered to jam at The Ligonier Country Market this morning, to promote the upcoming Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival, June 18 &; 19.

Complete festival info can be found here.

Pam                            Jeff

Ray                    Brad

John                       Bob                          Dave

Thrre were some very interested listeners.

Buck and Company at Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival

Making their first appearance at the Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival is Buck and Company here is a short blurb from their web site.

"Buck & Company was originally formed in 2002 and is based in the Parkersburg, West Virginia area. The Band's repertoire focuses on traditionally based bluegrass and bluegrass gospel including original compositions by Buck McCumbers. The Band's aspirations are to deliver high quality bluegrass music, meet new people, and make new friends at the regions best bluegrass venues. Buck &Company is eager to have the opportunity to perform for some of the finest people in the world ..... BLUEGRASS MUSIC FANS!"

June 18 &19, Ligonier PA - Full details here.

The Mon River Ramblers to Open Saturday's Show at The Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Featival

Coming soon:
The Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival
Friday June 18, 6:00 to 11:00 PM
Saturday June 19, Noon to 11:00 PM
Route 271, Waterford, Just 5 Miles North of Ligonier, PA

Complete festival info here.

The Mon River Ramblers is one of Pittsburgh's youngest and busiest Bluegrass bands, if you are not familiar here is an introductory video.

Award Winners to Appear at Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival.

The Canadian band Hard Ryde will be appearing at The Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival, Ligioner PA.
The festival is Friday evening June 18, and all day Saturday June 19. Hard Ryde will do two shows on Saturday, afternoon and evening. More festival details here. Hard Ryde info here.

For most in our area this will be the first opportunity to see this award winning Canadian Band so here is an introductory video.

Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival 2010 Lineup

At long last the lineup is set for the 2010 Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival. Fan favorites from previous years are returning and new bands have been selected all with the intention of providing a well rounded first class family event.

As always, both the Friday evening and Saturday lineups will be filled with top-notch national, regional and local bluegrass performers. GREAT music will be provided by:

+ Jeanette Williams (Award-winning vocalist and festival favorite from Virginia!)
+ Special Consensus (On their 35th Anniversary Tour!)
+ Hard Ryde (Award-winning band from Canada!)
+ Lonesome Highway (Great band from West Virginia, here for two days)
+ Buck & Company (Fine traditional sounds from West Virginia)
+ Poverty Hollow (You asked to hear 'em again, they're back)
+ Blue Shades (Great music from these local favorites)
+ Mon River Ramblers (Hot young band from Pittsburgh, making their debut with us)

When - June 18 & 19, 2010.
Where - Rt 271, Waterford, five miles north of Ligonier PA.
Sponsor - Ligonier Township Vol. Fire Company #1, Station 44.

Field camping available beginning June 16. Full course meals available beginning Thursday evening.

See festival web site for complete details, check back often for updates.

Bios of the bands will be posted here as the event draws closer.

Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival Goes International

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It's the 8th annual...
LAUREL HIGHLANDS BLUEGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL!
June 18-19, 2010 - Route 271, Waterford, Just 5 Miles North of Ligonier, PA

This is the first of several posts for The 2110 Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Featival, check the web site for more details.

With Hard Ryde, this year our festival goes "international!" We were lucky enough to snag this award-winning, six-piece band from Canada. It would take several paragraphs to list all the individual and band awards this group has amassed, both in Canada and the States. They're that good. Of their latest CD, Bluegrass Unlimited says their "precise instrumental chops complement their fine harmonies" and calls them "first rate." We're eager to present them to you.
Doug DeBour (guitar and vocals) is at the helm of the band and has reached Hall-of-Fame status with the Central Canadian Bluegrass Association for his vocals and guitar playing. Will Meadows (mandolin and vocals) and Chris Ricker (fiddle) are both award winners and seasoned veterans of the bluegrass scene. Rich Koop (bass) was the Central Canadian "Bass Player of the Year" for 2007 and nominated again in 2008, while hard-driving banjoist D'Arcy Campbell took "Banjo Player of the Year" honors in 2008. Described as an "instrumental genius" and "acoustic enigma," guitarist Marc Roy is a regular face on the bluegrass scene in both the U.S. and Canada. He was named "Guitar Player of the Year" in 2007 and has recorded with several artists.

Chain Saw Carved Bear, in It's New Texas Home

This is a e mail and pictures from the winner of the chain saw carved bear, that was raffled off Saturday at the close of the Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival.

It is obvious that the good will generated by the firemen and their helpers is spreading far and wide. The best kind of advertising!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sparky, this is Jamie and I am sending the pics u asked for

I gave it a lot of thought on the drive back to TEXAS. I donated the bear to my home town Fire Department.in Benbrook Texas

The Chief Tommy Davis is a long time friend an running buddy of mine. Tommy and the rest of the crew think he is the coolest.

I'm sure the kids and the rest of the town will soon be by the fire hall to check him out .

They put him inside right at the main entrance. The local paper called me and I told them the story on how I won him and how outstanding and friendly the people there were. It will be in next weeks paper. I will send u a copy.They are going to have a contest on what name we should give him. The paper is going to have a plaque made to put by his feet.
You would not believe how big of a deal this little bear has caused in my little home town


Let me tell u the ride home was A blast he caused several little backs up with every one slowing down to take pitchers.

Ever time I stopped to eat or fuel, I would come out and there would be a crowed.


ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU

The people there were just outstanding and the hospitality of every one from the owner of the cow that did the plop to the young lady at the concession stand.


Thanks again Jamie Gray

Laurel Highlands, 2009, Final Post

Considering the frightening weather forecast for The Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival, attendance was very good and we got by with very little rain during stage show. The 2009 was a success by any measure.

A wrap up meeting and the initial planing meeting for 2010 are only a month away.

This is were your input is very important, anything that may have been a correctable problem needs reported to the committee, so that corrective action may be implemented.

In addition recommendations for next year are welcome and solicited. Your ideas for bands, meals, children's activities, workshops etc can be forwarded to:

Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival,1012 Harvey Road Ligonier, PA 15658 (724) 238-8646

If you would rather use e mail you may sent your input to me and I will see that the committee is informed of your ideas. tties91@hotmail.com

You may share your ideas by commenting on this post, we may be able to start a brainstorming session, and bring others to the conversation,

Festival 2010, June 18 and 19.

Kids Activities At LHBF

Saturday there were structured and supervised activities for children. Although these activities were music they were well received and utilized. Hopefully for future events an entry level acoustic event can be planed.

Workshops at LHBF

there were two great workshops at this years Laural Highlands Bluegrass Festival. Bill Emerson and Tom Adams did the banjo workshop and Poverty Hollow presented the Vocal Harmony session.

Both were well attended, presenting useful information and generating lots of questions.

Saturday Bands At Laurel Hignlands

Saturday bands at Laurel Highlands.

Thursday Night Pickin' At Don And Pam's

Thursday night jam at Laurel Highlands