For the past 19 years, individuals from around the country have flocked to East Troy’s historic Village Square the second weekend in September to hear and share the unforgettable bluegrass sound and experience lots of string-scrubbin’ down-home family fun.
Dedicated crowds have increased from less than 200 the first weekend in 1994 to 2,000 attendees expected for the East Troy Bluegrass Festival’s 20th anniversary event on Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 8.
A full line-up of bluegrass bands and contests, plus great food and East Troy Marketplace vendors, will take place from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day.
The event opens on Saturday with an open stage at 10 a.m., followed by a fiddle contest at 11:30 a.m. The bands start in the afternoon, with Front Porch Boys at 1 p.m., Roller Mills at 2 p.m., Band Scramble at 3 p.m., Beef Tea at 4 p.m. and national headliner Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain at 5 p.m.
From the time he played his first radio show in 1951 on WKOY in Bluefield, W.Va., to his 2009 IBMA Hall of Fame induction for his time with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, Goins is considered one of the pioneers of bluegrass. He has remained a consistent fixture on the bluegrass scene playing with Ralph Stanley and then touring with his brother as the Goins Brothers for more then 35 years.
The music resumes on Sunday with a gospel service featuring the Burie Family at 10 a.m. followed by banjo, mandolin and guitar contests at 11:30 a.m. The bands return in the afternoon with Oak Street Ramblers at 1 p.m., Bluegrass Reunion at 2 p.m., Templeton Family Band at 3 p.m., Blue Eagle Reunion at 4 p.m. and national headliner Don Rigsby & Midnight Call at 5 p.m.
From remote Isonville, Ky., to an international following in Bluegrass music, Rigsby has remained true to his mountain roots and made his own marks as a powerful tenor and distinctive mandolin player. Rigsby grew up listening to early Ralph Stanley records and to the high lonesome sounds of his cousin Ricky Skaggs, learning from those who went before him and then adding his own personal touches. The two-time Grammy nominee and two-time SPBGMA Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year is a multiple IBMA Award winner.
Weekend wristbands are $5 per person. Children 15 and younger are admitted free. Attendees should bring their own lawn chairs. No alcohol is allowed at this family event.
This year’s food court vendors include: Cousins Subs, variety of sub sandwiches; East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce, soda, water and coffee; Gus’s Drive-in, Sprecher root beer floats; East Troy Area Historical Society, Elegant Farmer caramel apples and pie; Hometown Sausage Kitchen, Rueben sandwiches, nachos with Hometown Sausage Kitchen pico de gallo and cheese sauce and Hometown Sausage Kitchen Packer brats; The Grist Mill, hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian beef and shaved prime rib sandwiches; Loomis-Martin American Legion Post 188, roasted sweet corn; Pops Kettle Corn, kettle corn
The rain location is East Troy Middle School, 3143 Graydon Ave. Check www.easttroybluegrass.com for updates. For more information, contact the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce at (262) 642-3770 or visit www.easttroywi.org.
2013 Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 7
10 a.m. – Open Stage
11:30 a.m. – Fiddle Contest
1 p.m. – Front Porch Boys
2 p.m. – Roller Mills
3 p.m. – Band Scramble
4 p.m. – Beef Tea
5 p.m. – Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain
Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013
10 a.m. – Gospel Service featuring the Burie Family
11:30 a.m. – Banjo, Mandolin & Guitar Contests
1 p.m. – Oak Street Ramblers
2 p.m. – Bluegrass Reunion
3 p.m. – Templeton Family Band
4 p.m. – Blue Eagle Reunion
5 p.m. – Don Rigsby & Midnight Call
