by: MIKE AVERILL World Scene Writer
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
1/13/2009 4:28:18 AM
The Western Hills Winter Bluegrass Festival is turning 30 this year. To commemorate, festival organizers are turning the spotlight on young musicians.
"Several of our bands are family bands with youth players. We feel real good because as we get older we know these kids are the future," said Wilda Thomas.
"That's something that makes everyone feel good. These kids are talented. We're not getting up there with amateurs trying to learn. They are talented."
The festival has grown to the point that the lodge is booked full for the next year before the festival is over.
"This is kind of a big milestone for us," said Thomas, who organizes the event with her husband, Don. "Thursday night has grown into a really big attendance because it's gospel night."
The festival is being held at Western Hills Lodge, located in Sequoyah State Park eight miles east of Wagoner on Oklahoma 51.
There are 11 bands from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas scheduled to perform.
"There's music all around," Thomas said.
"The jammers are jamming in the lobby and every nook and cranny. You can have dinner and listen to them and visit with friends and then go to the auditorium and listen to music."
Thomas said there will be slide shows of pictures from the last 29 years running during the festival, and pictures will be available.
"We've taken lots of pictures of the jam sessions and people sitting around being themselves," she said.
"I think they'll have a lot of fun going through the pictures."
Friday instrument workshops
12:45 p.m. — Five string banjo by Jim Blair
1:30 — Flattop guitar by Billy Kay
2:15 — Fiddle by Rick Morton
3:00 — Mandolin by Billy Kay
3:45 — Dobro by Ben Brand
4:30 — Bass by Jeff Reeves
Bands
Wednesday-Saturday: The Mountain Gypsies, Digger Davis and Tombstone, Heartland Express, Cedar Ridge, The Oliphant Family and Oklahoma Grassfire.
Friday-Saturday: The Hunt Family, the Neverly Hillbillies and Brightwater Junction
Wednesday-Thursday: River Ridge
Thursday: Cornerstone
Mike Averill 581-8489
mike.averill@tulsaworld.com
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