Music on the mountain

Sept. 13, 2006

It’s not exactly a blue-ridge mountain, but on Saturday, September 16, Boyne Mountain will sure sound like one when the resort hosts its first Bluegrass Festival.
The festival is part of Boyne’s Music on the Mountain Concert Series, bringing some of the best of Michigan’s homegrown bluegrass bands and nationally-touring groups. 

The festival begins at 1 p.m., rain or shine.  The scheduled line-up is as follows:

1 pm: Greensky Bluegrass (www.greenskybluegrass.com). This Kalamazoo-based band were winners of the prestigious 2006 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition. They’ve been on tour all over the country, sharing bills with the likes of the Yonder Mountain String Band, The Mammals and the best of the young bluegrass scene.

2:30 pm: Nobody’s Darlin’
(www.myspace.com/nobodysdarlin): All-girl string band straight outta’ Grand Rapids speicalizes in old timey, bluegrass and gospel sounds.

4 pm: Steppin’ In It
(www.steppininit.com): Lansing-based band is consistently one of the most popular bluegrass/acoustic dance groups in Michigan. This year they’ve been as much out-of-state as in, performing at festivals and venues all over the country.

5:30 pm: Dixie Bee-Liners
(www.dixiebeeliners.com): New York City “bluegrass with a buzz.” This summer, the band’s debut CD stayed six weeks in the top-10 of a roots music-bluegrass chart. Expect some high-octane performances.

7 pm: Lare Williams & New Direction (www.larewilliams.com): They may be from the Midwest, but they aim for the high, lonesome sound of authentic blue-ridge mountain bluegrass.
 
Only 2,500 tickets will be sold for the event. Tickets are $18.50 with free admission for children 10 and under.  Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster locations or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com. 
Boyne Mountain will open for festival-goers at 11 a.m. 
Food, beverage and coolers will not be permitted into the venue. 
Festival-goers can bring blankets, beach/folding chairs, musical instruments and cameras. Concession stands within the venue will be
serving food as well beer, wine, soft drinks and water.
Scenic chairlift rides will also be available for festival-goers for a nominal charge. 

For more information or to make lodging reservations, please contact 1.800.GO.BOYNE or visit
www.boynemountain.com.