HOW TO GO
What: The Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival with Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, Lou Reid & Carolina, an all-star Longview reunion and others
Where: The Roberts Convention Centre, 123 Gano Road, Wilmington
When: Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day
Cost: $30 to $65 advance, $35 to $65 at the door. Children 16 and under are free with an adult purchase
More info: (937) 372-5804 or www.somusicfest.com
BAND SCHEDULE
Friday
1 p.m. Art Stevenson & High Water
2 p.m. Audie Blaylock & Redline
3 p.m. Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
4 p.m. Lou Reid & Carolina
5 p.m. One-hour break
6 p.m. Art Stevenson & High Water
7 p.m. Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers
8 p.m. Audie Blaylock & Redline
9 p.m. Lou Reid & Carolina
10 p.m. Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
Saturday
Noon Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers
1 p.m. Art Stevenson & High Water
2 p.m. Don Rigsby & Midnight Call
3:15 The Seldom Scene
4:15 p.m. Dale Ann Bradley
5 p.m. One-hour break
6 p.m. The James King Band
7:15 p.m. The Seldom Scene
8:15 p.m. Dale Ann Bradley
9:30 p.m. Longview All-star Jam
It won’t be the actual International Bluegrass Music Awards, but given the number of 2012 winners on the bill for the upcoming Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival, it will sure feel like it.
The festival, returning to the Roberts Convention Centre in Wilmington on Friday and Saturday, March 15-16, features IBMA male vocalist of the year Russell Moore with his band IIIrd Tyme Out, IBMA emerging artists of the year Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers, reigning IBMA female vocalist of the year Dale Ann Bradley and many others.
“Our location is still one of the biggest assets for this event for several reasons,” said event organizer Mullins, from Classic Country Radio. “Southwestern Ohio is a hotbed for bluegrass fans. Bluegrass artists and fans have gotten along great in our neighborhood here for 50 years. We’ve also built a nice relationship between The Roberts Convention Centre and bluegrass fans. There’s a good foundation locally so we always have a ton of people from the surrounding states.”
The biannual event also draws bluegrass fans from outside the area.
“We’ve entertained people from probably 18 states, from as far away as New York and Texas,” Mullins said. “We have visitors coming all the way from Australia this time. It’s bluegrass fans that are going to be in the States, and they’ve got us on their agenda. We’ve had people from Japan and the U.K. (United Kingdom), so it’s that caliber of entertainment.”
“Bluegrass these days is quite a big family that Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley created, and we have everything from the roots to the branches,” Mullins said. “We put a lot of thought into the lineup and tried to plan it out. Some bands are known for their instrumental prowess and some for great vocals. We showcase a great variety, both contemporary and traditional, and our audience is that way, too. We have grandparents and college kids and everybody in between.”
Doors open at 10 a.m. each day. Music begins at 1 p.m. Friday and at noon Saturday.
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