Jimmy Bowen & Santa Fe take the stage Saturday during the Pickin’ in Parsons Bluegrass Festival.
By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
PARSONS – This is the 13th year for Pickin’ in Parsons Bluegrass Festival and promoters John and Joyce Bowers said this year’s event attracted folks from across the globe. Joyce Bowers said as of Saturday afternoon, more than 3,200 bluegrass fans had attended the concerts offered at Five River Campground.
“We host this festival for the love of music,” Joyce Bowers said. “I have always been a live music fan. Bluegrass music is the music of the mountains.”
This year’s festival had many performers including The Hillbilly Gypsies, Maysville Express, The Lost & Found, David Davis & WRB, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Little Roy & Lizzy Show, Chris Jones & the Night Drivers, Tony Holt & WVB, The Spinney Brothers, The Gibson Brothers, The Moron Brothers, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, The Grascals, The Boxcars, Larry Cordle & LST, Marteka & William Lake, Ronnie Reno & Reno Tradition, Leroy Troy, Lonesome River Band, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Blue Mafia, Nothin’ Fancy, Jimmy Bowen & Santa Fe, The Bluegrass Brothers and Balsam Range.
“We have made some really good friends over the years in Bluegrass music,” Joyce Bowers said. “You really cannot find better people.”
She said there were 25 bands during this year’s Pickin’ in Parsons and all of them are nationally touring bands.
“Most of them are multi award winners,” Joyce Bowers said. “We pride ourselves on customer service. It’s a community here. You may arrive not knowing anyone but you will have lots of friends by the time you leave.”
John Bowers said this year there were many new visitors to the festival from different countries across the globe.
“We have folks here from Sweden and New Zealand, Australia and the Netherlands,” he said. “There were some folks here Monday that were from Japan and on Wednesday from Germany. We had visitors from many states, and folks from Canada. We have a band that comes from Halifax. We also have folks here from Tahiti who are going to play during dinner break. They are the biggest Bluegrass Band in Tahiti.”
The 2017 Pickin’ in Parsons Bluegrass Festival is slated for Aug. 1 through 5. Additional information is available by calling 304-478-3515 or online at www.fiverivercampground.com or on Facebook.
