Festive
Bluegrass at the Lake draws a multitude of music lovers
Staff writer
Marion County Lake’s Bluegrass at the Lake festival always draws such a large crowd it’s hard to find a place to set up a lawn chair or throw down a blanket.
In fact, lake director Isaac Hett said, it’s the biggest camping weekend of the year.
Nearly twice as many campers use sites with electrical service on Bluegrass weekend as on Memorial Day weekend, he said.
T-shirt sales took in $11,135 last year, making $3,335 profit.
This year’s festival will be Aug. 2 and 3. Admission will be $10 for a wristband good for both days.
Last year, 504 wristbands were sold.
Peabody resident Brad Hiebert has been a fan of Bluegrass at the Lake for four years. Health problems kept him from attending last year’s, but his children bought him a T-shirt anyway.
That was the shirt he wore into the lake office Thursday to check in his boat.
Bands to be featured this year are Wayne & Jamie; Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations; The Power Lilies; Robin Roberts and Billie Preston; Huffy and the NightTrain; Unfortunate Sons; and Sunflower Station.
Dustin Arbuckle and The Damnations are described as a “cross-genre electric Americana vibe.”
The Power Lilies is a four-member female Americana troupe made up of Betsey Mae, Elexa Dawson, Jenna Rae, and Patti Steel. Their music is folk, rock, and soul. Each has an established following from her own projects.
Robin Roberts and Billie Preston, based out of Wichita, perform folk and bluegrass music.
Huffy and the NightTrain performs bluegrass, jamgrass, and cover music.
Unfortunate Sons performs country, rock, and rhythm and blues music.
Sunflower Station is a five-member traditional bluegrass band.
The festival also will include a silent auction, food vendors, and a cornhole tournament.