The annual Thunder Road Festival scheduled for April 19 will feature two of the most well-known artists in bluegrass music, announced festival organizers. According to Betty Barrett, manager for Yonder Hollow Productions of Rockwood, Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain along with bluegrass legend Jesse McReynolds and The Virginia Boys will be performing for the festival this year.
""Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain are at the top of their game in bluegrass and country music right now," said Barrett. "They were named in the top ten of Country Stars On-Line and their song 'Going on the Next Train' is in the top 30 on Bluegrass Unlimited's National Bluegrass survey."
Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain are performing at Yonder Hollow during Thunder Road as part of their 2008 Europe, Canadian and U.S. tour.
The Thunder Road bluegrass venue will also feature Jesse McReynolds, a legendary mandolin innovator and stylist for the bluegrass genre. McReynolds is best known for the development of his cross-picking and split string style of music. McReynolds has been in the music business for 60 years, and has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 42 years. He performs with The Virginia Boys, and was nationally known for performances with his late brother, Jim. Some of his best-known songs include "Tennessee," "Paradise" and "Cotton Mill Man."
"We are combining these two artists into a show to allow spectators the rare opportunity to experience the true roots music of Jesse McReynolds as well as today's sounds of Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain," added Barrett.
Yonder Hollow is Rockwood’s newest musical venue in the historic Peterman Theater featuring bluegrass music. Seating is limited in Yonder Hollow to 200 seats, allowing each spectator to be up-close and personal with the performers. One show will feature Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain plus Jesse McReynolds and The Virginia Boys. A second show will feature Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain, and a third show will feature Jessie McReynolds and The Virginia Boys with Alex Leach. There will be an admission fee for these performances. Bluegrass music before, between and after these performances will have free admission and feature local favorites such as Alex Leach and Friends, Brandywine, the J Team, Charlie McCarroll, Tony Thomas and the Appalachian Strings plus Wade Darnell and Windrock Mountain. Tickets for the shows will go on sale on March 15 through Yonder Hollow.
The festival will also include vendors, quilt displays, fried pie/stack cake and pie competitions to include cash prizes, a Hillbilly and Daisy Duke look-alike contest with cash prizes and classic cars and motorcycles. The antique car club with the most entries in the festival will be awarded a $250 cash prize. Food and drink concessions will be also be available.
The Thunder Road Festival is hosted by Rockwood 2000 Inc., along with support from partners Yonder Hollow, the Knoxville News Sentinel and the Tennessee Arts Commission. Additional sponsors and volunteers for the festival are being sought by the organization. The Thunder Road Festival is meant to commemorate the location of Rockwood on the notorious Thunder Road, particularly during the bootlegging years between 1920 and the late 1960s. Organizers attempt to preserve and highlight traditions and foods from this part of Appalachia during the festival.
Interested vendors should contact Erika Schenk for booth space at phone number (865) 354-6800. Booth spaces will be prioritized in the order reserved. More information on Thunder Road can be obtained online at www.rockwood2000.com or by contacting Schenk or Beverly Stroh at (865) 354-5116.
Things To Do
Related Photos
Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain featured at Thunder Road Festival
- Things To Do
-
-
Three musicians join Big Band Sound
Two talented Tennessee Technological University students and a veteran drummer have joined the ranks of the Big Band Sound. They are Kurt Snider, Brant Poindexter and Sarah Ransom.
-
BSO performs ‘Turkish’ program with guest violinist
Some of the Classical era’s most brilliant composers added an exotic effect to their work by filtering the sounds of Turkish military bands through the symphony orchestra. It’s a trend that began hundreds of years ago, but continues today in the work of contemporary composers.
-
SLIDESHOW: Madonna hypes Super Bowl halftime show
Madonna answers questions from the media during a news conference to hype the halftime show for Super Bowl XLVI.
-
CCP to stage The Sound of Music beginning Feb. 10
On Feb. 10, The Sound of Music returns to the Cumberland County Playhouse in a powerful new production directed by Weslie Webster (The Best Christmas Pageant Ever), with musical direction by Ron Murphy. Lindy Pendzick (Little Shop of Horrors, Brigadoon) will bring her glorious soprano voice to the role of Maria, and opera veteran Stephen Len White makes his Playhouse debut as Captain von Trapp.
-
REVIEW: Irvin, Ruff excel in Driving Miss Daisy
The three-person cast of Driving Miss Daisy brings a five-star production to the stage of the Adventure Theater Stage at the Cumberland County Playhouse.
-
Big Band Sound to perform Feb. 11 for Fairfield Glade Valentine Dance
The 21-member Big Band Sound will perform several favorite Valentine songs at its first dance of the new year Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Fairfield Glade Community and Conference Center. Tickets for the event are $13.75 including tax per person and are available at the Community Center, 130 Stonehenge Dr. Dancing and listening is from 7 to 10 p.m.
-
TVT presents Jason Coleman’s ‘The Legacy of Floyd Cramer’
Tennessee Valley Theatre in Spring City will present Jason Coleman’s “The Legacy of Floyd Cramer” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28. Cost is $10.
-
‘Presidents and Patriots’ concert set for Feb. 12
The Southern Stars will be performing their second concert of the Crossville Music Series Sunday, Feb. 12 at 3:30 p.m. at Stone Memorial High School auditorium led by conductor Dr. Steven Sudduth.
-
Community Band Rehearsals resume for 2012
The Cumberland County Community Band, under the direction of Brian Bacon, has resumed rehearsals beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 6 p.m. in the band room at Stone Memorial High School.
-
KSO presents an afternoon of Baroque music January 29
The Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra and Resident Conductor James Fellenbaum will present an afternoon of Baroque music at the next Chamber Classics concert on Sunday, January 29, at 2:30 p.m. at the Bijou Theatre.
- More Things To Do Headlines
-
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
