Bluegrassers from across the southeast will flock to Tri-State Exhibition Center for the 12th annual White Oak Mountain Bluegrass Festival on July 21. This year’s festival will feature five bands, both local and national. The gates open at 11 a.m. with music beginning at noon.
Toyota of Cleveland is the presenting sponsor of this year’s all-star line-up. Organizers say that Toyota of Cleveland’s generous support has made this festival, with first quality talent, possible.
Review for the bands:
Headlining the festival, the Rigney Family Band is a high energy bluegrass band that offers a blend of tight family vocal harmonies and innovative bluegrass instrumentation. The Rigney's have a sense of balancing the traditional with fresh new sounds that exhilarates your soul with energy, laughter, and emotion. Based near Nashville, this established band plays over 70 shows annually entertaining fans all over the southeast.
Saturday’s line-up also includes the Dismembered Tennesseans. In 1945, a group of McCallie students formed this popular bluegrass band. The group has been playing traditional bluegrass ever since. Easily one of the most popular bands in East Tennessee, they have made their mark singing bluegrass music for people who don’t particularly like country music.
Returning to the White Oak stage, Mountain Cove Bluegrass is a six-member band comprised of talented young musicians ranging in age from 16-19 from two Chattanooga area high schools. Originally founded during school lunch periods in 2008, Mountain Cove Bluegrass has enjoyed a rapid rise in popularity in several southeastern states. They have garnered frequent news media attention for outstanding instrumental work, close vocal harmonies, and their energetic stage presence.
“We are looking forward to a great event with this incredible line-up of talent,” said Jordia Waller, “There are about six or seven people that worked very hard to put this festival on this year, they deserve a ton of credit.”
Tickets are currently being sold at the White Oak Mountain Bluegrass Festival website for $5. Tickets will also be available at the gate for $10. Primitive camping is available on the grounds as well as a limited number of RV hookups. Call 476-9310 for information or to reserve a spot.
The White Oak Mountain Bluegrass Festival benefits operations at Tri-State Exhibition Center, a multi-use event center located at exit 20, just west off I-75.