Chattanooga’s new Miller Park will be the setting May 18 for Bluegrass in the Park, a free bluegrass festival featuring local bluegrass bands, food trucks, and a variety of activities.
The event is family friendly with all community members welcome. It’s scheduled during Ironman 70.3 weekend so that athletes and families can have something to do during the afternoon and evening before the race, said officials.
The current schedule is:
5 p.m: Caney Creek Company
7 p.m.: Grandview Mountain Pickers
8 p.m.: New Dismembered Tennesseans
Events continue to be added, and the most current schedule and any announcements are at www.chattanooga-bluegrass.com.
The event is being sponsored by Jim Johnson, a North Chattanooga man marking his 20th year in the city, and by BikeTours.com, the company he founded here 15 years ago.
“Moving to Chattanooga changed my life,” said Mr. Johnson. “This is a small way that I can express my gratitude.”
Review for the bands:
Caney Creek Company
It would be easy to categorize Caney Creek Company as a bluegrass band based on their lineup of traditional instruments. However, their sound continues to progress, often including elements of folk and indie rock with equal frequency. Meanwhile, their approach to songwriting remains true to the storytelling tradition of Americana. It’s a sonic formula that appeals to all generations. Like a wedding vow, the songs will see you through sickness and health, wealth and want, some bad times—but especially the good ones.
Grandview Mountain Pickers
The Grandview Mountain Pickers is a five-person bluegrass band—four teenage sisters and a brother—from Grandview Mountain just outside of Spring City that is becoming very well known in eastern Tennessee for their harmonizing blend of bluegrass music.
New Dismembered Tennesseans
It was back in 1947 that a group of McCallie students got together and began singing and playing a brand of Bluegrass music that has gone on now for more than 65 years. The name "Dismembered Tennesseans" seemed good enough a name for a bunch of teenagers who had no long-range plans, and they sang their way through school. But somehow the music never stopped. And 70 years later and a few personnel changes, the New Dismembered Tennesseans continues to let the notes fly and enjoy music together.