BLUEGRASS HERITAGE FESTIVAL - September 19, 2009
South Oaks Baptist Church
5925 U. S. Highway 287
Arlington Texas  76017

The second annual Bluegrass Heritage Festival was held on Saturday, September 19, 2009 at South Oaks Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas.  The festival featured performances by the Josh Wiliams Band (Josh was the 2008 IBMA and SPBGMA Guitar Player of the Year), the Toy Hearts from Birmingham, England (with special guest fiddler Raphael Maillet from Paris, France and guest bassist Alan Tompkins), Star Canyon, the Herrin Family, Clear River, Nickelville Road, Salt Rock Rounders, and Grass Notes.  We had a wonderful crowd, great instrument instructional workshops (including a guitar workshop by Josh Williams and Toy Heart Sophia Johnson, as well as mandolin, banjo, and clawhammer banjo workshops), and lots of jamming.  See more photos from the Festival on our Photos page.

Two-time Grammy nominee and notable songwriter/session vocalist Claire Lynch took a night off from fronting one of the nation's best-beloved bluegrass acts, the Claire Lynch Band, to share an intimate stage with bandmate Jim Hurst in a rare duet appearance at the historic Sons of Hermann Hall near downtown Dallas.  Claire and Jim hosted a well-attended one-hour vocal and guitar instructional workshop prior to the show and offered tips and advice for the singers and guitar players in the crowd.  The enthusiastic crowd enjoyed the great show, which lasted for more than two hours.  Claire Lynch and Jim Hurst are both members of the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation Advisory Board.  Event photographs are courtesy of Frank Burd and Zach Burd.

BLUEGRASS HERITAGE FESTIVAL - September 6, 2008
South Oaks Baptist Church
5925 U. S. Highway 287
Arlington Texas  76017

The first Bluegrass Heritage Festival was held on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at South Oaks Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas.  The Festival featured Mark Phillips and Third Generation, Hickory Hill, Blue River, Ellis County Bluegrass, Grassville, Nickelville Road, Salt Rock Rounders, Grass Notes Band, and The Grubb Family.  The instructional workshop schedule consisted of banjo, mandolin, guitar, clawhammer banjo, and songwriting workshops that were well attended.  South Oaks Baptist Church provided food and drinks for the day, and the on-site exhibitors and vendors included iWearBluegrass.com, Fitch Banjos, and the Southwest Bluegrass Club.  We had a great crowd that enjoyed the beautiful weather and excellent facilities.  Jamming went on all afternoon and late into the night, long after the music on stage had ended.  See more photos from the Festival on our Photos page.

THE SPECIAL CONSENSUS - May 3, 2008
Sons of Hermann Hall
3414 Elm Street, Dallas, Texas 75226

w/Special Guest Blue Moon Drive
featuring The Gerald Jones

On Saturday night, May 3, 2008, the Foundation held its first bluegrass event featuring The Special Consensus and Blue Moon Drive at the historic Sons of Hermann Hall near downtown Dallas.  Current IBMA President Greg Cahill (founder of The Special Consensus) and his band put on a great show for the crowd.  “The pleasure was truly ours,” said Cahill.  “We were honored to be featured for your first event.  We certainly enjoyed the evening with a wonderfully responsive audience and great music of Blue Moon Drive.  I hope we can work to support the foundation another time!”