A Touch of Blue

Acoustic sounds—mandolins, dobros, guitars, basses, banjos and fiddles—combined with great harmonic voices. These set the stage for a weekend of bluegrass and gospel music today, Friday and Saturday at the Third Annual FarmPark BluegrassFestival, at the Denton FarmPark.

Show hours are noon-10:50 p.m., but jamming will probably continue much later around the campfire.

The FarmPark is home to the Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion, held each July, and the Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver Bluegrass Festival held each May.

Today the event kicks off with Movin' On Bluegrass, followed by The Circuit Riders, Grass Cats, Lost and Found and Larry Sparks.

Friday's lineup begins with Carolina Sonshine, Buck and Company, All Batton and The Bluegrass Reunion, The James King Band and Steep Canyon Rangers.

Denton's own bluegrass and gospel group, A Touch of Blue, will get things going on Saturday. The lineup includes Revonda Roberts and Harvest Wind, Grassetown, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, ending up with Blue Highway.

Bands will perform in the afternoon and after a supper break.

The festival will be held rain or shine in a large covered outdoor pavilion.

Cousins Boyd and Jeff Hulin started A Touch of Blue four years ago. Boyd plays mandolin and sings tenor. Jeff prefers the guitar and sings lead vocals. They're joined on stage by baritone Matthew Nance picking the banjo, bass singer Doug Roberts who plays the dobro, and bass player Ronnie Edwards.

They recently won the High Falls Fiddlers' Convention and placed second at the 2007 Star Fiddler's Convention. Boyd Hulin said he's looking forward to performing their a capella version of "Amazing Grace."

"We know crowds will want to hear 'Mama, What Does Heaven Look Like There?' said Greg Corbitt who plays the banjo and sings baritone with The Circuit Riders. "Audiences love that song!"

The Circuit Riders will be performing at the International Bluegrass Music Awards on Oct. 2 at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

The FarmPark Bluegrass Festival includes 15 bands playing throughout the weekend with 10 performances daily.

"We really immerse ourselves in bluegrass here," explained the FarmPark's general manager Karen Miller. "At any time you can walk through the campground and hear music. A lot of highly talented people bring their instruments, pick and play with friends and total strangers."

Admission for the three-day weekend is $75. The two-day pass is $50 and the one-day is $25. Children under 15 years old are free with an accompanying parent. Teenagers age 15-17 are charged half price when accompanied by a parent.

A church service will be held on Sunday morning at 9 a.m.

Food and musical instrument vendors will be available throughout the weekend. Lawn chairs are welcome. Everyone is encouraged to post photos and videos on the FarmPark's blog, http://dentonfarmpark.blogspot.com

The Denton FarmPark is a 140-acre park with more than 500 camping hook-ups. It is located at 1072 Cranford Road off NC Hwy. 49 South of Asheboro and NC Hwy. 109 south of Lexington.

For more information, log onto www.threshers.com or call 336-859-2755.

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