Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival Nov. 7-8 at Roberts Centre
The fall production of the Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival kicks off next Friday, November 7, at the Roberts Convention Centre in Wilmington.
Leading into Veterans Day, the event will celebrate not only musical heroes, but military heroes, too. This is a biannual acoustic music event that occurs each March and November. It’s a homecoming of nationally and internationally acclaimed musicians and music fans gathering to commemorate bluegrass, a truly American style of music.
Festival doors open Friday, November 7, at 10 A.M. with performances by host band, Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers, Ralph Stanley II, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, The James King Band, and Bill Yates & the Country Gentlemen Tribute Band.
The award-winning talent continues on Saturday, November 8, with performances by 2014 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Emerging Artist of the Year winner Flatt Lonesome. “The past few years have seen a wealth of fantastic, young talent in bluegrass.
The sibling harmony and professionalism of Flatt Lonesome has made them award winners! I first saw them performing in Silver Dollar City in 2012 after winning a competition. They will win over Ohio bluegrass fans young and old. Don’t miss their Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival debut,” stated festival producer, Joe Mullins.
Saturday also includes shows by 2014 IBMA Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year winner Special Consensus. Special Consensus was honored for selections from their Country Boy – A Bluegrass Tribute to John Denver album.
“Special Consensus has a great history, entertaining nationally now for a few decades after being founded as Chicago’s first great bluegrass act. Their John Denver tribute has been a huge success and they are enjoying a tremendous year. It’s their first Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival appearance,” stated Mullins.
The picking persists with the Crowe Brothers, the Larry Stephenson Band, 2014 IBMA nominees the Boxcars, and Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers. Joe Mullins was also a 2014 IBMA Award nominee for the album he recorded with Junior Sisk, Hall of Fame Bluegrass, in the categories of Album of the Year, Recorded Event of the Year, and Best Liner Notes for a Recorded Project.
Two important veterans-oriented organizations will benefit from fundraising activities during the festival. Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers and their official supply sponsor, Janet Davis Acoustic Music, along with a friend to bluegrass music and our veterans, Wilma Miller of Cedarville, Ohio, will collaborate at the event to support the Cincinnati, Ohio Chapter of Guitars for Vets (G4V). G4V is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of injured and ailing veterans through the healing power of music. They provide free guitar lessons and guitars to vets in a structured program staffed by volunteers. Janet Davis Acoustic Music has donated a Martin guitar valued at over $1,200. Wilma Miller has donated a patriotic-themed handmade quilt. A $5 donation per prize will allow festival attendees to enter a drawing to win either item with all proceeds given to G4V. Richard Hutchinson, the Cincinnati Chapter Coordinator, will be presented with a check on Saturday evening.
On Saturday, Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers will also be presenting a check to the Patriot Guard Riders, a support group of motorcycle riders accessible in all 50 states, available at a family’s request, to honor and ensure dignity and respect at memorial services honoring fallen military heroes, first responders, and honorably discharged veterans. This donation is made possible through proceeds generated from the digital downloads of the song “The Last Parade” along with earnings from sales of the song’s commemorative t-shirt. “The Last Parade,” featured on Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers fifth album, Another Day From Life, is a powerful song written by Steve Bonafel in honor of Sgt. Nickolas Carnes of Dayton, Kentucky who was killed in Afghanistan in 2007. The song was released as a single on May 6, and the full album on September 30.
The Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival is an excellent entertainment value. In addition to two full days of award-winning music, there will be a workshops, a Jam Session Central area for pickers and everyone will have an opportunity enter to win door prizes as well as wonderful raffle prizes including a Deering Goodtime banjo, commemorative quilt, and tickets to the Musicians Against Childhood Cancer Bluegrass Classic. Friday, at 11:30 A.M., and Saturday, at 11 A.M., guests can enjoy a special Music, Memories & Storytelling Workshop with bluegrass banjo man, Blake Williams. An instrument check, food, and various vendors offer value-added extras to all attendees in a smoke and alcohol free environment. Guests will enjoy shopping for everything from guitars and mandolins to jewelry and accessories. The Roberts Centre also includes a Holiday Inn hotel, Max and Erma’s Restaurant, and RV parking adding to the comfort and convenience of the attendees. The Roberts Centre, located twelve miles south of Xenia, five miles north of Wilmington at the intersection of US 68 and I-71, Exit 50, is convenient to fans from all over Ohio and neighboring states. This accessible location is less than an hour drive from Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus.
Media sponsorship is provided by Classic Country Radio, WBZI AM 1500 and FM100.3, WKFI AM 1090 and WEDI AM 1130, with additional sponsorship support provided by Cohen Recycling, Janet Davis Acoustic Music, Deering Banjos, and GHS Strings. For additional festival information, ticket purchases, hotel rooms and directions visit www.somusicfest.com.
Ticket Information
Tickets are on sale now for advance purchases online or via phone. General admission tickets for children 16 and under are free with an adult purchase. Call 937-372-5804 or see www.somusicfest.com for complete ticket details. Advance ticket sales end, Saturday, November 1, at 3 P.M. Tickets will also be available at the door during the festival.