Music Festival Begins This Weekend

In Photo: The Pendleton Family


The American Heritage Music Festival to be held in Grove, OK, this weekend, June 8, 9, and 10, encourages families to participate in the Festival. In addition to those who enter as contestants in the various competitions, several families are featured this year on stage as performers.
“Bluegrass Friends” brings together three generations of players. Dolores Graham makes great music on stage as well as helping in the office with all the details. She plays bass with “Bluegrass Friends,” and they always provide a great show. Dolores and Richard Graham have always enjoyed music in their family.

Their son Wayne of Crescent, OK, plays guitar and sings with “Bluegrass Friends.” Wayne is also a member of “Taking Chances,” a trio with outstanding vocals featuring a mother-daughter team, Lorri and Chelsea Pontious of Kingfisher, OK, The trio is also appearing at the Festival this year. Wayne and wife Ruth’s son, Jeff, plays fiddle with “Bluegrass Friends” and “Taking Chances” whenever possible.

He and his wife Lori and their son Nathan will be moving back to Grove in a few weeks. He is looking forward to being Youth Director at the Lake Center Baptist Church on Monkey Island and making more music! ”Bluegrass Friends” and “Taking Chances” will appear Thursday and Friday evenings at Snider’s Camp and Friday and Saturday at the Grove Civic Center.
A family of four, “The Pendleton Family Fiddlers” showcase musicianship at its best. They will perform at the American Heritage Music Festival on Friday evening at Snider’s Camp, Friday morning and Saturday afternoon at the Grove Civic Center.

Led by sisters Emma Jane, age 12, and Marina, age 11, the Pendleton Family Fiddlers can be seen at area festivals and other venues. This entire family is onstage performing old-time fiddle tunes and Swing numbers with violin, mandolin, guitar, and vocals. They perform regularly at the Spotlight Theater in Tulsa, and have appeared on television several times.
Additionally, both daughters will be on stage to compete in the Junior Division of the Fiddle Contest, their mother, Virginia, will compete in the Adult Division, and they are in various other contests throughout the weekend, such as the Twin Fiddle, Hot Fiddle, Jukebox, and Take Me Back to Tulsa contests.

American Heritage Music Fest
(Grand Lake Natl. Fiddle Contest & Grand Lake Natl. Clogging Contest with Bruce Guthrie, Still on the Hill, Jana Jae, many others )

JUNE 8, THURS, SNIDER’S CAMP, GROVE, 6:30 PM
Welcome party with delicious cookout dinner, open stage
entertainment and jamming throughout the evening.
30 Minute Band Contest, Prairie Breeze String Band, others perform
Meet your friends and practice up for the contests!
No admission charge; food $7 ($5 under 12)
JUNE 9, FRI, GROVE CIVIC CENTER, GROVE
Registration opens at 9:00 A.M. for competitions starting at 10 AM
Senior Division, Dobro, Flatpicking, Banjo, Mandolin
Open Division 2 PM followed by “Take Me Back to Tulsa” Contest
Clogging Workshop at 10 AM, Clogging Expo at 1 PM
Fiddle and “Bones” Workshop at Noon

JUNE 9, FRI, SNIDER’S CAMP, 6:00 PM
Sponsors’ Appreciation Night with Barbecue dinner
Bluegrass Friends, Taking Chances, others perform
Honeycreek Special Contest (Gambler’s Draw)
Jukebox Contest (best group with a fiddle)
Great fun and great music!
No admission charge; food $7 ($5 under 12)

JUNE 10, SAT, GROVE CIVIC CENTER
Registration open 8:00 A.M. Competitions begin 9:00 AM
Adult, Pee Wee, Jr. Jr., Junior. 1:30 Open, Twin, Hot Fiddle
Clogging side all day beginning with Line Dance, Exhibition
Various groups entertain throughout the day.

JUNE 10, SAT, GROVE CIVIC CENTER
A great lineup beginning at 6:30 PM!
Guy Logsdon, MC
CONTEST FINALS!!
Special Entertainment BRUCE GUTHRIE,
JANA JAE, STILL ON THE HILL, COMMON TYME