2012 Bluegrass Ramble Picnic set for Sunday, August 5th!

Mark your calendars…Bill Knowlton’s 40th annual “Bluegrass Ramble Picnic” takes place on Sunday, August 5th as usual at Dwyer Memorial Park, the home of the Cortland Repertory Theater, in Little York,  NY.

Appearing for the first time:

DYER SWITCH: known for decades of great bluegrass music in New York’s Capitol District!

To honor the 40^th Bluegrass Ramble Picnic:

 

JIM & SUE KELLY: coming out of their retirement from old-time country music; they were at the FIRST Bluegrass Ramble Picnic in 1979!

Returning bands include:

THE SALT POTATOES: veteran oldtime country performers from Central New York.

GENE CLAYTON & FRIENDS: Gene is a respected bluegrass song writer, singer and musician and active with the PENNY Bluegrass Association.

THE ATKINSON FAMILY: North Country bluegrassers and hosts of the annual Tug Hill Bluegrass Festival in Lowville.

LAKE EFFECT: veteran CNY bluegrass performers.

THE GOSPEL WAY: from Cortland and vicinity.

NORTHWATER with Dana Klipp & Cliff Chandler (2009 winner of the DeFord Bailey Harmonica Contest at Uncle Dave Macon Days, Murfreesboro, TN).

DIAMOND SOMEDAY (Syracuse area):  regular broadcasters on the “Bluegrass Ramble.”

JOE LAMAY & SHERRI REESE (KY), who both host a monthly fifteen- minute segment on the “Bluegrass Ramble” radio show!

THE LOST BOYS with SAMMY Award winner, songwriter John Cadley and balladeer KATHY WENTHEN!

THE SALMON RIVER BOYS who have appeared at all 40 Bluegrass Ramble Picnics!

THE DELANEY BROTHERS: as always, the Picnic’s host band!

PETE LAVINE: our official harmonica player, from Potsdam, NY!

…AND OTHER BANDS TO BE ANNOUNCED!

(band listing is subject to change without notice)

The Picnic is free, and all of the bands donate their musical services. It runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is held in a huge tent, so weather is not a problem. WCNY-FM records the entire show for a broadcast on Classic FM the following spring.

 

 

 

WCNY-TV WILL BE PRESENT TO RECORD A HIGH DEFINITION DOCUMENTARY ON THE 40TH PICNIC!!

 

Food and beverages will be available, and the Picnic hosts arts and crafts vendors and band tables with CDs and bluegrass souvenirs. In addition Custom Pearl Inlay of Malone, NY has donated a Bristol By Blue Ridge Guitar to be raffled to help pay annual expenses.

 

 

 

Attendees should bring lawn chairs, and picnic-goers should check out the many spontaneous bluegrass and old-time music jam sessions going on throughout Dwyer Park.

Dwyer Memorial Park is south of Exit 13 (Preble) off I-81; drive south on Rt. 281 to Little York.

Further information is available at udmacon1@hotmail.com, 315-457-6100, or by listening Sunday night to Bill Knowlton’s “Bluegrass Ramble,” 9 pm to midnight EDST on WCNY-FM (91.3) Syracuse; WUNY-FM, Utica (89.5) or WJNY-FM (90.9) Watertown NY and Southern Ontario. Also online at http://www.wcny.org/radio/listen-now/classicfm