Small Town News

Stage set for annual Jerusalem Ridge fest

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Ralph Stanley headlining, James Monroe returning to perform along with over 40 bluegrass bands

The Bill Monroe home-place was starting to fill up on Monday, looking more like a giant sales lot for RVs.

Although at least one blue-grass fan had a billboard-size Tor Sale" sign across his windshield for $50,000, the rest were preparing for the 2009 version of the Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Music Celebration that runs from Oct. 1-4.

The four-day event, Ohio County's largest attraction, draws thousands of bluegrass music lovers from around the country and the world to hear over 40 traditional bands.

Campbell Mercer, executive director of the Jerusalem Ridge Foundation, attributes his Cumberland Highlanders show on RFD-TV as the driving advertising force behind the festival.

"We've cut back on advertising except in the local paper and we do some on the radio," Mercer said. "It's through our TV show that we really promote the festival because it's free."

After having a down year in 2008 with a bad economy and $5 gasoline prices restricting travel, Mercer is confident the fans will return this year.

Consideration was even given to cutting the number of acts to save money but Mercer said it's the bands that ultimately draw the crowd.

"What our volunteers want and what our fans want weigh into it," Mercer said. "There isn't one band that we haven't received oodles of letters about. And it's a nightmare to schedule this many bands...but it's a 'thank you' to the bands for keeping the tradition alive and one way we thank them is allowing them to come back."

Headlining once again will be bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley, who has been a regular at the festival since 2005. Stanley will perform Friday evening with the Clinch Mountain Boys, the group he started with his brother Carter in 1946.

A late addition to Saturday's lineup will be James Monroe, son of the late Bill Monroe, the Rosine native who is known as the Father of Bluegrass Music and to whom the festival is dedicated.

James Monroe hasn't performed at the festival since 2002 after a fallout with the Jerusalem Ridge Foundation over the naming rights of Bill Monroe.

However, Mercer said he and James Monroe have resolved their differences.

"I've always told (James Monroe) that we love you and we are your biggest supporters," Mercer said. 'He called me and we talked about him being at the festival regularly. I told him it was a little late but if he wanted to come I would fit him in."

Attempts to contact James Monroe for a comment were unsuccessful.

Volunteers have also been doing their part to prepare for the influx of fans.

James Casteel, a volunteer since July of 2002, said he was worried that the tree debris from the winter ice storm wouldn't be cleared in time.

"It just pulled our cedar trees from their roots and limbs were everywhere,"

Casteel said. "It was a tangled mess. I didn't think we'd get it ready for the festival."

Another addition will be a newly constructed wooden wheelchair ramp attached to the side door of the Bill Monroe home place.

Carole Sturgeon, a blue-grass fan from Glenwood, Wash., said she "ran out of things to do" and offered to paint the wheelchair ramp.

"I've been here about a week and a half," said Sturgeon, who traveled over 2,200 miles in an RV with her husband Ralph and dog Mickey. "We've been trying to get here for three years. My husband is recovering from a broken hip but he said was going to get here if he had to crawl."

Tickets for the event are $25 for Thursday, $30 for Friday and Saturday and $20 for Sunday. A three-day pass can be purchased for $75 or a four-day pass for $80. For more information about the festival call 270-274-9181.



Copyright 2009 The Ohio County Times-News, Hartford, Kentucky. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 The Ohio County Times-News Hartford, Kentucky. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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