Bluegrass “kickin’ it” in Kodak

The 4th Annual Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival, also known as, DVBGF, hosted by Joe and Mitzie Soward, got off to a great start. The Festival started on Thursday, September 18th and ran through Sunday, September 21, and was held at 525 East Dumplin Valley Road, Kodak. It all started when Joe and Mitzie traveled near and far to attend bluegrass festival events and noticed that many of the facilities they attended did not have much covering and were mainly out in the open. At that time, Joe had been active in the gospel choir and used their own barn for practice and gospel events. So they decided, “why not have a bluegrass festival here, in our own back yard?” and so it began, 4 years ago. This is an annual event and so far has brought people from near and as far away as England to this years Festival. It features popular “top of the line” Bluegrass Bands. This year’s event featured Pine Mountain Railroad, Open Road, Fescue, Meridian, Steep Canyon Rangers, Mountain Heart and many more. The people who attend enjoy the shows while they kick back and relax in the large field, which is turned into a campsite for this event. The large barn with a built-in stage has enough room to accommodate a full bluegrass band and the audience has a good seat anywhere they sit, or they can just be in the area and listen to the sounds of bluegrass echoing around them. This year the event invited the Northview Middle School 7th grade to join the fun. The festival had various vendors, some local and some from afar. They sold everything from food and drinks, to music and crafts. Many of the bands that played at the Festival where possible nominees for the International Blue Grass Music Association Awards, which will be held October 2, 2003. This was exciting both to the bands and the fans. If you would like to attend, sponsor or just set up camp, to enjoy next year’s event, call (865) 397-7942. Until next year, see you there at The Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival, it will be a pickin’ and grinnin’ good time.