FIDDLES UNDER THE STARS

AT SNIDER’S CAMP ON GRAND LAKE

Lakeside evenings of entertainment, "Fiddles Under the Stars," Thursday and Friday, June 11 and 12, in Grove, Oklahoma, feature talented family groups that delight audiences, draw a large fan base, and are dedicated to bringing good quality family entertainment to the Grand Lake area. Founder and area resident, Jana Jae, is looking forward again this year to welcoming visitors and friends from all over the country. Kathleen Pixley, Grand Lake Festivals Executive Director says "This is a spectacular array of talent, and we are expecting our best year ever, as outstanding performers, contestants, and families gather at Grand Lake."

Festivities for this year's June 11-13 American Heritage Music Festival in Grove, OK, begin Thursday, June 11, at 6:30 p.m. at Snider’s Camp with a fun evening of performing, jamming, and enjoying a cookout dinner lakeside. Admission is free to the public, dinner is $7, bring lawnchairs, relax and enjoy the talented acoustic bands, contest competitors, friends, families, and spectators at this kick-off party which features the 30 Minute Band Contest AND the Fiddlers Gamblers’ Contest. The popular Bluegrass Friends and the Prairie Breeze String Band will be featured during the evening. Bluegrass Friends will perform throughout the festival, and features 3 generations of musical talent. Dolores Graham, bass, Wayne Graham, guitar, Gary Crittenden, banjo, Emalea Hudgens and Mike Fields, both on guitar and vocals. Brad & Shirley Adams, co-directors of the American Heritage Music Festival, also head up the Prairie Breeze String Band and will perform Thursday evening to open our Festival events. Brad and Shirley are multi-talented musicians who play guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, and spoons. Other members with Prairie Breeze are Lucy Weberling, guitar/mandolin; Charlie Cantrell, bass; Dave Barbee & Frank Campbell, guitars and Gary Stout, clawhammer banjo and dojo

Friday evening, June 12, is open to the public, and sponsors are honored guests, for "Sponsor Appreciation Night," beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Snider’s Camp. Plan to enjoy the delicious barbecue dinner ($7 a plate) and great entertainment including The Pendleton Family Fiddlers. This stellar family group, led by sisters Emma Jane (15) and Marina (13), can be seen at festivals and theaters around Oklahoma and occasionally on television. They perform old-time fiddle tunes and Swing numbers with violin, mandolin, guitar and vocals accompanied by their parents, Scott and Virginia Pendleton. Recent engagements include the Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival in Guthrie, the Yippie Yi Yo Show (a TV pilot) in Okemah, and the Spotlight Theatre in Tulsa as well as regular performers at the Grand Lake Festivals events in Grove, OK.

Jana Jae, Family and Friends will also perform throughout the weekend. Jana has performed with the greats in the business, but she is best on her own with her touring group of talented musicians, Jack Boydstun, lead guitarist, Merle Baxter, bass guitar and Judge Porter on the drums. Their special talents have enriched the world of music bringing music lovers of all types to enjoy their diverse repertoire ranging from the classics to down-home showstoppers. Others appearing on stage with Jana and Hotwire include Barry “Bones” Patton, the amazing bones player, whose rhythmic antics always bring standing ovations, Jana’s parents, Joe and Bette Hopper on violin and guitar, daughter Sydni, vocals and violin, and granddaughters, Sandra and Robyn Coleman will also perform. Lou Maiuri, director and founder of the Appalachian Country Cloggers is the coordinator of the Clogging Contests and will be demonstrating his flatfoot dancing during the festival events along with the Champion Cloggers. Appearing on Saturday evening are the re-formed dynamic Zoograss Boys, the hot young pickers of Rockin Acoustic Circus, and the very entertaining Falderal String Band, with many other groups appearing throughout the weekend: back by demand the Round-up Boys, celtic group Anam Crόnán, Oklahoma Trading Post Fiddlers, Tulsa Fiddle Circle, and others.

Top priority and some of the most enjoyable and spectacular talents are the competitors themselves, as they do their best to capture the Grand Prize of $1000 each for the Fiddle Contest and for the Clogging Contest. Many hours of audience enjoyment are provided as cloggers, fiddlers, flatpickers, banjo, mandolin, and dobro enthusiasts compete in other divisions and contests. Contestants can register at the door.

The Grand Lake National Fiddle Contest and the Grand Lake National Clogging Contest competitions take place Friday and Saturday, June 12 and 13 at the Grove Civic Center. Friday, a Clogging Workshop is hosted by Lou Maiuri at 10 a.m. and guitar, spoons & bones, and fiddle workshops from noon to 1 p.m. Also Friday, the Senior and Open Fiddle Divisions, the flatpicking, banjo, dobro, and mandolin contests, and the “Take Me Back to Tulsa” contest take place. Fiddle and Clogging competitions continue throughout the day Saturday along with special entertainment. The exciting Satuday night finale includes Grand Champion Cloggers, Fiddle Contest Pee Wee, Jr. Jr., Adult and Senior winners, Hot Fiddle, Twin Fiddle, Junior and Open Division Finals and featured entertainers. Tickets are available at the door or at Gallery Southwest at 10^th and Main. All Event Passes are $20, $10 for students. Individual tickets are also available. For complete ticket or contest information and a complete festival schedule, call 918-786-8896 or visit www.grandlakefestivals.com

Grand Lake Festivals, Inc., a non-profit organization, is dedicated to bringing good family entertainment to the Grand Lake area with the assistance of local and area sponsors, Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Grove and the untiring work of dedicated staff and volunteers.

(Schedule of Events follows:)

June 11..12..& 13, 2009

American Heritage Music Festival, Grove, OK

(Grand Lake National Fiddle and Clogging Contests, and 3 stages of entertainment)

Schedule of Events

JUNE 11, THURS, SNIDER’S CAMP, GROVE, OK, 6:30 PM

Welcome party with delicious cookout dinner, open stage entertainment

and jamming throughout the evening. Join in for the fun 30 Minute Band

Contest and the Honeycreek Special Fiddlers Gamblers' Draw Contest!

Bluegrass Friends, Prairie Breeze String Band, Jana Jae and Friends

Meet your friends and practice up for the competitions!

No admission charge; food $7 per person

JUNE 12, FRI, GROVE CIVIC CENTER, GROVE, OK

Registration opens at 8:00 A.M. for competitions starting at 10 AM

Senior Division, Dobro, Flatpicking, Banjo, Mandolin,

Clogging Workshop at 10 AM, Clogging Expo at 1 P.M.

Fiddle and other Workshops at Noon

Open Division 2 PM followed by “Take Me Back to Tulsa” Contest

Various groups entertain throughout the day on both stages.

JUNE 12, FRI, SNIDER’S CAMP, 6:30 PM

Sponsors’ Appreciation Night with Barbecue dinner

Pendleton Family Fiddlers, Round-Up Boys, Bluegrass Friends,

Anam Crόnán, Oklahoma Trading Post Fiddlers, Tulsa Fiddle Circle,

Lou Maiuri and Cloggers, Barry "Bones" Patton, Jana Jae and Friends

Jukebox Contest (best group with a fiddle)

No admission charge; food $7. Great fun and great music!

JUNE 13, SAT, GROVE CIVIC CENTER

Registration opens 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 13, SAT, GROVE CIVIC CENTER

A great lineup beginning at 6:30 PM!

CONTEST FINALS!! Guy Logsdon, MC

Entertainment between divisions:

JANA JAE & FRIENDS, ZOOGRASS BOYS,

ROCKIN' ACOUSTIC CIRCUS, FALDERAL STRING BAND,

LOU MAIRUI AND CHAMPION CLOGGERS

TOP 3 FIDDLE PLAYOFFS, AWARDS!

Grand Lake National Fiddle Contest 2009 Information

- $1,000 Grand Prize (nationally certified)

- Cash prizes in all divisions

- Open Division: $25 entry fee

- Junior (15 and under), Jr. Jr. (10 and under), Adult (16-60) and

Senior (60 and over) Divisions: $10 entry fee

- Other Contests: $5 entry fee each

(Hot Fiddle, Twin Fiddle, Jukebox (groups), Flatpicking, Dobro, Banjo, Mandolin, Take Me Back to Tulsa, Honeycreek Special)

- Standard National Rules

- Five nationally recognized judges

Grand Lake National Clogging Contest 2009 Information

800-526-2523 FOR GENERAL INFO

LOU MAIURI 304-595-1568 FOR CLOGGING DETAILS

- $1,000 Grand Prize (nationally sanctioned)

- Cash prizes in categories: Line Dance, Line Dance Formations, Exhibition,

Traditional Line Dance, Couples Hoedown, Couples Open Precision, Show

and Challenge Solos.

Register for contests or purchase tickets, find further Info, schedules, maps, motels, restaurants, RV and tent camping information, all at www.grandlakefestivals.com

Grove, OK May 20, 2009

For Immediate Release

Contact Kathleen Pixley 918-786-8896 for further info