2004

O.A.T.S Bluegrass Festival

July 1-4, 2004

The official site of the 2004 O*A*T*S* Bluegrass festival is http://oatsfestival.com/

Eye-Yee, Inc. presents The "Out Among the Stars" Bluegrass Festival this year at the Benton Rodeo Grounds from Thursday, July 1, to Sunday, July 4. This is the same bluegrass festival that started in the early 1990's at Jerseytown.

The Rev. Al Lumpkin, minister of the Benton Presbyterian Church, had the job of getting the organization's name incorporated. Rev. Lumpkin said that group tried to name it for the Cajun yell, "iiiieeee," but when "I inquired about 'I.E., Incorporated,' I found that an engineering group had that name." When Rev. Lumpkin suggested 'Eye-Yee, Inc., the clerk said, "I don't think anybody else will want that one." Another name that might not be familiar is "Grillbillies," a group of friends who meet at bluegrass festivals to organize dinner feasts. Stage musicians often join them. The Grillbillies sponsor the Thursday evening pig roast. The music will begin on Thursday evening at 6:00 PM and continue through Sunday afternoon.

The lineup of 16 bands for 2004 is impressive. National bands include a bluegrass group that has been around for over 40 years, "Charlie Waller and the Country Gentlemen." Charlie Waller will be here Saturday only (and, yes, his tour bus is still for sale). "Nothin' Fancy" returns for a second year and will play both Thursday and Friday. "Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike," a popular Tennessee band, and "Pine Mountain Railroad" will pay Friday and Saturday. "Bob Paisley and the Southern Grass," a hard-driving regional favorite, also appear Friday and Saturday. Over the next two weeks, we'll tell you about all the groups.

The 2004 festival will feature sixteen bluegrass groups. "Pickers" from nearby and pickers from out of state will pack their tents, campers, and motor homes and descend on Benton. Part of the joy of the festival is hearing the many campers performing music at their campsites. A person can walk around the rodeo grounds and find groups of people playing and singing familiar songs. Music is ongoing all the time, and often the stage performers are sitting in on these campsite jams.

The OATS Festival is a family event with something for just about everyone. The rough camping comes free with the four-day ticket (and children under 12 are admitted without charge). Festival tickets for whole four-day festival or for individual days are available at the gate. For more information, go to http://www.oatsfestival.com.

Bluegrass festivals are known for their non-stop music and most who attend will remain at the rodeo festival grounds for the entire holiday weekend, camping in tents and camping rigs. At any time during the day or night musicians will gather at various campsites to play and sing this increasingly popular music. It is not unusual for the professional band members to join in such fireside "jams."

Tickets are available at the gate. A ticket for the entire weekend includes free camping. Tickets may also be purchased by the day. Benton is located 16 miles north of Bloomsburg on Route 487. Follow the "Bluegrass Festival" signs to the Rodeo Grounds.

  
     
Stained Grass Window
  
Rev. Al & Jean Lumpkin & Friends

 

All you bluegrass enthusiasts come join the fun in Columbia County for the Oats Bluegrass Festival. There is live music, dancing, crafts, instrument vendors, and good food. Camping is available in a primitive or camper hookup setting, and there are lots of room to relax and to listen to the jamming.

 

Benton Rodeo Grounds, Benton, PA 17814