2006
The Seventh Annual
O.A.T.S Bluegrass Festival
June 29-30-July 1-2, 20065
The official site of the 2006 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, June 28, to Sunday, July 2. This is the same bluegrass festival that started in the early 1990's at Jerseytown.
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The entertainmnet this years includes... |
Group | Preforming... |
| The Grascals | Saturday | |
| The James King Band | Friday | |
| Special Consensus | Friday | |
| David Davis & Warrior River Boys | Thursday | |
| The Bluegrass Brothers | Saturday | |
| The Chapmans | Saturday | |
| Chris Stuart and Backcountry | Saturday | |
Dan Paisley & Southern Grass |
Friday and Saturday | |
| James Reams and the Barnstormers |
Friday | |
| The Stringdusters | Friday and Saturday | |
| Like Father - Like Son | Saturday | |
| Stained Grass Window | Thursday and Friday | |
| Lykens Valley Bluegrass Band | Friday | |
| Pick Up Line | Thursday | |
| Chester Johnson and Foggy Mountain Grass | Thursday | |
| Outskirts | Thursday and Friday | |
| Grillbillie Kids Reunion Band | Friday | |
| Heavy Traffic | Thursday and Friday | |
| Rev. Al & Jean Lumpkin & Friends | Sunday | |
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 beginning at 5:00 PM. The pig roast is free to all 4-day ticket holders who bring a covered dish. The cost is $5 per person without a covered dish. The music will begin on Thursday evening at 6:00 PM and continue through Sunday afternoon.
The 2005 festival will feature bluegrass groups as well as "Pickers" from nearby and pickers from out of state who 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.
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Stained Grass
Window
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Rev. Al &
Jean Lumpkin & Friends
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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
