The O*A*T*S* Friday Schedule

Charlie Waller and the Country Gentlemen will headline the OATS ("Out Among the Stars") Bluegrass Festival at the Benton Rodeo Grounds on Friday, July 4, the 46th anniversary of this outstanding bluegrass group. Charlie Waller can only be described as a "classic." He was named SPBGMA "Male Vocalist of the Year" in 2001 and received that organization's "Grand Master's Gold Award" for his work over the past decade. During 2002 he released an album recalling 45 years of the performance of bluegrass music.

The original Country Gentlemen group was founded July 4, 1957. Over the years it has included renowned musicians such as Jerry Douglas, John Duffey, Tom Gray, Bill Emerson, Jimmy Gaudreau, Doyle Lawson, and Ricky Skaggs. But it has always been the powerful and distinctive voice of Charlie Waller that has created the style of music so many fans have come to love.

The current Country Gentlemen ensemble is comprised of virtuoso musicians, with Greg Corbett on banjo, Darin Aldridge playing mandolin, and Les Deaton on bass, while Charlie Waller anchors the group with rhythm guitar. In her review of the 2002 album entitled "45 Years of Memories," Kathy Coleman says, "Charlie and the Country Gentlemen remember the way old folk songs are supposed to sound, as they return 'House of the Rising Sun" to the old-time tune it was long before the Animals made it a pop hit." "But in all," she continues, "no matter what branch of the country music tree they pick these songs from, they are presented in the clear, strong, masterful manner that has kept the Country Gentlemen one of the most acclaimed and impressively talented groups in country/bluegrass."

Want to see inside Charlie's bus? Go to http://www.charliewaller.net/id291.htm

Another headliner for July 4th is the James King Band which has, for the past 14 years, played old bluegrass tunes and new songs that capture that same traditional flavor. James is a past recipient of the IBMA "Male Vocalist of the Year," and the group has created four hard-driving albums.

HeartStrings is a Nashville-based, all-woman bluegrass group concentrating on vocal harmonies, energetic stage performances, and a crowd-pleasing mix of traditional and original acoustic music. Since first taking the stage on Valentine's Day in 2001, HeartStrings has been around since Valentine's Day in 2001. Their recording, HeartStrings, is popular on bluegrass and folk radio stations.

The Travelers consist of four very talented musicians and singers: Norman Wright, Kevin Church, Darren Beachley and David MacGlashan.

The OATS Festival is held at the Benton Rodeo Ground from Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, July 6.