The O*A*T*S* Saturday Schedule

Front Range, the Gibson Brothers and More Preform on Saturday at the OATS Festival

"Front Range," an exciting Colorado bluegrass band, will make appearances on Saturday and Sunday at the OATS Bluegrass Festival. This group created its first album in 1992. Since that time, the Front Range's ambitious schedule of festival appearances throughout the United States has earned them a large following. They spent most of June touring in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and France, returning just in time to appear in Benton. In 1995, they received the IBMA's "Best Gospel Album" award for "One Beautiful Day."

The Gibson Brothers will share the Saturday stage. Eric and Leigh Gibson were raised on a farm in Ellenburg Depot, which is located in northeast New York not far from the Canadian border. They have been performing together since 1983 and formed a bluegrass band in the early 90's. "My, but don't we love to hear brothers singing together. It has been one of the very foundations of Bluegrass music," says Tom T. Hall. "The Gibson Brothers are not exactly new on the scene, but they bring all the best of what we remember about the best of brothers." They have just released their fourth album, "Bona Fide." Allen Price comments, "These two brothers and their band combine a collection of superbly written original tunes with a few familiar songs we've heard before to bring out what could be this year's bluegrass album of the year."

A third very popular band will appear on both Saturday and Sunday. Bob Paisley and the Southern Grass, has maintained a solid reputation as a premier traditional bluegrass band for more than 25 years. Their music is most frequently described as "hard-driving." This is a Pennsylvania group that is known throughout the US, Europe and Japan. Their latest album, "Steeped in Tradition," has been highlighted in Bluegrass Unlimited magazine.

Al Lumpkin, one of the planners of the festival, notes that the festival has scheduled big days of performances for Friday, Julyand Saturday, July 5. In addition to Front Range, the Gibson Brothers, and Bob Paisley, a new and exciting regional band named "2nd Edition" will appear on Saturday and Sunday. Formed in 1997, this group of musicians range from 21 to 25 years of age. They've released one project entitled "Morristown," and a second album, "Wherever We Go" is in the works.

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