The Osborne Brothers will be among the artists entertaining music lovers for the debut of the Jacksons Mill Americana Music Festival Saturday, Oct. 9, at WVU Jacksons Mill, near Weston.
Featuring a variety of music styles in a family setting, the festival will celebrate musics central place in the life and culture of West Virginia.
The festival, staged on the Mills airstrip, will open its gates at 10 a.m. Music will begin at noon and is scheduled to end by 10 p.m. The proceeds will benefit WVU Jacksons Mill State 4-H Camp and Lifelong Learning Center.
Featured artists will be bluegrass legends The Osborne Brothers; acclaimed acoustic blues master Ernie Hawkins; West Virginias internationally touring and premier old-time band Gandydancer; and national award-winning songwriters Connie Townsend and Dave Parker with their band, The GinSangers.
Also on stage will be The Dean Osborne Band, bluegrass up-and-comers; Soup Kitchen, the smooth West Virginia a cappella gospel group; and Jim Truman, accomplished musician and performer who stylishly delivers a variety of original and cover material.
Free drawings will be held during the day for Stonewall Resort gift certificates: for rounds of golf at the resorts Arnold Palmer championship golf course and for lake cruises for two on the resorts new tour boat.
Ticket holders also will be given free admission to WVU Jacksons Mill Historic Area to view screenings of the new PBS documentary The Appalachians . The film features footage from the last interview with Johnny Cash and segments with Marty Stuart, Loretta Lynn, Ralph Stanley and other legends of American music.
Adding a new page to the Mills history of heritage appreciation, the music festival will bring a new style of music event to the states north-central region. WVU Jacksons Mill, operated by West Virginia University, is the nations first 4-H camp. A state treasure, the 525-acre retreat attracts more than 200,000 guests annually to its meeting, camping and heritage facilities.
Tickets are $16 in advance, $20 at the gate. For more information and tickets call 1-800-287-8206 or 1-304-269-5100. The festival is sponsored by WVU Jacksons Mill and West Virginia Radio Corp.
Though secluded, the Mill is just minutes off I-79. From Exit 99 on I-79, take US 33 West and follow the signs. Additional directions and information about the Mills history, programs and events are available on the Mills Web site (http://www.wvu.edu/~exten/).