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Thursday, April 13, 2006

The James Monroe Music Hall in Franklin opens next week with a four-day "Springtime in Kentucky" Bluegrass Music Festival.

A total of 18 bluegrass bands will share the indoor stage from Wednesday, April 19 through Saturday, April 22.

Music Hall owner James Monroe is the son of the legendary Bill Monroe, who is acknowledged as "The Father of Bluegrass Music."

The 1923 Gibson mandolin played by the late Bill Monroe will be on display during the festival.

Another bluegrass music pioneer – Bobby Osborne – will perform at the music hall on Saturday, April 22. During a career that has spanned more than 50 years, Bobby Osborne, with his late brother Sonny Osborne, recorded such famous bluegrass tunes as "Rocky Top," "Ruby," and "Kentucky." Osborne is a member of the Grand Ole Opry and the International Bluegrass Hall of Honor. His band is now called the Rocky Top Express.

One of Osborne's contemporaries, well-known tenor singer Mac Wiseman, will be among the performers on Friday, April 21. Wiseman's best-known songs are "Wonder How the Old Folks Are at Home," "The Ballad of Davy Crockett," and the novelty tune "If I Had Johnny's Cash and Charley's Pride."

Host James Monroe and his band, The Midnight Ramblers, will play on Friday and Saturday. The Midnight Ramblers will also play on opening night, Wednesday, April 19. James Monroe's son, Jim Monroe, will be on stage Thursday and Friday.

Country comedienne and banjo player Ronnie Stoneman will be one of the acts on the bill for Thursday, April 20. Stoneman is perhaps most remembered as "The Ironing Board Lady" from the syndicated TV show "Hee Haw."

Before that, she played with her family band, The Stonemans, who were influential in early country music.

Popular contemporary bluegrass group The Grascals will also be part of Saturday's lineup along with the Sullivan Family, the Fritts Family and Gary Brewer. Brewer is a third generation bluegrass musician whose grandfather played with The Carter Family Troupe in the 1920s.

The Sullivan Family and the Fritts Family will also be appearing on Friday along with Lawrence Bishop, Dean Osborne and Curly Seckler. Seckler played mandolin for the famous bluegrass band Flatt & Scruggs.

Larry Sparks, who began his career 40 years ago playing with Ralph Stanley, will be another artist on Thursday's performance card. A second "Hee Haw" veteran, Leroy Troy, is also slated to appear on Thursday.

Completing Thursday's roster will be the Primitive Quartet, so named because of their old-time mountain style singing.

Performances begin at noon on Friday and Saturday. Admission is $20 per person. The Thursday show starts at 1 p.m. and costs $15.

A Wednesday evening show set for 5 p.m. costs $10. In addition to the Midnight Ramblers, other bands playing Wednesday are the Hatfield Band and Logan County Grass.

A combo ticket for all four days is available for $65 at the door and $55 in advance.

The James Monroe Bluegrass Music Hall is located at 3730 Nashville Road just outside of Franklin, Ky. off Exit 2 of Interstate 65.

The telephone number is 270-586-7100.