Scythian to headline bluegrass festival lineup

Published 10:01 am Thursday, August 25, 2016

Parents and grandparents looking for a family-friendly event that strikes the right chord will find it here in the heart of North Carolina at the fifth annual Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival on Sept. 10.

This outdoor festival will be held on Carolina Bible Camp’s 68-acre property on Jericho Church Road in Mocksville.

The bluegrass-plus line-up includes international favorites Scythian (sith-ee-yin). This Washington, DC based band plays sets which always keep crowds on their feet with gypsy songs, Irish ballads, and “immigrant rock with thunderous energy, technical prowess, and storytelling songwriting.”

According to Nashville’s Music City Roots, Scythian is “what happens when rock star charisma meets Celtic dervish fiddling.” The group consists of brothers Alexander and Danylo Fedoryka, sister Larissa Fedoryka, Tim Hepburn and Nolan Ladewski.

Traditional bluegrassers Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice will also appear. Sisk, the 2013 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year winner, can “wring every bit of lonesome out of a note.”

The band was named 2014 Bluegrass Band of the Year by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America. “Poor Boy’s Pleasure,” the band’s latest album, debuted at number two on the Billboard bluegrass chart.

The band includes Mocksville’s Jamie Harper on fiddle. Harper, who is married to Kylie Harper, joined Ramblers Choice in 2014.

The line-up also includes the festival’s annual guests, the Snyder Family Band, featuring Zeb Snyder on guitar, Samantha Snyder on fiddle, and Bud Snyder on bass. The threesome is frequently joined on stage by their younger, scene-stealing brother, Owen. A Tony Rice-influenced guitarist, Owen has taken up the banjo lately. The Snyder Family always takes bluegrass to new levels, melding it with unexpected musical genres while keeping true to their bluegrass roots.

Tim White, the emcee of the award-winning public television program “Song of the Mountains” will return to the festival with his band Troublesome Hollow with traditional bluegrass and comedy.

Appearing for the first time at Carolina Bible Camp is Christian bluesman Lightnin’ Charlie, whose new CD has been described by Loafer magazine as, “Powerful, polished, fresh, and original. Atomic-powered roots music. Vibrant remakes and superb originals!”

The Carolina Bible Camp bluegrass festival promotes Bible principles and wholesome recreation. It includes meals in the air-conditioned dining hall, kids’ free activities including old-fashioned sidewalk games and crafts, a Picker’s Place jamming tent, and vendors and artisans.

Also included is free admission to a classic car show. Professional grade, large capacity tents will keep guests comfortable, rain or shine. Handicapped accessible parking and assistance is available, as well as a first aid tent.

For the first time, Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival will serve CBC “Happy Camper” coffee. This product is an organic, fair-trade, unique Latin American blend of caffeinated coffee beans with a warm and mellow morning taste. A second product, Carolina Bible Camp “Extra Mile” coffee, a dark roast, will also be available. The Carolina Bible Camp Coffee Café will be next to the CBC Baked With Love tent, a site featuring what organizers promise will be “a seemingly endless supply of delicious home-baked sweets and treats.”

Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival does not permit alcohol, tobacco products, vaping devices, outside food or pets (service animals will be accommodated). Bring chairs or blankets. Seating is festival style, first-come. Visit www.cbcbluegrass.com for tickets or write to spchwoman@aol.com. Tickets are also available at the Davie Chamber of Commerce office in Mocksville.

Carolina Bible Camp is non-profit. The festival benefits the capital development and scholarship funds. No child has ever been turned away from Carolina Bible Camp due to an inability to pay.