East Texas

By LAUREN GROVER
Staff Writer

OVERTON — Some of the best bluegrass bands in the country strummed and crooned to the delight of hundreds Saturday as the annual Overton Bluegrass Festival celebrated 20 years with its most talented lineup yet, organizers said.

Three East Texas bands mixed company with eight others hailing from as far as New Jersey, Chicago and Virginia during two days of twang under the shady pines at Overton City Park.

“This isn’t your normal venue,” said Zach McLamb, a bass player from North Carolina in the Kenny and Amanda Smith Band. “The hill, the stage, the nice shade. It’s our first year here, and I’m surprised by the musicians it draws.”

Some 2,000 festival-goers, some in RVs, arrived from adjacent states and around Texas to feast on barbeque, homemade potato chips, and fresh-squeezed lemonade to the tune of bluegrass’ finest, including Overton’s very own Hickory Hill.

“It’s just a gorgeous day to be out,” said Don Eaves, festival chairman and banjo player for Hickory Hill. “We’ve had a great turnout, and we’re so pleased to put on this event.”

Eaves started the festival in 1988 when his band played atop a trailer for area visitors, recalled Don Gwynn of the Overton Chamber of Commerce.

“We’ve come a long way,” Gwynn said Saturday.

Since, Eaves has recruited bigger names each year — such as The Special Consensus, a four-person acoustic bluegrass band hailing from the Midwest who soaked up the Southern culture Saturday.

“It’s good to be where you understand what I’m saying, not like in Michigan — I can say ya’ll and even youins, and ya’ll know what I’m talking about,” mandolin player Ashby Frank told the crowd before leading into a foot-stomping rendition of “Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong.”

Veteran bluegrass fans Carol Cargile, 68, and her husband Boots, 67, said Overton’s concert ranks in the top five festivals of the 10 or so they visit each year.

“This is just right,” Boots Cargile said. “I prefer this size, it’s so friendly.”

The couple said they’ve seen more young people become interested in bluegrass, a change fostered by sprite bluegrass players and family bands.

One such inspiring musician is 12-year-old vocalist and guitarist Bailee Stanley of Overton who performed with Bowles Creek and Pick’N Grass on Saturday.

“It gets younger folks interested in this great music,” Mrs. Cargile said.

Other bands that livened the stage included Marty Raybon & Full Circle, Audie Blaylock & Redline, Randy Kohrs & the Lites, David Davis & the Warrior River Boys, Pine Mountain Railroad and The Perry Family.

THE GRASS IS BLUER: Wes Perry, playing with the band “Hickory Hill,” warms up on his mandolin before taking the stage at the Overton Bluegrass Festival on Saturday Overton. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the music festival.
((Staff Photo By Mark Roberts))