Bluegrass bands to play Kempt Shore Festival

If you missed the Acoustic Maritime Music Festival last weekend, you won’t want to miss the next Kempt Shore festival Aug. 17-19 at Peterson’s Festival Campground, Highway 215, Kempt Shore, Hants Co.

The festival is brought to you by MTM Peterson Productions, recipients of the CNTA 2006 Festival and Event of the Year Award for the Annual Kempt Shore Bluegrass and Old-time Music Festival held annually on the third weekend in August.

Treat yourself and listen to the smooth harmonies of multi-award winning bluegrass bands who have entertained bluegrass audiences throughout the Maritimes. Featured performers include: A New Shade of Blue, who have just released their latest CD Timeless featuring their perfect harmonies and the phenomenal sound of Todd Macumber’s high tenor on the ‘Everything that Glitters’ song, which is their most requested song on the festival and concert circuit.

A New Shade of Blue has received the ECBMA for the Best Gospel Group Performance of the Year and Best Bass Player for five years, giving Craig Simms the Master Award for Bass Player at the ECBMAs.

You’ll hear the multi-ECBMA award-winning talent of the popular bluegrass sounds of The Spinney Brothers, whose recent CD project took them to Nashville and the IBMAs last fall.

Rick and Allan Spinney were 2006 ECBMA award recipients for ‘Best Banjo Player’, ‘Entertainer of the Year’, ‘Best Male Vocalist’, ‘Recording of the Year’ and ‘Band of the Year’.

Also featured are the multi-ECBMA award winners Bluegrass Tradition, with 2006 ECMBA ‘Master Fiddle Player’ Fraser Martin and ‘Best Mandolin Player’ Trevor Boutilier.

From New Brunswick, featured are ECMA-nominated and ECBMA best male vocalist of The Douthwrights and the popular Rustic Harmony. The ECBMA 2006 ‘Most Promising Band’ award winners Blue Horizon and the newest sensation on the festival circuit Machaela Taylor and Borderline bluegrass band complete the line-up.

Be prepared for a weekend of world class music at this event on the beautiful shores of the Minas Basin at the mouth of the Avon River. Relax on the 1,000 feet of beach frontage, soak up the sun and feel the cool breeze as the tides change on the Bay of Fundy.

The show starts at 5 p.m. Friday and runs all weekend long with stage shows, workshops, open mic and lots more. It ends Sunday around 5 p.m.

Tickets are available now at the special advance price of $35 until Aug. 13 at all Music Stop locations; Moe’s Place Music Sales, Gerrish St., Windsor (798-5565); Mingo’s Music in Truro; Strings and Things in Bridgewater and Yarmouth; and at the Avon Emporium in Summerville.

After that, tickets are available at the gate for $40. Day passes are also available; for more info www.novascotisbluegrass.com.

- Submitted