LeMars Country Music Festival

The 36th Annual Old Time Country Music Festival was conducted August 29th through September 4th at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds in LeMars, Iowa. There were over 600 entertainers on 10 stages for the festival featuring music of  ‘when it was country’ country, bluegrass, gospel, folk, ragtime, mountain, traditional and Americana. International shows, jamming everywhere, workshops, dances, celebrities and more. The Chicken House Opry opened up each day’s activities at the Pioneer Hall, 9-11AM.

Punjo Reed and Lucy Jackson were each inducted into the Traditional Country Music Hall of Fame. Punjo also received an award for producing the Best Old Time Family CD of the Year…..The Reeds – The Family, The Music, The Legacy.

Lucy Jackson, from the Opry, conducted a well-attended keyboard beginner’s workshop, Monday through Friday, 12 Noon-1:00PM.

From 1:00PM to 2:00PM each day, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Robert Earl Reed, Sr., Ph.D., from the Opry, lectured  on songwriting…..do’s, don’ts, publishing, etc. During the same time slot, Tuesday & Thursday  Dr. Reed  lectured  on comedy. Creative writing of material, stand-up, crowd communication, off-broadway comedy skits, etc. During the songwriters seminars, those participating wrote a song each day.

Those from the Opry making the trip north included Punjo & Lucy, Ike Thurn, Junior Fulks, John & Paula Nordrum, Jerry & Helen  McCullough, Kathy Voss, Jane Parker, Marvin Judd, Dar May, Jay & Patty Kent, Russ & Deanne Guyer, James Lieder, Al & Donna Schulz and more.

The 37th Annual event will be conducted August 27th – September 2nd, 2012.

For more info on this big music festival go to: www.orgsites.com/ia/oldtimemusic or call: 712-762-4363