Third Annual Oil Country Bluegrass Festival Gains Momentum

The Oil City Arts Council and United Way of Venango County are again teaming to host Oil City’s Third Annual Oil Country Bluegrass Festival.  This third annual event will be held on February 19, 20 and 21, 2010 at Americas Best Value Inn and Suites, ‘The Arlington Hotel’, in Oil City, PA.  All proceeds will benefit United Way of Venango County and the Oil City Arts Council, both non-profit organizations.

 The festival performances will take place every half hour beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, February 19, and will continue until 10 p.m.  On Saturday, February 20; a songwriting/performing contest will commence at noon, and other performances by bluegrass bands will talk place every half hour from 1:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.  On Sunday morning, February 21, bluegrass bands will perform
gospel music every half hour from 9:00 a.m. until noon.

Bands that have signed up to perform include The Pine Valley Boys, the Allegheny Drifters, the Stillhouse Pickers, the Done Inn String Band, Wind River, Crabapple Creek, Road Apple Ridge, Full Steam Ahead, Well Strung, Mountain Harmony, Shelf Life, the Keister Family Band, A Trio of Friends, Darla Weckerly and Dad, the Church Street Blues, Bits ‘n Pieces, Hidden Drive, Boosel and Company, Grover and the Nighthawks, the Dempseytown Ramblers, 3 + 1, Wisebeater, the South Side String Dings, In Transition and Dr. Bradley Fell & Friends.  This event also ties in nicely with Oil City’s ongoing arts-revitalization efforts and activities.  Saturday afternoon trolley tours will be provide for festival goers who wish to pay a visit to the National Transit Art Gallery or numerous artist studios that will be open during the afternoon.

Additional bluegrass bands wishing to participate in the Third Annual Oil Country Bluegrass Festival should have a representative contact Ron Shoup at (814) 676-3465 (e-mail: rshoup@csonline.net.) or Bob Flath at (814) 797-1504 (e-mail: flabas1@hotmail.com) as soon as possible to schedule a performance time.  

 
Most performances will take place on the fifth floor of The Arlington Hotel in the Riverview Ballroom which offers a very scenic view of the Allegheny River.  Other performances will take in other areas of the hotel, including some pick-up band performances in the Drake Rooms, lounge and other first floor areas.  All performances are open and free to the public.  The Arts Council and United Way will benefit from monies raised from 50/50 drawings, raffles and donations.  Many Arts Council and United Way volunteers will be on hand to help out with the 3-day festival.

The hotel management will again be giving special reduced lodging rates for the festival.  Food will be available at the hotel restaurant, with dinner buffets being served on Friday and Saturday evenings; breakfast buffets being served on Saturday and Sunday mornings; and, a luncheon buffet served on Sunday.  Luncheon food and beverages will also be available on site. Fine food is also available at numerous other surrounding restaurants.  Bluegrass goers can also take the opportunity to enjoy shopping at local businesses and specialty shops.

The lodging rate is $55 per night for a single or double room.  For information concerning lodging, contact Americas Best Value Inn and Suite’s ‘The Arlington Hotel’, located at 1 Seneca Street in Oil City, PA, at (814) 677-1221 and mention the Oil Country Bluegrass Festival.