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June 13, 2008

Annual Claremore Festival planning under way

By TOM FINK

With the summer heat slowly bringing Claremore to a boil, chili may be the last thing on most people’s minds, but Dell Davis almost never quits thinking about chili.

Chili, and bluegrass, that is.

With the 29th annual Bluegrass & Chili Festival less than three months away, Davis, the Claremore Chamber of Commerce president, is finalizing plans, lining up entertainment for the Sept. 4 weekend.

“We’ve got several good acts lined up this year,” Davis said. “Thursday night, Mountain Heart will take the stage, as will Tony Rice, the first time in 15 years. He’s well-known in the acoustic world and the standard by which many acoustic artists compare themselves. He’ll be coming out and doing a set with Mountain Heart, so that will be something special.

“Also performing Thursday night will be Stonehorse, a local band that will be getting together for the first time in 20 years,” she said. “Some of the members are based in Claremore and still live here, and they’re working very hard to reassemble all the original members for this event.”

International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainers of the Year winners the Grascals, will be back for an encore performance Friday night, with the Kenny & Amanda Smith Band, and IIIrd Tyme Out also performing Friday.

“Saturday night will be the big wrap-up, with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver returning, as well as Rhonda Vincent and the Rage,” she said. “And the ‘big’ name this year is the Dan Tyminski Band — he’s a member of Alison Krauss’ band, Union Station, but as she’s touring with Robert Plant, the band is free to do their own projects, and the Bluegrass & Chili Fest will be one of Dan’s projects this year.”

Although Tymenski has been known in the bluegrass circles for years, Davis said he gets notable recognition from being the singing voice for George Clooney in “O’ Brother, Where Art Thou?”

“When you see (George) Clooney singing ‘A Man of Constant Sorrows’ in ‘O’ Brother’, that’s Dan Tyminski’s voice you hear. He always says that’s his ‘claim to fame’,” Davis said.

As always, several local bands and acts will be performing during the day, with fun and food available throughout the three days.

Also taking place the weekend of the Festival will be the Mid-America Regional Ranch Rodeo at the Expo Center, with teams competing from Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma.

The festival will be Thursday, Sept. 4, through Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Claremore Expo Center grounds.

For information about the upcoming Bluegrass & Chili Festival, contact the Claremroe Chamber of Commerce at 341-2818.

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