10 bluegrass bands will perform on historic Millermore home’s front porch,
competing for cash prizes – winners chosen by the audience
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band to perform following the contest
Dallas Heritage Village and the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation will present the Front Porch Showdown, Saturday, May 31, at Dallas Heritage Village, 1515 S. Harwood, Dallas, 75215. Gates open at noon and all historic buildings will be open for touring until the showdown begins at 4 p.m. Ten bluegrass bands will perform on the front porch of the historic Millermore home until 6:30 p.m., competing for cash prizes. Each audience member with a paid admission will receive a ballot at the entrance to vote for their favorite band. Following the contest, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band takes the porch from 7:15-8:30 p.m., presenting an evening of classic Beatles music with an acoustic/bluegrass bent. Food trucks will be on site, and picnics, blankets, and lawn chairs are welcome. Children are invited to participate in a craft activity of making musical instruments to play along with the bands.
“We couldn’t be more excited about this new partnership with the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation and are excited to bring this type of musical event to Dallas Heritage Village,” said Melissa Prycer, president and executive director, Dallas Heritage Village. “We encourage you to bring the family, come early to explore the historic buildings, and stay late to enjoy the music! You will not want to miss the amazing Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band who will perform later in the evening. This talented four-piece group performs all over North Texas.”
The performing bands are Philip Ferguson & Texas True; Bluestem; Trinity River Mountain Boys; Nickelville Road; The Sowell Family Pickers; Bobby Giles and Music Mountain; Blue Valley Tradition; In Achordance; and the Lonesome Ridge Bluegrass Band. Each band will have 15 minutes to take the front porch, play a couple of songs, and entertain the crowd before the next band begins. All bands play only acoustic instruments into a microphone.
“What a fantastic setting to enjoy a family-friendly day of acoustic music and fun!” said Alan Tompkins, president of the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation. “We are thrilled to be a part of this new event. We’ve got a great lineup of bands coming from all over Texas (and Louisiana!) to play in the contest, and we expect to have hundreds of bluegrass musicians jamming all around Dallas Heritage Village. Bring your fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, Dobro, or upright bass and join the fun. Then settle in and enjoy Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band. You won’t be disappointed!”
Kids 12 and under free with parent or guardian. Advance tickets are $10 at dallasheritagevillage.org or by calling 214-413-3674, and tickets at the gate are $12. Event sponsors are Ann Phy and Bill and Gail Plummer. Contest winners will be announced at 6:30 p.m.
For more information on the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation: www.bluegrassheritage.org
For more information on Sergeant Peppers: www.sgtpepperslbb.com
Or. . . watch a video on the band in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWK1XVBi9GY
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Dallas Heritage Village, located at Old City Park, is a nationally accredited history museum, depicting life in Dallas from 1840-1910. It is one of only five museums in the Dallas area to have this distinction. The grounds showcase 38 historic structures, including log cabins, the pre-Civil War Millermore home, a Victorian Main Street, a railroad complex, an 1860s farmstead with livestock, a 19th century church, school and more. Visitors discover how crops were grown, animals cared for and how family living progressed from log cabins to grand manors and Victorian homes. Dallas Heritage Village is supported, in part, by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts as well as individual and group donations. Dallas Heritage Village was nominated in 2011 and 2012 by D Magazine as one of the top Dallas-area family attractions. It is located at 1515 South Harwood, one block south of Farmers Market in Downtown Dallas. Hours of operation are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon – 4 p.m. The Village is closed the months of January and August. Regular admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors 65+ and $5 for children ages 4-12. Children under 4 and members of Dallas Heritage Village are admitted free of charge. For more information call 214-421-5141 or visit www.DallasHeritageVillage.org
The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation preserves and promotes the heritage of bluegrass music in America, with a focus on promoting bluegrass music in Texas. The Foundation seeks to educate the public about this distinctly American form of music with roots in Irish, Scottish, and English traditional music through educational programs and workshops, public performances of bluegrass music, historic preservation efforts, and other similar programs. The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation is a non-profit corporation organized under Texas law and recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information call 214-918-0010 or visit www.bluegrassheritage.org.