PROVIDENCE BAY—The Bluegrass in the Country event will once again provide fantastic music and the annual event will financially support Manitoulin Special Olympics (MSO) as its athletes and coaches embark on their competitions this summer.
“It’s because of the Bluegrass in the Country event that we are able to do what we do with our athletes taking part in competitions, this year at the provincial summer games,” said Janet Anning, coordinator of the MSO last week.
All the proceeds raised from the event go to MSO. “The main reason and focus for the event is to help support Manitoulin Special Olympics (MSO),” said Bluegrass entertainment organizer Ben Lentir. “We hope to be able to keep this going for many more years to support (MSO), and we are looking for more volunteers to help take over from the organizing staff, over time.”
“This event is not just about music, it is about the local athletes of special Olympics who work so hard to be able to be train and compete in competitions every year,” said Mr. Lentir.
This year’s Bluegrass in the Country will take place June 6-8 at a new location (albeit very close to previous years)—the Lone Pine Stage in Providence Bay (at the Providence Bay Agricultural Society property). “This year’s venue is moving to the area where the new stage is, but there will still be rough camping back there (as well as available parking) and there will be food vendors on hand during the weekend.”
“We have a couple of groups from southern Ontario, and the rest from Northern Ontario, including local Manitoulin musicians,” said Mr. Lentir. “One of the bands, River Valley Grass is from Northern Ontario and Avery Drive, a young bluegrass band from Espanola always comes to the island for our event.”
Other featured musicians will include Bonita Mercer, Sweetgrass, Different Picks, River Valley Grass, Avery Drive, the Canucky Bluegrass Boys and local musicians Ben Lentir and Robbie Shawana.
“This year marks our 16th annual Bluegrass event,” said Mr. Lentir. He pointed out the gates will open at 10 am on Thursday, June 6 for earlybirds who like to get their camps set up. Performing on Thursday evening will be Different Picks at 6 pm followed by River Valley Grass, Canucky Bluegrass Boys, Avery Drive at 9 pm. There will also be an open mic event Thursday evening and all the musicians will jam later that evening.
The list of musicians featured on Saturday, June 7 starting at 12 noon include Robbie Shawana, followed by Sweet Grass, River Valley Grass, Different Picks and Ben Lentir. After a supper break from 5-6 pm, Canucky Bluegrass Boys take to the stage, followed by Sweet Grass, Bonita Mercer and Avery Drive during the evening.
On Sunday, June 8 Ben Lentir will take to the stage at 10 am, followed in the next two hours by Robbie Shawana and Bonita Mercer.
The new Lone Pine Stage, “will be a very good spot and provide more of an amphitheatre-type of surrounding,” said Mr. Lentir. “Changing the venue is a really big change and will present a whole new learning curve for all of us, so we are asking for people to be patient with us.”
The MSO Wolverines softball team will be taking part in the provincial summer games in Brantford in July. Members of the team include Michael Cormiere, Dylan Danville, Jeff Harper, Michael Harper, William Le Clair, Tyler Madahbee, Aaron Nickol, Jamie Pyette, Rebecca Strain, Emily Tzair (Moggy), Mary Beth Taliotis, and two members from
Sudbury, Jared Ladoceur and Matthew Bouillon. Three other MSO athletes, Matthew Bedard, Bruce Van Horn and Kelsey Mellan will take part in track and field events.
MSO coaches attending the games include Janet Anning, Sandy Graham, Herve Le Clair and Ros Taylor.
Tickets for Bluegrass in the Country are available at various locations around the Island or go onto www.bluegrassinthecountry.net for more information.
