Bloomin' Barbeque & Bluegrass
Posted by Leif Palmer in Sevierville
When warm weather arrives in the Smokies, it's a sure sign that two of the best things about spring and summer can't be far behind-barbecue cooking and bluegrass music. Fortunately for anyone hanging out in Sevierville this weekend, you can soak up plenty of both at the annual Bloomin' Barbeque & Bluegrass festival.
Located in downtown Sevierville, the event returns with plenty of its signature offerings, serving up a tasty line-up of down-home barbecue fare and rootsy bluegrass music. The festival runs this Friday the 16th from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday the 17th from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. It's a family-oriented event that offers something for all ages, including a state-championship barbecue cook-off.
New for 2014 is the Late Night Jam session on Friday, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Taking place in the old Sevier County Bank building, the session will be hosted by four-time national banjo champion Gary “Biscuit” Davis. Davis recently served as bandleader, co-producer and banjo player for Dolly Parton on her bluegrass album Halos and Horns. He also performed for 15 years as the pre-show entertainer at Dolly's Dixie Stampede dinner attraction.
Musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments (banjos, fiddles, mandolins, dobros, etc.) to the jam and help Davis celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bloomin' Barbeque & Bluegrass.
This year's musical lineup includes multiple shows on several different stages throughout the downtown area. Acts include Bill Mize, Martha Christian, Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier, Emi Sunshine & The Rain, Dale Ann Bradley, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers and Bobby Osborne & Rocky Top Xpress.
The weekend's featured act is The SteelDrivers, a Nashville-based group of seasoned bluegrass veterans who combine bluegrass, country and soul influences to create a hybrid sound that is as old as the hills but as fresh as the morning dew. Since their 2008 debut, The SteelDrivers have been nominated for three Grammys, four IBMA awards and the Americana Music Association's New Artist of the Year award. Their music has also been showcased in the feature film Get Low, starring Robert Duvall and Bill Murray.
Music fans will also want to check out the festival's Mountain Soul vocal competition, in which vocalists of all ages submit their favorite rendition of a Dolly Parton song. The finalists will perform on the festival main stage on the 17th•as they compete for cash and prizes, including a recording session and a guitar autographed by Dolly.
In addition to music, the festival will include plenty of award-winning barbecue by competitors form all over the country as well as arts and crafts vendors and a Kids' Zone, where old-fashioned games, bounce houses, musical activities and more are on hand to keep the young ones entertained. Admission to the festival is free, although there are nominal charges for some of the kids' activities.
When planning your stay, be sure to look into our selection of cabins in Sevierville, TN. We have properties that are conveniently located within a short drive of the festival.
About Leif Palmer
Leif Palmer loves residing in the Smoky Mountains. He is an avid outdoorsman: rowing for exercise on the lake, trail hiking, and free climbing rocks in the mountains. He indulges his arty side by periodically beating up pieces of marble by sculpting. He is always frustrated by his inability to sink long putts, and hates his curly hair (but his wife loves it). Leif has been known to muster enough courage to change a diaper, and hopes his son will become a chip off the old block.
Other blog categories:
Gatlinburg Hiking Pigeon Forge Pigeon Forge Attractions Places To Eat Places To Eat Rental Cabins Seasons Smoky Mountains Sevierville Smoky Mountain Attractions Smoky Mountains Things to Do Wears Valley