Mississippi Roads picks its way to southeast Mississippi to the town of Leakesville for the Two Rivers Bluegrass Festival. http://two_rivers_festival.tripod.com/
What was first known as the “Two Rivers Festival” began here in Greene County as a county fair and forestry expo in 1996. The original festival included a fiddle and banjo contest that was extremely popular with the crowds. Thus, in two years the festival transformed into the five day event now known as the “Two Rivers Bluegrass Festival”. The festival has become very popular along the bluegrass circuit, attracting some eight thousand attendees from twenty different states from around the country.
The campers usually arrive at the beginning of the week and stay until the last song is played on Saturday night. The folks that travel in these RV’s and campers are very dedicated individuals. They travel all over the country enjoying great music and good wholesome fun. They are loyal to their brand of music and to the many friends they have met along the way.
And speaking of loyalty, in our first segment we go back in time; to when loyalty and honor were the most important attributes in a man’s life.
There’s an old phrase about honor that goes, “if you give your word, keep it.” If there were ever a Mississippi story that described what honor really meant, it would be the story of Henry Grey Vick of Nitta Yuma.
Henry was known as a man of honor. It is for the sake of honor that Henry would sacrifice his future in order to keep his word to his fiancée’, a slave, and to himself.
His story took place nearly 150 years ago, but, the lessons it teaches are still as relevant today. Through a series of dramatizations, this will be the first time the complete story of his life and tragic death will be told on television. Like it was so long ago, it is hoped that the lessons we can learn from knowing Henry’s story can influence us in a positive way
for the rest of our lives.
There’s a lot more to do at the Two Rivers Bluegrass Festival than just sit around and listen to music. Outside there are numerous opportunities for you to join in on a jam session. Or you could learn from the pros, by taking a master class workshop on one of the stringed instruments. The festival also wants to educate the young folks by going into the local schools of the area and providing some history of bluegrass, putting on demonstrations and even letting the kids try their hand at playing.
And speaking of educating; in our next story, we meet a Pearl teen who might teach us a thing or two about the sport of motocross.
Jake Lowry grew up around motorcycles. He has been riding since the age of three and his competitive nature continues to rule his life as he now competes to secure a spot on the professional motocross circuit. He gets his passion for the sport naturally; since his dad owns a motorcycle shop in Pearl and Jake works there to support his dreams of becoming a full time two wheel racing specialist.
The Greene County Rural Events Center makes a great setting for a festival. It’s covered and temperature controlled to help protect against the elements. The show goes on rain our shine. Some twenty-eight different bands perform at this five day festival featuring bluegrass, gospel and folk acts. Some of the more popular national known acts this year include the Dailey Vincent Band, The Tennessee Mafia Jug Band and the Marksmen.
It’s a wonderful venue for the grassroots music fan.
And speaking of grassroots music, in our next segment we meet a fellow from Magee who prefers to spend his time fiddling around with Old Time Music.
Dr. Jack Magee loves to see his patients smile. Being a dentist it his goal to create the perfect smile. When he is not working on patients he is grinning and picking himself. You see, Dr Jack has a love for the fiddle and he loves to play Old Time Music with his friends and family. He doesn’t golf or hunt as a hobby. He chooses to play the fiddle to fill his free time off work or in between patients at his practice in Magee. http://www.arts.state.ms.us/folklife/artist.php?dirname=magee_jack
http://www.arts.state.ms.us/folklife/artist.php?dirname=magee_jack
There are tons of things to do here at the Two Rivers Bluegrass Festival in Leakesville. Besides the music; they have a potluck supper, quilting demonstrations, forestry events, dancing and even a hillbilly contest. So come on down to Greene County and enjoy yourself. |
