Inaugural Bluegrass Festival at Looney’s this Saturday


Shown at the Dual Destiny replica at the Looney's Amphitheater Complex, the site of the upcoming bluegrass festival, from left, organizers J.D. Snoddy, Theresa Snoddy, Nicholas Bailes, Brittany Bailes, Jerry Mobley and Ronnie Mobley.

DOUBLE SPRINGS - There will be pickers and grinners coming from across the southeast to attend Winston County’s first Bluegrass Festival at Looney’s Amphitheater Complex this Saturday, Nov. 2, benefiting the Winston County Arts Council.
Gates will open at 10 a.m., for a $10 per person admission for adults, with children ages 12 and under admitted without charge, organizers said.
The large open parking area at the Looney’s amphitheater and park, located at 22400 Highway 278 in Double Springs,  will be featuring parking lot pickers, or those wishing to come for bluegrass jam sessions, known as Jamming on the Grounds, throughout the lot.
Also in the parking lot will be various arts, crafts and food vendors, which will begin arriving as early as 7 a.m. to set up their displays, including everything from handmade jewelry to candles to gift and food items, organizers said.
In fact, organizers are anticipating at least 25 vendors to be in attendance selling a variety of items as well as food that day.
Beginning at 2 p.m., the stage at the nearby indoor Dual Destiny Theater at the Looney’s complex will come alive with a variety of live bluegrass bands starting with Wayne Horton and Friends, Clabe McGuire, Cowgirl Up Bluegrass and Anthony Bailey and Baileytown.
These groups will perform 30 minutes each leading up to the 4:40-6 p.m. break, during which time no live bands will be on the stage.  Attendees are encouraged to create their own music at open mic during a supper break, organizers said.
Starting at 6 p.m., the  bluegrass bands performing before the open mic and supper break, will perform for one hour each, starting with Wayne Horton and Friends, Clabe McGuire, Cowgirl Up Bluegrass and ending with Anthony  Bailey and Baileytown.
Ronnie Mobley, who is organizing the festival with Brittany Bailes, director of organization representing the arts council,  hopes the public will come out and support this first-ever event for Winston County.
“We just want everyone to know that it’s here (at the Looney’s Complex) and it’s family oriented, and to tell their neighbors, and let’s get something good and peaceful and wonderful for the people of Winston County,” Mobley pointed out.
“This place right here can be made into something wonderful,” Mobley added about the Looney’s complex. “If everybody supports it, it can be the biggest thing in the United States, but it has to be supported by the whole community.”
Organizer Jerry Mobley added that the Looney’s complex is “second to none.”
“We’ve been all over at the festivals, and there is not a better place than this one here, to have it,” Jerry pointed out.
“The sky is the limit. I mean, you can go as far as you want to go,” he added.  “The arts council is supporting it 100 percent.”  
All of the proceeds raised from the bluegrass festival will benefit the arts council to continue     funding art teachers in schools, as well as for various equipment and supplies, noted festival organizers, including arts council members.
Organizers hope the public will come out and enjoy a day of family-friendly entertainment at the Looney’s complex, which is receiving a new look in an ongoing renovation and restoration project.
“We’re expanding our arts program as we can,” Arts Council Vice President Theresa Snoddy said.  “We’re excited about the possibility of adding more part-time art teachers.
“All the programs we do here help us toward that goal,” Snoddy added.
Arts Council President J.D. Snoddy emphasized the bluegrass festival is an opportunity for the entire county come together to help fund arts programs across the county and enjoy the renovated Looney’s complex.
“We will continue to have our arts classes in our schools,” J.D. pointed out. “And we want to provide family-entertainment too.
“We just appreciate all of the cooperation to help provide opportunities  for people in our county,” J.D. added.
The public attending the bluegrass festival is encouraged to tour the Looney’s complex and see how renovations are improving the  grounds, facilities as well as amphitheater.
“We’re about mid-way through those,” Theresa noted.
Ronnie wanted to thank all of the bands which are participating in the festival, which are from not just the area but across the state and Tennessee.
Bailes thanked the Snoddys and Mobleys for helping her organize this festival.
“It’s been a wonderful experience, and I look forward to helping with future events for the county,” Bailes said.
For more information about the festival or the arts council, call 205-269-0073.


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