September, 2011 will be our fifth Pickin’ on Cystic Fibrosis Bluegrass festival. With the support of the musicians, sponsors, volunteers and fans we have been growing each year. I started this event on a wing and a prayer at the Dogwood auditorium in Fremont, Michigan. Now we are going into our fourth year, and our second year as a three day festival at KC Campground in Milan, Michigan. Our first outdoor festival in 2010 was hit very hard by storms about an hour before the show started. Speaker stacks were blown over, porta johns we blown around, and it rained. But, with the support of the festival goers things were back in place and we started on time and had a great show, despite the rainy cool weekend.
As we go into our second POCF festival we are continuing to grow. We have bands coming in from other states. Some have had friends affected by CF, some that just have a kind heart and desire to help children that need it. Singer, songwriter, Glen Spayth lost his daughter to CF. Glen performed last year and will be returning to the stage again this year. We are proud to have him.
Glenn Spayth
We are also adding another singer songwriter on Thursday night. Bobby Kittle will be coming from Virginia City, Nevada. Bobby has played throughout the US over the past 30 years. We know these two gentlemen are not traditional bluegrass players, but they are both accomplished musicians, they want to help and deserve a spot on our stage. We welcome them both.
Many of the GREAT bands that have played in the past are returning. These bands are the mainstays of our festival and are always welcome. Two bands this year have played at every event to date. Detour will be playing Friday evening and again on Saturday. They are a great band and great friends. Also, The Windy Mountain boys will be playing again this year. All the bands are there to help, they play great music, some have helped with the MC work, and others have helped anyway they can. We try to make this festival fun for them, they are the best and they deserve to have a great time.
RJ, Mark, Jimmy
Mark and Peggy at KC campground have welcomed us to their campground and have been great. They help anyway they can, we even got Mark to play a little upright bass one evening. I thank them, they are wonderful hosts.
It takes a lot of people to put on a great festival. I’ve had a lot of support from a lot of people. Ralph Paige provides the best sound, and is a great friend as well. Two of those folks have been involved from the beginning and have done so much to help, thanks is sometimes not good enough. Bill and Pam Warren have been there for anything, and everything, I have needed. Pam takes care of the website, the Facebook page, designed and distributed flyers, worked the gate, helps anyone that needed it during the festival. Bill takes some of the best pictures in bluegrass, last year he pitched in and done a great job as an MC. They are special friends and I am very grateful for them.
I’m sure there are things I have forgotten to mention that I shouldn’t have, but I am thankful to all those that have helped and supported us. The children with Cystic Fibrosis deserve a chance for a long and healthy life. With your support we will do all we can to help make that happen. Please consider attending our festival. We will do what we can to make this a great festival that Michigan can be proud of.
Thank you all.
Jimmy Kittle
All of the profits from ticket sales and raffles are donated to the Hunt for a Cure.
