Published: April 17, 2008 01:06 pm         

Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain featured at Thunder Road Festival

The annual Thunder Road Festival scheduled for April 19 will feature two of the most well-known artists in bluegrass music, announced festival organizers. According to Betty Barrett, manager for Yonder Hollow Productions of Rockwood, Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain along with bluegrass legend Jesse McReynolds and The Virginia Boys will be performing for the festival this year.

""Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain are at the top of their game in bluegrass and country music right now," said Barrett. "They were named in the top ten of Country Stars On-Line and their song 'Going on the Next Train' is in the top 30 on Bluegrass Unlimited's National Bluegrass survey."

Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain are performing at Yonder Hollow during Thunder Road as part of their 2008 Europe, Canadian and U.S. tour.

The Thunder Road bluegrass venue will also feature Jesse McReynolds, a legendary mandolin innovator and stylist for the bluegrass genre. McReynolds is best known for the development of his cross-picking and split string style of music. McReynolds has been in the music business for 60 years, and has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 42 years. He performs with The Virginia Boys, and was nationally known for performances with his late brother, Jim. Some of his best-known songs include "Tennessee," "Paradise" and "Cotton Mill Man."

"We are combining these two artists into a show to allow spectators the rare opportunity to experience the true roots music of Jesse McReynolds as well as today's sounds of Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain," added Barrett.

Yonder Hollow is Rockwood’s newest musical venue in the historic Peterman Theater featuring bluegrass music. Seating is limited in Yonder Hollow to 200 seats, allowing each spectator to be up-close and personal with the performers. One show will feature Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain plus Jesse McReynolds and The Virginia Boys. A second show will feature Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain, and a third show will feature Jessie McReynolds and The Virginia Boys with Alex Leach. There will be an admission fee for these performances. Bluegrass music before, between and after these performances will have free admission and feature local favorites such as Alex Leach and Friends, Brandywine, the J Team, Charlie McCarroll, Tony Thomas and the Appalachian Strings plus Wade Darnell and Windrock Mountain. Tickets for the shows will go on sale on March 15 through Yonder Hollow.

The festival will also include vendors, quilt displays, fried pie/stack cake and pie competitions to include cash prizes, a Hillbilly and Daisy Duke look-alike contest with cash prizes and classic cars and motorcycles. The antique car club with the most entries in the festival will be awarded a $250 cash prize. Food and drink concessions will be also be available.

The Thunder Road Festival is hosted by Rockwood 2000 Inc., along with support from partners Yonder Hollow, the Knoxville News Sentinel and the Tennessee Arts Commission. Additional sponsors and volunteers for the festival are being sought by the organization. The Thunder Road Festival is meant to commemorate the location of Rockwood on the notorious Thunder Road, particularly during the bootlegging years between 1920 and the late 1960s. Organizers attempt to preserve and highlight traditions and foods from this part of Appalachia during the festival.

Interested vendors should contact Erika Schenk for booth space at phone number (865) 354-6800. Booth spaces will be prioritized in the order reserved. More information on Thunder Road can be obtained online at www.rockwood2000.com or by contacting Schenk or Beverly Stroh at (865) 354-5116.