3-day Bootheel Bluegrass Festival to start Thursday

Bluegrass fans will have the chance to watch local and national bands perform at The Bootheel Bluegrass Festival at the Bavarian Halle in Fruitland.

"We have quite the selection of different groups. There will be a little bit for everybody," festival organizer Bull Harman said.

This three-day indoor festival from Thursday to Jan. 28 will feature performances by Harman's band, Bull Harman & Bull's Eye, as well as performances by The Lewises, Drive Tyme, The Mississippi Sawyers, The Gipsons, Bluegrass Addiction, Blue Steel Rail and Herbie Johnston & Fiddler's Frolic. Guest bands like New Blood Gospel Bluegrass Band will also perform. The Thursday show will feature only gospel music.

Bull Harman will play at the Bootheel Bluegrass Festival.

Harman said the Friday or Saturday performances usually draw a crowd of 300 to 400 people. However, Harman is hoping to draw a crowd of 500 to 600 this year.

Harman, who is based in Florissant, Mo., said there is a call for a bluegrass festival in Southeast Missouri.

"People want it down there," Harman said, "Nothing like that goes on down there."

The bands will not be the only attraction at the festival. Vendors will sell homemade soap, baked goods and clothing, and bands will sell merchandise. Country Mart will provide an all-you-can-eat dinner buffet Friday and Saturday for $10.

According to Bruce Punches, the festival has been going on for about seven years and has always taken place at the Bavarian Halle.

"It is easy to access from St. Louis and Cape Girardeau," Punches said.

In years past, Punches and his wife, Bobette, promoted, planned and performed in the festival. This year they passed the torch to Harman and his wife, Tammy.

The Punches Family band began performing full time and looked for someone to helm the festival. Harman said the family thought he and his wife would be the ideal couple to take over due to their background in promotions.

Harman said they are trying to run the festival in a manner consistent with that of the Punches, in case they ever want to take over again.

"They ran it honestly," Harman said. "They just had a lot of people that thought a lot of them."

He said he wants to continue this honesty and hopes to win over new people.

Harman said he and the Punches have a history that goes beyond the festival. They played bluegrass together in the 1970s.

"Bluegrass is a small community," Harman said.

According to Harman, he and his wife have been part of the community for more than 30 years. In addition to being part of Bull Harman and Bull's Eye, they are both promoters in the bluegrass industry. They also organize St. Louis Flatpick, a weekend guitar workshop in St. Louis.

"It is in our blood to keep it going," Harman said. "Nothing thrills me more than to see a youngster playing bluegrass."

For ticket prices and showtimes visit, bootheelbluegrass.com.

ajones@semissourian.com

388-3654