'A fun type of music': Bootheel Bluegrass Festival coming to Fruitland

As much as the music itself, the appeal of bluegrass lies in the family atmosphere it engenders and the camaraderie it inspires among its practitioners and fans, said Bull Harman, organizer of the ninth annual Bootheel Bluegrass Festival.

Harman, of Florissant, Mo., who will perform with his five-member band Bull's Eye during the festival next week at the Bavarian Halle in Fruitland, described his genre as "a fun type of music.

"It's mostly acoustic, so it's not too loud," Harman said of the collection of instruments -- banjos, fiddles, stand-up "doghouse" basses, dobros, mandolins ... acoustic guitars and the vocal harmonies.

"It's not so much the music as it is the bluegrass people that make it so appealing," he said. "When we go to a restaurant, we all sit together, musicians and fans, just people."

Harman hosts the event with his wife, Tammy. He said there is not a "draw band," or a famous band, booked for the festival, although The Bakers from Birch Tree, Mo., and The Lewises from Licking, Mo., have played the circuit for many years and are widely known.

Leevon DeCourley Band

The show kicks off at 7 p.m. Thursday with an all-gospel night featuring The Gipsons, local favorite Janie Brown and the Chestnut Mountain Gang and The Lewises, a family of four. Bands will perform Friday and Saturday afternoon and through the evening.

Harman said guest bands are welcome, and space is available for vendors.

"All the vendors are in the hall, so they can listen, too," he said. "They have crafts, clothing and food. It's like a little shopping mall."

Harman said Herbie Johnston's sets are always entertaining because the veteran Arkansas fiddler invites all the young fiddlers on stage and jams with them.

Harman said bandleader Bruce Punches started the Bootheel festival six years ago and turned it over to Harman and his wife three years ago when The Punches Family band began touring full time.

Janie Brown & The Chestnut Mountain Gang

A dinner of pulled-pork sandwich, baked beans and coleslaw from Dexter Bar-B-Que will be offered for $8 at 5 p.m. Friday. Saturday night's all-you-can-eat buffet will have kettle beef, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, macaroni and cheese, slaw, rolls and dessert for $10.

Shivelbine's Music Store is providing the sound system.

Admission is $8 Thursday, $15 each Friday and Saturday, or $28 for all three days. Children 16 and younger will be admitted free.

The Bavarian Halle is adjacent to the Drury Inn & Suites, which is offering special room rates for festival attendees.

More information is available by calling Harman at 314-831-6404 or 314-368-4418 and at bootheelbluegrass.com.

Herbie Johnston and Fiddler’s Frolic

Pertinent address:

225 Drury Lane, Jackson