The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City will once again be filled with the sounds of bluegrass as ‘The Fred’ hosts the Shakerag Bluegrass Festival in conjunction with the 33rd annual Shakerag Arts & Crafts Festival, Sept. 18 and 19. The festival will feature eight bands over the two days including Saturday’s headliner Steel String Session from Tennessee, while local favorite Bullsboro caps off the weekend Sunday night.
“We wanted to take a trip back in time to the days of the McIntosh Opry as we have had lots of patrons express an interest in hearing bluegrass music at the Fred again. In the late 70’s and early 80’s bluegrass is what the Fred was known for so when we decided to add it to the schedule this year it just made sense to combine it with the Shakerag Arts & Crafts Festival,” said Nancy Price, Amphitheater Manager.
Saturday will feature Steel String Session, described as “Neo-Classical-Grass” and the “Rhythm Section of the River,” the band members hail from the Ocoee River region of east Tennessee. Steel String Session plays a mix of modern acoustic Americana music with an emphasis on Rockabilly-Jazz-Grass. The bands sound is rich with swing and passion, and sometimes blues, mystery and heartache. Each member of Steel String Session is a talented vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. With their harmonic blending and sensational songwriting, the group is a power hitter in a live audience settings whether intimate or grand.
The Shakerag Bluegrass Festival will take place Saturday from 3-7 p.m. and Sunday from 2-6 p.m. Wristbands are required for admission to the bluegrass festival and available for purchase the amphitheater box office. The cost for one day is $10, or a two-day wristband is $15. Parking for the event is free. The festival weekend will take place rain or shine. For more information regarding the Bluegrass Festival contact the Amphitheater box office at 770-631-0630 or on-line at www.amphitheater.org.
The festival kicks off Saturday at 3 p.m. with Carl Towns & The Remnant, 4 p.m. Blue Heaven, 5 p.m. Exception to the Rule, and 6 p.m. Steel String Session. Sunday will begin at 2 p.m. with the Chris Youmans Band, followed by Nancy Creek at 3 p.m., Musselwhite Family at 4 p.m., and closing out the festival at 5 p.m. is Bullsboro. For more information on the bands visit the amphitheater website www.amphitheater.org for links to the individual band sites.
The 33rd annual Shakerag Arts & Crafts Festival will feature over 120 vendors. The festival, known for its handmade arts, crafts, and food hosts vendors from all over Georgia and the south, with unique items for sale including pottery, paintings, ceramics, florals, pet items, jewelry and more. The event is held at Shakerag Knoll located at 191 McIntosh Trail, and hosted by the Peachtree City Parks and Recreation Department. Hours are Saturday from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. and Sunday 12 – 5 p.m. Admission to the Arts & Crafts Festival is free. For details on the Arts & Crafts festival contact Ashley Alonso at 770-631-2542 or visit www.ptcrecreation.org.
