The 28th annual weekend-after-Labor Day Bill Poteet Memorial Bluegrass Festival is planned for Friday Sept 5th and Sat Sept.6th, 2008. The event, located at the Old Delano School, just off Bowater Rd.,  will feature many area bands as well as some well-known bands from other areas.  

This year will feature the well-known Knoxville group, The J-Team.  This group took first prize at the White Oak Mt Festival this year. The band features two brothers and their first cousin. The nine-year old who plays fiddle, mandolin, base and etc will move around playing almost any instrument on the stage and keep you on the edge of your seats according to folks who have seen this group perform.

Knoxville musician Gary Poteet will perform with his brother, Tim Poteet, Local Banker at First Volunteer Bank of Etowah along with their sister and promoter of the event, Lynn Poteet. This group features old family harmonies with a little bit of country on the side.

A new favorite of the locals are those two blonds from Arab Alabama known as Southern Heart.  With Rhonda on the Fiddle and Belinda on the Banjo, they’ll dance and sing their way into your heart.  

August Bruce, Violinist turned fiddler from Chattanooga, will return this year. Her band named Bare Foot Nellie, features a Mandolin player with a great bluegrass voice and of course that sweet high voice of August herself.

Southern Cross from Birchwood will perform both days.  Ed will be bringing along a new favorite, “the Cookie Monster”, Donnie who will surely have you laughing and enjoying some hard driving bluegrass.

The New Cut Road, also from Birchwood, bring their very own father and son team of ole time fiddler, Hayes Dickson, and the only dog house bass player who is taller than his base fiddle and can make that thing walk anywhere he wants to, Mitch Dickson.  

New Balance Bluegrass, a favorite for all the young folks, will play with their own brand of get up and dance tunes featuring Tony Phillips on the flat top guitar and local Cleveland artist Larry Rapier on the Mandolin.

Curtis and the Ole Tyme Strings from Chattanooga, features claw-hammer banjo, rub-board, harmonica, ballads, humorous songs, and lots of just plain funny stuff.

Martin Adams from Benton and Hard Drive along with John Shook and Nikki Powell from Young Harris, Georgia will perform some of their favorites along with Lonnie Watkins and Mark Stinnett from Benton.

The Barker Brothers from Copperhill, will perform on Saturday Night after opening for Ricky Skaggs in the Smokies earlier in the weekend.

Junction Grass from Riceville, will perform on Saturday featuring some awesome original train songs along with a little bit of Cajun swing and some old time favorites.

Delano Lions Club will provide concessions for both days with ice cream, popcorn, hamburgers, hotdogs, desserts, and their famous BBQ on Saturday.

The Old Delano School is located one block off Hwy 411 between Etowah and Benton. Turn at Delano Branch Bank, go one block to venue. Music starts Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 2pm. Fees are $9.00 and $10.00 respectively. Bring lawn chairs for outside amphitheater venue, rain or shine.

For More Information contact Lynn Poteet at (423) 338-7498 or email at lynnpoteet @bellsouth.net