16th ANNUAL TRADITIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 24 - 25 AT FORT KASKASKIA

ELLIS GROVE, IL --- Music lovers of all ages are invited to the 16^th Annual Traditional Music Festival, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, September 24 and 25, at Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site.  The event is free and open to the public.

 

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.  Food and soft drinks will be available.  Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.  A $5 per car parking fee will be charged, and camping will be available at Fort Kaskaskia Campground.

 

The Traditional Music Festival will feature Bluegrass, Cajun, Country, Gospel and Irish music as well as Irish dance and country-style clogging.  National "Open" Fiddle Champion George Portz, who serves as music director for the festival, will perform with his Friends of Bluegrass Band.  He will be joined by national harmonica champion Wailin' Wood from Nashville; country vocalist Zane Prosser; The Dowden Sisters from North Carolina; bagpiper Nancy Meadows; fiddle champion Leisl Schoenberger; All-Ireland Concertina Champion Gearoid O'hAllmhurain; Kelly-O'Sullivan Irish Dance; Blue Generation Missouri Bluegrass Band; traditional bluegrass performers The Cagle Family; junior harmonica sensation Matt McElroy; RavenMoon bluegrass band; traditional Cajun musician Dennis Stroughmatt; High Strung Blue Grass Band from Branson, Missouri; harmonica champion Mel Creasey; Thunder & Lightning; Cadence Cloggers; Appalachian bluegrass group The Gordons; traditional country artist Brenda Cook; and hammered dulcimer maestro John Ziegler.

 

There will be a Harmonica Extravaganza on Saturday, a Fiddlers' Frolic on Sunday and a Gospel Sing at 11 a.m. Sunday. 

The Traditional Music Festival is sponsored by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (www.Illinois-History.gov), which administers Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site.  It is located up the hill from the Pierre Menard State Historic Site, which will also be open for tours during the festival.  Fort Kaskaskia is six miles north of Chester, Illinois, just off state Route 3.  Signs will direct visitors to the event.  For more information, call (618) 859-3741.