Legendary J.D. Crowe among bands playing at inaugural festival this weekend

Sunday, January 1, 1905

photo J.D. Crowe & The New South will headline Saturday at the inaugural Circle E Guest Ranch Bluegrass Festival in Belvidere, Tenn. Crowe, center, is retiring from the road at the end of this tour season.

IF YOU GO

* What: Circle E Guest Ranch Bluegrass Festival.* When: Noon-10 p.m. CDT today and Saturday.* Where: Circle E Guest Ranch & Campground, 50 Circle E Lane, Belvidere, Tenn.* Admission: $20 today, $25 Saturday (does not include camping or stall fees).* Phone: 931-962-1790.* www.CircleEGuestRanch.comDIRECTIONSBelvidere, Tenn., is in Franklin County near WInchester. From I-24, take Exit 127 onto 64 West. Drive 17 miles. Turn left onto Highway 16 South. Drive 7 miles to the ranch on the right.SCHEDULENote: All times Central. Supper breaks are at 5 p.m. today and 4:30 p.m. Saturday.TodayNoon. Fox Mountain Express.1 p.m. Timbre Fox2 p.m. Foothill Drive3 p.m. The Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show4 p.m. The Skip Cherryholmes Quintet6 p.m. Fox Mountain Express7 p.m. Timbre Fox8 p.m. The Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show9 p.m. The Skip Cherryholmes QuintetSaturdayNoon. Slim Pickins12:45 p.m. Bent Creek1:30 p.m. Foothill Drive2:30 p.m. Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice3:30 p.m. J.D. Crowe & The New South5:30 p.m. Slim Pickins6:15 p.m. Bent Creek7 p.m. Foothill Drive8 p.m. Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice9 p.m. J.D. Crowe & The New South

A bluegrass legend is retiring at the end of the year, but a festival in Belvidere, Tenn., this weekend is a chance to see him in action.

J.D. Crowe & The New South, founded by the banjo player considered one of the most influential progressive bluegrass musicians of the 1970s, will be among five bands playing Saturday at the inaugural Circle E Guest Ranch Bluegrass Festival. Another five bands are in the lineup today at the Franklin County venue.

According to his online bio from the All Music Guide, Crowe first picked up the banjo when he was 13 years old, initially inspired by Flatt & Scruggs. Even starting out with the Sunny Mountain Boys, he didn't stick to a strict bluegrass set list but would add rock 'n' roll songs to his repertoire.

Later, while pursuing a solo career, he developed a new progressive direction for bluegrass that incorporated strong elements of folk, blues and rock, according to the bio.

Crowe's original New South lineup was considered the most revolutionary bluegrass band of its time. The musicians -- Tony Rice (guitar), Ricky Skaggs (mandolin), Jerry Douglas (Dobro) and Bobby Slone (fiddle, bass) -- played a wildly eclectic brand of bluegrass on electric instruments.

Their eponymous debut in 1975 "caused an instant sensation," says the bio. "It marked a genuine turning point in the sound of the genre."

Other bands playing this weekend include The Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show, The Skip Cherryholmes Quintet and Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice.