If you go
› What: Etowah Bluegrass Festival› Where: Gem Theatre, 700 Tennessee Ave., Etowah, Tennessee› When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 1; 7 p.m. Saturday, March 2› Admission: $12 adults, $5 children Friday; $18 adults, $10 children Saturday; $25 two-day pass› For more information: 423-263-7608
Darrell Scott will headline the Cousin Jake Tullock Memorial Bluegrass show on Saturday, March 2, at 7 p.m. in the Gem Theatre in Etowah, Tennessee. Mountain Cove Bluegrass from Chattanooga will open. (Facebook.com photo)A music festival celebrating one of Etowah, Tennessee's native sons marks its silver anniversary this weekend when the Cousin Jake Tullock Memorial Bluegrass Festival is held at the Gem Theater.
The festival on Friday and Saturday nights, March 1-2, honors "Cousin Jake" Tullock, the Etowah native who was a longtime member of the Foggy Mountain Boys founded by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.
The weekend event also includes a gospel concert that honors local educator, bluegrass musician and Cousin Jake Bluegrass Festival founder John Studdard.
The festival kicks off Friday night at 7:30 with the John Studdard Memorial Bluegrass Gospel Concert. Host band Just Us will open for The Farm Hands.
The Farm Hands formed nine years ago. The band has received more than 70 awards and nominations and was named the Bluegrass Gospel Band of the Year at the 2019 Bluegrass Music Awards.
Its members are Grammy Award winner Tim Graves, who is also the current Dobro Player of the Year; Daryl Mosely, twice named Songwriter of the Year; Keith Tew, two-time Song of the Year winner; and Don Hill, state champion banjo player in Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee.
' Doors open at 6 p.m. on Saturday for the Cousin Jake Tullock Memorial Bluegrass Festival. The show begins at 7 p.m. with Mountain Cove Bluegrass before Darrell Scott takes the stage at 8 o'clock.
Scott has collaborated with Steve Earle, Sam Bush, Emmylou Harris, Guy Clark, Mary Gauthier and Dan Tyminski. In 2010, he joined Robert Plant's Band of Joy. In addition to singing, he plays mandolin, guitar, accordion, pedal, lap steel and banjo.
In 2007, Scott won Song of the Year from the Americana Music Association for "Hank William's Ghost." His album, "A Crooked Road," won the Country Album category at the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards in 2011.
Musicians are invited to bring their instruments to "Jammin' at the Depot" from noon until 4 p.m. at the L&N Depot in downtown Etowah prior to the Saturday night show.
At 4 p.m., the Etowah Arts Commission will host a reception in the lobby of the Gem Theater to honor Tullock's 2018 induction into the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Fame.
Tickets may be purchased by calling 423-263-7608 or online at www.etowaharts.org.