Festival benefits Pikeville's Ross House Museum

IF YOU GO* What: Ross House Music Festival.* When: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. CDT Saturday.* Where: Ross House, 222 Frazier St., Pikeville, Tenn.* Admission: Free; donations welcome.* Phone: 423-332-9767 or 320-760-2482 (Bill and Wanda Lee).SCHEDULE* 11 a.m. Tom Morgan & Lynne Haas (authentic traditional music on acoustic guitar and autoharp)* Noon. Eddy Lee and Friends (featuring Luke Wilkerson, Jim Smith and others performing original acoustic music from Lee's CD "Songs of Sequatchie," including his latest composition, "The Legacy of Dr. James A. Ross")* 1 p.m. Dylan Blake (classic rock, Southern rock and country by Dylan Roberson, Blake Roberson and Dale Roberson)* 2 p.m. Riff Valley Monsters (classic rock and blues by Tommy Lee and Dennis Smith, with Will Robinson, Bill Lee and special guests)* 3 p.m. The Roberson Brothers Band (country and folk rock featuring the harmonies of Bobby, Jack and Roy Roberson)* 4 p.m. Carrie Hassler (bluegrass and country recording artist)* 5 p.m. Sequatchie Valley All-Stars (all-performers jam)

Musical groups with roots in the Sequatchie Valley and Cumberland Plateau will perform at a daylong music festival Saturday at the historic Ross House in Pikeville, Tenn. The bands play a wide range of genres, including Appalachian mountain music, Americana originals, blues, classic rock, country and bluegrass.

The performance stage will be in front of the Ross House. Its namesake, Dr. James A. Ross, served as an assistant surgeon in the 16th Regiment of the Tennessee Infantry. In 1868, he returned to Pikeville and practiced medicine until the early 1900s. He built the house and adjoining medical clinic in 1872.

The house is now owned and maintained by Bledsoe County, which leases the property to the Bledsoe County Historical and Genealogical Society. The society uses the home as its headquarters and manages the site as the county's historical museum. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Voluntary donations from Saturday's event will goo to the museum.

Pikeville natives Bill and Eddy Lee are event organizers and will emcee. Along with brother Tommy, they'll also provide part of the entertainment. Last April, the brothers organized a smaller benefit that featured original compositions by Eddy Lee. This year, the brothers have expanded the event to include a wide range of area musical talents.

The performers scheduled to appear are a closely knit "family" of siblings, cousins and friends who have been playing, singing and writing music together in various combinations for over 40 years, according to Bill Lee. Perhaps the best-known performer in the lineup is Carrie Hassler, the Pikeville native whose resume includes fronting the chart-topping bluegrass band Hard Rain as well as backup vocals on 2009 remake of "Wildfire" with country artist Michael Martin Murphey.

The Bledsoe County Rescue Squad will provide concessions. Seating is bring-your-own. In case of rain, the event will be held at the Bledsoe County Courthouse, 3150 Main St.

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