Bill Knowlton Hosts his 40th Bluegrass Ramble Picnic August 5th

Bill Knowlton's 40th annual "Bluegrass Ramble Picnic" takes place on Sunday, August 5th as usual at Dwyer Memorial Park, the home of the Cortland Repertory Theater, in Little York NY. Appearing for the first time will be Dyerswitch, known for decades of great bluegrass music in New York's Capitol District and, The Easy Ramblers, winners of the Syracuse Area Music Award (SAMMY) as best country group! Slewfoot is another bluegrass group with top shelf Southern Tier pickers. As always, this should be a great show!

Bill Knowlton's Bluegrass Ramble is Central New York's first and now only all-bluegrass and old-time acoustic country music radio show. Knowlton, dubbed by some as "Mr. Bluegrass of Central New York", hosted the first all-bluegrass radio show in New York City in 1960. Coming to Syracuse as a US Air Force Public Affairs Officer, Bill started the "Bluegrass Ramble" on WCNY-FM in January 1973.

In 1997, Bill was named "Broadcast Personality of the Year" by the International Bluegrass Music Association. He emcees at least 13 bluegrass festivals every year and writes liner notes for bluegrass and old-time country music artists. Bill is a resident of Liverpool, NY. To celebrate: a recreation of a old-time radio barn dance complete with a studio audience and three Central NY bluegrass bands participating.

The Picnic is free, and all of the bands donate their musical services. It runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is held in a huge tent so weather is not a problem. WCNY-FM records the entire show for a broadcast on Classic FM the following spring.

Food and beverages will be available and the Picnic hosts arts & crafts vendors and band tables with CDs and bluegrass souvenirs. In addition Custom Pearl Inlay, Malone NY has donated a Bristol By Blue Ridge Guitar to be raffled to help pay annual expenses.

To honor the 40th Bluegrass Ramble Picnic: Jim& Sue Kelly: coming out of retirement from old-time country music; were at the first Bluegrass Ramble Picnic in 1973!

Returning bands include:

• The Salt Potatoes: veteran old-time country performers from Central New York
• Gene Clayton & Friends: Gene is a respected bluegrass song writer, singer and musician
• Larry Hoyt & The Good Acoustics: Larry's the host of WAER-FM's Common Threads every Sunday afternoon.
• The Atkinson Family: North Country bluegrassers and hosts of the annual Tug Hill Bluegrass Festival in Lowville.
• Lake Effect: veteran CNY bluegrass performers
• The Gospel Way from Cortland and vicinity
• Northwater with Dana Klipp & Cliff Chandler (2009 winner of the DeFord Bailey Harmonica Contest at Uncle Dave Macon Days, Murfreesboro, TN)
• Diamond Someday: (Syracuse area) regular broadcasters on the "Bluegrass Ramble
• Joe Lamay & Sherri Reese: (KY)who both host a monthly fifteen minute segment on the "Bluegrass Ramble" radio show.
• The Lost Boys with SAMMY Award winner, songwriter John Cadley and balladeer Kathy Wenthen
• The Sean Martin Band: a talented young bluegrasser returns!
• The Salmon River Boys who have appeared at all 40 Bluegrass Ramble Picnics
• The Delaney Brothers: as always, the Picnic's host band

The Picnic is free, and all of the bands donate their musical services. It runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is held in a huge tent so weather is not a problem. WCNY-FM records the entire show for a broadcast on Classic FM the following spring.

Food and beverages will be available and the Picnic hosts arts &crafts vendors & band tables with CDs and bluegrass souvenirs.
Dwyer Memorial Park is south of Exit 13 (Preble) off I-81; drive south on Rt. 281 to Little York.

Further information is available at udmacon1@hotmail.com, 315-457-6100, or by listening Sunday night to Bill Knowlton's "Bluegrass Ramble,"9 pm to midnight EDST on WCNY-FM (91.3) Syracuse; WUNY-FM, Utica(89.5) or WJNY-FM (90.9) Watertown NY and Southern Ontario. Also online at www.wcny.org.
Northwater with Dana Klipp