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Great music is on the way as Ronnie Reno and the Reno Tradition headline the 16^th annual Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition. The family-friendly event is scheduled for Saturday, June 19, rain or shine, at Grayson Highlands State Park near Mouth of Wilson, Virginia.

Also appearing will be the Quebe Sisters Band from Texas, the New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters from the Galax area, the Redhead Express from Branson and Alaska, the Peyton Brothers from Florida, and Wayne Henderson and Friends. Twenty guitar contestants will have the chance to win a handmade Henderson guitar, and $10,000 in scholarships will be presented to young musicians studying Appalachian music and the groups that support them.

A new feature will be an area featuring musical instrument builders Gerald Anderson, Jimmy Edmonds, Kevin Fore, Jackson Cunningham, and Jeff Sebens.

Guitarist Ronnie Reno leads the bluegrass band that bears the family name. With him will be banjo player Mike Scott, fiddler Jackie Miller, bassist Robin Smith and mandolinist John Maberry. The Quebe Sisters Band plays a mix of Texas swing, vintage jazz and swing and country shuffle and has been named the Group of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists. The Redhead Express, a nine-member family band who have a regular show in Branson, combine bluegrass, traditional, old-time, country, Irish and gospel along with clogging. The Galax-area Bogtrotters are known for their old-time music. And the four Peyton Brothers have been performing bluegrass and folk since 1972.

Performances run from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. A children’s area will feature lariat artist Doug Smith and his rope tricks, music, crafts and games.

Bring a chair or blanket and a picnic if you wish. Concessions will be available. Admission is $10, and children 12 and younger get in free. Park admission costs $3. A portion of proceeds will benefit scholarships for young musicians. Camping is permitted in the park. For information on availability of overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK, on U.S. 58 midway between Independence and Damascus.

Find full event details and directions and other details by clicking on the links at left.

The family-friendly festival will be Saturday, June 19, rain or shine, at Grayson Highlands State Park in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. This year’s performers include Ronnie Reno, the Red Head Express, the Peyton Brothers and Wayne Henderson and Friends. Children’s events include lariat master Doug Smith and music. Admission is $10, and children 12 and younger get in free. Park admission costs $3.

Since the festival began in 1995, more than $47,000 has been awarded to aid young, local, traditional musicians in continuing their music exploration and education.

Held on the third Saturday in June‚ at Grayson Highlands State Park in Mouth of Wilson, VA., the Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition features some of the region’s best traditional musicians. From time to time, they have shared the stage with bluegrass bands from Europe.

The event takes its name from National Heritage Award recipient Wayne C. Henderson‚ a musician and instrument maker who lives in nearby Rugby‚ Virginia. Henderson's top-notch finger-picking is a source of great pleasure and pride to his friends, family, and neighbors in Grayson County, Virginia; his guitar playing has also been enjoyed at Carnegie Hall, in three national tours of "Masters of the Steel-String Guitar", and in seven nations of Europe, Asia and Africa.

Wayne and many of his musical friends are featured performers at the festival‚ with bluegrass and old-time music dominating the program. The Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition was established in 1995 to express appreciation for this "living legend". A portion of the proceeds from the Festival are placed into a scholarship fund to aid local young musicians in continuing their educations.

Food service provided by the local Fire Department
Grilled "1/2 Chicken" Dinner with Potatoes and Beans
Barbecue Sandwiches and Dinners
Hot Dogs
Chips
Desserts
Water, Coffee, Sodas