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Old-Time Music Festival in Lansing to Honor the Late Ola Belle Campbell Reed This Weekend

By Jessica Isaacs

Looking to get out of town and relax this weekend? Pack up your camping gear and head out to Lansing for the annual Ola Belle Reed Festival.

Ola Belle Reed
Ola Belle Reed

A fundraiser for the Greater Lansing Area Development, a nonprofit organization, this two-day annual music festival pays homage to the late Ola Belle Campbell Reed (1916-2002), a native of the Lansing community and a celebrated part of the area’s musical tradition.

Born on Aug. 18, 1916, Reed served the High Country for many years as a music teacher.

“She was a music teacher at the old Lansing school and she taught all genres of music. Many of the old time music players who were born and raised here were her students,” said Ann Rose, a project manager for GLAD and festival coordinator. “She just had a major impact on music in general and influenced it greatly.”

She was a renowned singer-songwriter, and acclaimed performers like Marty Stuart, Del McCoury and Tim O’Brien have reproduced many of her works, including the well known “High on a Mountain.”

The festival will feature 14 award-winning old-time performers and bluegrass groups on one stage between Friday and Saturday, Aug. 8-9, and will take place on 10 acres along the banks of Big Horse Creek in the shadow of Phoenix Mountain.11811312_10153527758934508_912544263656918797_n

Syndicated national radio host Cindy Baucom of the “Knee Deep in Bluegrass” show will emcee the festival, which will also offer a variety of craft and food vendors and covered seating.

Campers can set up on-site and along the 70-acre Lansing Creeper Trail expansion.

“This year we have 10 acres that we didn’t have last year. We have lots of parking up at the main intersection in town and the large hayfield that joins the road,” Rose said. “We have five acres dedicated to parking and five dedicated to camping. We have lots of space for tent camps, pop-up campers and even RVs.”
Get your tickets at the door for $10 per person on Friday and $20 per person on Saturday. Admission is free for children ages 12 and under.

Click here to learn more about the weekend’s events.

Check out the lineup for this weekend’s Ola Belle Reed Festival:

Friday, Aug. 7:

4 p.m. Crooked Road Ramblers
6 p.m. Sheets Family Band
7 p.m. HardTymes
8 p.m. Wayne Henderson and Friends
9 p.m. Whitetop Mountain Band

Saturday, Aug. 8

12 p.m. ClayBank
1 p.m. Steve Lewis and Eric Hardin
2 p.m. Milan Miller
3 p.m. BANJO BLAST
5 p.m. Lynda Dawson and Pattie Hopkins
6 p.m. David Reed and Friends
7 p.m. Molly Andrews
8 p.m. Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer
9 p.m. Terry Baucom and the Dukes of Drive