Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 129, Number 29, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 20 July 2006 — Page 16

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• Explore Wa-Nee • July 27,2006

Wakarusa making a name for itself on bluegrass music scene with second festival

By Anthony Gadson Editor The sun and a light breeze combined to make June's 2nd Annual Wakarusa Bluegrass Festival a toe-tapping success. "I think its improved in its second year/' Mike Balos of the Balos Family Gospel Singers out of Buchanan, Mich, said. "It usually takes two years to get a festival really going." Ed Tom began the bluegrass festival in 2005, on the advice of his daughter, Debbie. "We've been holding our Jamboree here for the past six years, and three years ago, while visiting my daughter, on the east coast, where bluegrass festivals are big, she asked 'Why not start one out here?'," Tom said. Now, three years after that conversation, Tom has completed his second festival.

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The 2006 festival featured the likes of the Virginia Cross Ties, The Balos Family, First Love, Larry Sparks and Audie Blaylock, along with Wakarusa's Jamboree. The bands came from as far away as Virginia, meaning Tom had to do some legwork to bring the acts to Wakarusa. "I hired all the bands by visiting other bluegrass festivals, and meeting them," he said. "You can do it that way, or you can go through a booking agent." By deciding against a booking agent, Tom went on his own, and didn't do too bad. Of the five acts hired, two are nationally recognized bluegrass acts. "Larry Sparks was the winner of the IBMA's (International Bluegrass Music Association) CD, Vocalist and Album of the year," Tom said. "And Audie Blaylock, was also nominated in those See BLUEGRASS, Page 7

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ADVANCE NEWS PHOTOA.W. GADSON The Virginia Cross Ties (left to right) Josh Jessee, Mark Baker, Millard Edwards and Al Dominque) brought their bluegrass group to the Second Annual Wakarusa Bluegrass Festival.

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