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Hickory Fest to be held this weekend

WELLSBORO — For three days, 20 bands and soloists will perform more than 30 hours of acoustic and roots music live during Hickory Fest at the Stony Fork Creek Campground in the heart of Pennsylvania Grand Canyon country, six miles south of Wellsboro.

Headliners are the Travelin’ McCourys and Peter Rowan. The Travelin’ McCourys include the sons of bluegrass legend Del McCoury with Ron on mandolin and Rob on banjo. Other band members are Cody Kirby on guitar, Jason Carter on fiddle and Alan Bartram on bass. This traditional and progressive bluegrass band is known for its tight rhythm, soulful material and confidence in taking bluegrass from the safety of the shore into uncharted waters.

A bluegrass icon, Rowan is a singer and Grammy-award winning songwriter whose career spans more than five decades. In his early years, he played under the tutelage of bluegrass icon Bill Monroe. Rowan and his brothers, Chris and Lorin are traveling from California for a rare east coast reunion at Hickory Fest to perform and honor festival producer Sue Cunningham who passed away in 2015. Chris and Lorin performed for seven years with Sue Cunningham as the Rowan Cunningham Band and will be performing at Hickory Fest as the Rowan Brothers.

The festival grounds open at 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. On Friday, there will be continuous music from 1:30 p.m. to after midnight on the outdoor stage; on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. and on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

An added attraction is the first Sue Cunningham Youth Fiddle Contest on Sunday. Cunningham, who lived in Wellsboro and Florida, always was very supportive of young musicians wherever she went. She taught and encouraged them and helped them develop self-confidence to be the best musicians they could be. There will be open registration for the contest online through today and at the festival.

A nationally known violinist, Cunningham produced Hickory Fest for 13 years until her untimely death.

The festival honors her life and legacy with proceeds benefiting the Relay For Life Of Tioga County and the Sue Cunningham Memorial Music Scholarship at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts. This year’s scholarship recipient is 16-year-old Valentina Paolucci who will receive her certificate and perform on the Hickory Fest stage.

For tickets and more information, visit www.hickoryfest.com or call the Deane Center at 570-724-6220.

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