The sound of music filled the air last week at the Florida Classic Park in Brooksville when musicians came from all over the United States to perform. Most of the performers sang and played Bluegrass. However, Country, Gospel and 50’s Rock & Roll were also represented. Approximately 2,000 people attended during the six days that the Florida Bluegrass Classic Festival took place. Many came in campers and motorhomes and stayed at the park.
In addition to a full schedule of music, there was a variety of other activities going on for the participants and attendees. Tuesday evening was a square dance; Wednesday there was Bingo and a potluck dinner; Thursday, more Bingo as well as performances by several artists; Friday there were guitar and banjo workshops, as well as entertainment that went on until 10 p.m. Saturday featured a classic car show; more Gospel, Bluegrass and Country music; a set by The Atlantic City Boys, a 50’s Rock & Roll quartet; and a tribute to the military. The festival ended Sunday with a Gospel music sing.
Ernie and Debi Evans of Evans Media Source produced the event with the help of countless dedicated volunteers. The Evans’ have been doing event production for ten years. They produce festivals, concerts and theme cruises all revolving around live music, mostly country, bluegrass, Zydeco, with some Celtic thrown in. The couple also tours and performs Bluegrass and Gypsy Jazz, which is a very European-sounding type of music involving violin and other acoustic instruments.
Ernie states, “Music is our entire life. We work seventy hours a week, seven days a week. Being an entertainer your job is making people happy and providing entertainment that gives them a release and triggers memories. The most fulfilling thing is watching people have a good time.”
The business is not without its challenges, though. Ernie and Debi are hands-on, doing everything from booking the acts and handling marketing to arranging for Porto-Johns. One of the most challenging things is dealing with the economy and technology – social media, graphic arts, etc. They’ve started to outsource some of the duties because they don’t have the time to do it all themselves. Keeping the entertainment fresh and attracting a wide audience is a major goal.
“A lot of the performers and fans are passing on, so we have to continuously have something coming out that will appeal to younger fans and performers. You have to reach down to another age group ten years at a time. We’re getting more music that appeals to 50-year-olds. If we don’t get 50- year-olds involved, we won’t get the 40 and 30-year-olds. We have to change the music a little bit or add some variety that will appeal to them,” comments Ernie.
One of the acts that performed on Saturday was the the Williamson Branch, a family from Nashville, Tennessee. The band consists of Kevin and Debbie Williamson and their three daughters: nineteen-year old Melody; fifteen-year-old Kadence; and Caroline, age nine. The family travels all over the United States and parts of Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean performing Bluegrass and Country music. Their niche is Bluegrass Gospel and Southern Gospel. The music is fun and fulfilling for them, but it is also a ministry.
“We’ve been performing as the Williamson Branch Band and touring for 3-1/2 years, but we’ve been singing as a family ever since the girls could sing,” Debbie states.
Dad and Mom play guitar; Melody plays guitar, fiddle, and ukulele; Kadence plays bass; and Caroline steals the show with her animated singing and beautiful soprano voice. Joining them on Saturday was eighteen-year-old Anthony Howell on banjo and guitar.
“The most satisfying and rewarding thing is getting to experience so much of the world together as a family; getting to see the girls grow in their music,” Debbie continues.
Being together virtually all the time, as well as traveling in a 15-passenger van most of the year can be challenging. In addition, Mrs. Williamson has been homeschooling her daughters.
Debbie observes, “Everything happens all together, but most everyone gets along most of the time. We’re gone from home a lot.”
For Melody Williamson, who finished her schooling last year, playing music is almost as natural as breathing.
“I started playing guitar at age four. When I was six I started playing the fiddle,” Melody comments.
“The most fun part is when things are just really clicking with the audience. I love that feeling when the crowd is so into what you’re doing. You’re getting back what you’re putting out. When we play the Gospel music they’re worshiping with you.”
For a change of pace, the Atlantic City Boys did an amazing job of sounding like Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The quartet, made up of Todd Mummert, Pete Zicky, Erik Winger and Jeff Williams kept the audience tapping their toes and singing along.
The next local Bluegrass festival produced by Evans Media Source will be taking place at Sertoma Youth Ranch in Brooksville March 21 – March 25. For more information call 904-536-3868 or go to www.evansmediasource.com