New TRF director in Fort Wayne, Indiana

The Three Rivers Festival has a new director: Shannon White.

White, 36, started work Monday, Dec. 12 2005, after serving as operations manager and volunteer coordinator for Sentry Event Services in Tampa, Fla., for the past two years.

He has stated that he wants to change the mix of music at the TRF from rock & country to include bluegrass and blues.

White will spend the next several weeks meeting with individuals and groups to assess what the community wants or doesn’t want from the festival. Major changes probably won’t happen until 2007. But White hopes some improvements will be noticeable by the time the 38th annual festival begins in July.

In Tampa, the native of Dayton, Ohio, oversaw security and event staffing for sporting events and other activities. From 1998 to 2003, he was manager of Rock Crusher Canyon Amphitheatre in Crystal River, Fla. White succeeds Kathleen Alter, who resigned this year for a position in New Orleans. He was selected from 51 candidates.

Bluegrass bands are encouraged to approach him on opportunities.

He may be contacted at:
SHANNON WHITE
Executive Director
shannon@trfonline.org

Three Rivers Festival
102 Three Rivers North
Fort Wayne, In 46802
(260) 426-5556
(260) 420-8611 fax
info@trfonline.org

We attended IBMA in late October and saw a number of top bands in our showcase room. Thanks to Joe Steiner and Chris Cooperrider for making the NIBGA showcase room a sucess.

MAIN STAGE SCHEDULE REVISED 9/2/05
Chicago Bluegrass Band 9:00 - 9:45 PM note changed time
Buncombe Turnpike 6:45 - 7:30 PM
Continental Blue 6:00 - 6:45 PM note changed time
Wright Sisters 8:15 - 9:00 PM
Harbourtown 7:30 - 8:15 PM note changed time
1000#’s Bluegrass 9:45 - 10:30 PM

Chicago Bluegrass band has had a break down in Chicago and will be late. Schedule times have been changed as noted.

With 35 enrollements, the Saturday, Sept. 3 teachers workshop is approaching the limit of 40 attendees. After that, folks will have to double up on projects. No one will be turned away.

If you haven't registered, just come on in and tell the gate that you are a teacher. You can register at the class.

Bonnie's food booth across from the grand stand is open daily at 6:30 am for breakfast.

Listen to Kendallville WAWK 1140 AM Aug. 31, Weds, at 2:05pm for an interview with president of NIBGA, Jim Winger.

Monday afternoon several showers dampened the dust. There is very little standing water. The fairgrounds is sandy soil and drains quickly. The long range weather forecast is for sunny skies by the Thursday.

Internet service was down August 27 & 28. It was repaired on August 29. The speed of the connection varies but it is fast enough to get weather and email.

The Internet at the Noble County 4H Fairgrounds was down on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday Aug. 29 service was restored. Thanks to Mark at locl.net

The band schedule that is published in the Kendallville News-Sun erroneously says that the workshops are on Saturday, September 4. The correct information is the workshops are on Saturday September 3.

RV Honey wagon service at the Bluegrass Festival:

Sept. 1 8 am
Sept. 2 8 am
Sept. 3 3 pm
Sept. 5 7 am until all campers are gone. Avoid waiting the the dump station line and flag down the honey wagon.

There are signs available at the merchandise table for $1 that you can place on your trailer to indicate that you want service.

Remember, you have to be at your rig to get pumped!

Taylor Rental will drop off 10 port-a-jons on Friday, August 26 at the Noble County Fairgrounds bluegrass festival. It is anticipated that they will be in approximately the same locations as Memorial weekend.

Taylor Rental has a propane special running through the bluegrass festival Sept. 3.
20# tanks $9.92 &
30# tanks $14.75.

Taylor Rental is located east of the fairgrounds to the stop light at the Holiday Inn Express, then south 1 block to Dowling or exit the fairgrounds to the south and turn east on Dowling street. Go east about 1.5 miles.

The Noble County 4H Fairgrounds will have wireless coverage during the festival provided by locl.net. We have ask for a link on the opening splash page to this site so you can see the latest information on what is happening at the fairgrounds.

Welcome to the Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association blog. Here you will find various things related to bluegrass within our area. The intent of this blog is to post items that are not appropriate for the web site ( www.BluegrassUSA.net) mostly because of size or general interest.