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DISCOVER! | AUGUST 27, 2016
Sounds | 7
RYLAN HOWE | STAFF WRITER
Keeping themusic alive
Music Festival continues quest to save rural culture
At a Glance:
WHAT: 41st National Old Time Music
Festival & Pioneer Expo
WHERE: Plymouth County Fairgrounds,
500 4th Ave. NE, Le
Mars, IA
WHEN: 9 a.m.-midnight, Aug.
29-Sept. 4
COST: Admission varies, but generally
$15 - $20. Facilities to accommodate
RV travelers. Electric hookups
at $15 a day.
CONTACT: 712-249-5989
ONLINE: http://mckenzienewsser-
vice.com/news/National-Old-Time-
Music/Festival-2016.htm
Summary:
For 41 years, Smithsonian Institution
recording artist Bob
Everhart, a BMI songwriter and
publisher, has passionately
been hosting an event in Iowa,
the major thrust being the preservation
and performance of
America’s forgotten rural music.
“I love America’s old-time music”
Everhart said. “It’s the very soul of
who we are as a people. Gospel
music is one of my favorite genres,
and when it’s old-time we really get
to hear the ‘soul’ of what Gospel
music is all about. I also like all the
other forms of music that gather at
the festival, and it’s pretty incredible,
traditional and classic country
music; ragtime; bluegrass; folk;
mountain; blues; cowboy; even
western swing and honky-tonk.
Old time music may be going by
the wayside, but not if Bob Everhart
has anything to say about
it. For more than four decades he’s
organized the Old Time Music Festival
and Pioneer in Expo in Le Mars, IA.
The 80-year-old Everhart is a Smithsonian
Institute recording artist, songwriter
and publisher who counts the
late Woody Guthrie has a hero and
like Guthrie has recorded for Moses
Asch in New York.
His passion is for the rural music of
the country’s past, present and what
he hopes is a long future.
“This is our 41st year trying to save
American rural culture, especially
music,” Everhart said. “In my observation,
rural music is different from
commercial versions because it’s
intensely human and sincere in relating
a story. This music is a singularly
important part of American culture.”
This year’s festival runs from Aug.
29 through Sept. 4 at the Plymouth
County Fairgrounds in Le Mars. The
“ice cream capitol of the world” will
become the “old time music capitol of
the world” for that particular week.
And musicians will be coming from
far and wide to join in the fun and
perform for fans of old time music.
Buffalo Gals will be coming all the
way from England.
“I’m very familiar with Appalachian
music and they play it really well,”
Everhart said. “They’re coming all
this way to see and perform for some
like-minded people keeping the music
alive. We also have more younger
people coming this year than ever.
They want to perform and be part of
the group that keeps it alive.”
Ben Steneker, the “godfather of
Dutch country,” will be there for “one
last hurrah.”
Musicians from Bavaria and Australia
will be there as well, along with
many from around the United States
who all share an affinity for these particular
styles of music.
In all, more than 450 performers
will grace ten stages during the run of
the festival.
They will perform music from the
genres of gospel, ragtime, bluegrass,
folk, mountain, blues, bluegrass, cowboy,
western swing, honky-tonk and
more.
“This music is about honesty and
sincerity and a love of the artisty and
the musical process,” Everhart said.
“I’ve been playing this music about 70
years now and it’s the kind of music
that permeates our being.”
The late Patti Page once came out of
retirement to attend the festival and
Everhart always remembers what she
said before heading back to California.
“She told me and wife, Sheila, to
‘keep it country’ because nobody else
is in this area,” Everhart said.
So ‘keep it country’ they will. And
you can too, all week along at the Old
Time Music Festival in Le Mars. F
Le Mars | Iowa