THE CITY OF AUBURN HILLS PARADE OF STARS BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL CELEBRATES ITS 20th ANNIVERSARY SEPTEMBER 10th WITH HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES AND SPECIAL GUESTS

Award-Winning Bands Take the Stage for a Toe-Tappin’ Celebration in One of Southeast Michigan’s Largest Bluegrass Festivals

Media contacts: Kyle Scislowicz, City of Auburn Hills, 248.364.6726, kscislowicz@auburnhills.org; Brian Marzolf, City of Auburn Hills, 248.370.9353; bmarzolf@auburnhills.org                          

Auburn Hills, Mich.—August 15, 2016—The City of Auburn Hills, a dynamic community committed to innovation and growth, is promising another pickin’ good jamboree at its 20th Annual Parade of Stars Bluegrass Festival.  This all-day celebration of acoustic melodies takes place on Saturday, September 10th, from 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., on the lawn of the Community Center in Civic Center Park, 1827 N. Squirrel Road.  There is a $10 entry fee per adult; students and children are free.

“Auburn Hills is proud to be a place where live music can flourish and be enjoyed by the community – and this festival presents live bluegrass at its finest,” according to Brian Marzolf, Auburn Hills Recreation Director, who gets calls from citizens requesting information about the festival months in advance. “We expect more than 1,000 attendees at this year’s event,” Marzolf adds. 

“This signature event has become an enjoyable community tradition.  Interest in Bluegrass music has grown tremendously and continues to reach a broader audience with its traditional narrative style while incorporating more progressive instrumentation that appeals to audiences of all ages,” added Mayor Kevin McDaniel.

Always featuring the best in nationally based bluegrass band talent, this year is no exception.

Greg Cahill and the Special Consensus will highlight the program for the 20th consecutive year as host band.  Special Consensus has won multiple awards over its 43-year history and was Grammy-nominated in 2012 for the CD  “Scratch Gravel Road”.  Two successive recordings have won three national awards at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s competition, 2014, and three finalist nominations for this year’s IBMA awards to be presented in September in Raleigh, N.C.

Celebrating 25 years on the national scene, also appearing will be Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out.  The band’s latest album,  “It’s About Time”, was released in September 2015, and was still on top of Bluegrass Unlimited’s survey this summer.  Formed in 1991, by 1994 the group had begun a run on seven IBMA “Vocal Group of the Year” awards, and Moore won “Male Vocalist of the Year” in 1994 and 1997. 

Led by one of SiriusXM’s premier radio personalities, Chris Jones and the Night Drivers will bring their unique style of music to the festival. Between them, Chris and the Night Drivers are winners of eight IBMA awards, including “Song of the Year”.  Jones has also been recognized by IBMA as “Broadcaster of the Year”.  A former lead singer with Special Consensus,  Jones will also make a guest appearance with “Special C” during the afternoon. 

David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition brings a rich history of bluegrass to the event.  The Bluegrass Cardinals, founded by David’s late father, Don, began in California and were selected to provide the background music for the hit TV show, “The Beverly Hillbillies”.  David Parmley has chosen to let the audience relive those glory years with his new band.  No stranger to Auburn Hills,  Parmley and his band, Continental Divide, performed in the first Parade of Stars in 1997.  Cardinal Tradition band member, Ron Spears, formerly with “Special C”, will also reunite in a guest appearance.

Representatives of the Southeast Michigan Bluegrass Association will be on hand to recognize bluegrass Hall of Fame inductees from the area. 

David Blakney of CJAM-FM Windsor will emcee for his 17th year and sound will be provided by Allen Audio for the 20th year. 

This event takes place rain or shine.  Lawn chairs are recommended and coolers are allowed.  No alcohol, however, is permitted.  Food and beverages will be available for purchase.  Throughout the day, shuttle busses will be transporting guests to and from the adjacent parking lots where free parking is available.

For more information about the event, visit www.auburnhills.org or contact the Auburn Hills Recreation Department at 248.370.9353.

About Auburn Hills
The City of Auburn Hills is a distinguished leader in southeast Michigan. Home to approximately 23,000 residents, as well as a workday population of approximately 100,000, Auburn Hills continues to be a thriving global business address. It is home to over 70 international corporations and hosts the World and North American headquarters for numerous outstanding businesses such as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Continental Automotive Systems, Faurecia, and BorgWarner. Auburn Hills’ residents enjoy the amenities of city and suburban living with parks, a revitalized downtown district and a welcoming city complex with a library and community center. Additionally, the city has five colleges and universities, the award-winning Palace of Auburn Hills entertainment complex and Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, one of the state’s largest destination shopping centers, providing a variety of cultural, social and educational opportunities to residents, workers and visitors. Learn more at www.auburnhills.org. 

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