In the rural community of Bennington, Oklahoma, each fall the serene countryside surrounding David’s Dulcimers comes alive with some of the best acoustical music you’ll find anywhere in the US. For three days, October 1st thru 3nd, the vast pasture land quickly fills with motor homes, RV’s, tents, pick-ups, and cars, parked as far as the eye can see.
People come from as far away as Florida, Kansas, Arizona, Missouri, and many places in-between. They come to spend a fun and relaxing few days, most with their families, enjoying music that encompasses everything from blue grass to ballads to folk music, played by musicians considered to be some of the best this music genre has to offer.
During the day on Friday and Saturday there are workshops for those who want to try their hand at playing a dulcimer, banjo or autoharp. They will even add guitar lessons to the mix if enough people are interested.
Have you ever tried Shape Note Singing? This is how people sang 100+ years ago before it was common to know how to read music. Veteran musician, Margaret Wright, teaches the class. Her students first learn how to sing each shape note, of which there are four, then hone in on the song selections, practicing about an hour Friday and Saturday afternoon. The class then performs on stage during the Saturday night concert. The sound of the voices when it all comes together rivals an angelic choir. It is truly an amazing experience and a whole lot of fun.
There are vendors. Bring your checkbooks! There are raffles. Bring your lucky rabbit’s foot! And for those who play any acoustic instrument, there are jams happening all through the day Friday & Saturday and after the concerts late into the night.
If you can’t make it during the day, come early, before the concerts, and enjoy the Friday night Dandy Dulcimer Chili & Stew Supper. Or savor the Saturday Night Feast – your choice of beef, chicken, or pork, grilled on site by a winner of many iron chef competitions, along with assorted veggies and home baked cakes and pies. Serving starts at 5 pm.
Friday and Saturday night, starting at 7 pm, the evening stage concerts begin. Get ready to be entertained. Most of the music is bluegrass and music from the Appalachian Mountains with a few ballads thrown into the mix. It’s a hands-clapping, foot stomping, yee-ha good time.
But the very best part -- aside from the food-- everything is absolutely FREE!!
So, if your plans for the weekend are to wash the car or practice your talent at being a couch potato, you might want to mosey up toward Bennington, about 30 miles east of Durant, and join the Red River Valley Dulcimer Club as they present the 9th Annual Winter Creek Dulcimer & Acoustic Music Festival.
We’ll see ya there!
For more information: www.rrvdc.com