California, MD — The annual Bluegrass for Hospice will take place on Saturday, October 22, 2016, at the Flat Iron Farm in Great Mills, Maryland. Starting at noon, this family event will feature a full day of fun with music, raffles, silent auction, and door prizes. From the TLC TV Network and Nashville, Tennessee, The Willis Clan will headline the show along with other local talents. Presented by Jay & Michelle Armsworthy, Bluegrass for Hospice, in its 8th year, will benefit the Hospice of St. Mary’s, Hospice House. Tickets can be purchased online at www.bluegrassforhospice.com.
The Willis Clan is a family of amazing musicians, dancers, athletes, writers, and artists. Living near Nashville Tennessee, they merge their Irish roots with other music and dance genres to create a unique blend of the old and new. They have been greatly blessed to enjoy a rich and rewarding life. It is also a lot of hard work. With twelve children – eight girls and four boys – just keeping their names straight can be a challenge. All twelve children’s names start with the letter “J” (Jessica, Jeremiah, Jennifer, Jeanette, Jackson, Jedi, Jasmine, Juliette, Jamie, Joy Anna, Jaeger, Jada), and their sons all have the middle name Scott.
The Willis Family is an American reality television show about the musical family, airing on the TLC Network. The show follows the family of 14 demonstrating their musical and dancing skills while sharing their talents and balancing life at home. The family of entertainers reached the quarterfinals of season 9 of America’s Got Talent and they’ve performed more than 60 times at The Grand Ole Opry. The children work hard to become excellent at the things they do. They have won regional and national dance titles and placed in world competitions for both music and dance. The boys have won state titles in folk style, freestyle, and Greco-Roman wrestling.
Their recently released third album “Heaven”; was written, performed, engineered and produced by various members of the 14 person family. Their live shows are full of meaningful songs, striking harmonies, driving rhythms and soaring anthems which also demonstrate their Irish music and dancing roots.
The Willis’ enjoy the full spectrum of life and have chosen to take paths less traveled and they love it. The Willis Clan look forward to sharing a little of this joy and adventure with everybody they meet at this year’s Bluegrass for Hospice.
Other Bluegrass talent will feature local favorites: Recycled Bluegrass, 15 Strings, Bubby Abell; Spoon Creek, and Bluegrass Gospel Express. There will also be a special “Bottom County Bluegrass” tribute to Charlie Thompson, with this year’s event in his memory as well as longtime patron, Jay Russell. Troy Jones will provide sound for the day’s event.
There’ll be many door prizes given away, 50/50 raffles, silent auctions, and various vendors. Food will be available for sale by the “3 rd District Optimist Kruzin’ Kafe” and will feature some fine Southern Maryland style cooking at affordable prices. Please bring your lawn chairs and BYOB. There will be a food drive for the Helping Hands Food Pantry of Southern Maryland.
Everyone is encouraged, but not required, to bring a non-perishable food item. The event will be held inside a handicap accessible arena style barn with outdoor bathroom facilities. The doors open at 11 am and the festivities begin at noon.
For out of town guests, accommodations can be provided by the “new” Holiday Inn Express located at 45260 Abell House Lane in California, MD. Mention “Bluegrass for Hospice” to receive a special discounted rate.
Tickets for Bluegrass for Hospice-2016 can be purchased in advance for $25.00 and will be $30.00 at the gate. Children under 12 are admitted free with a paid adult. You can purchase tickets by mail by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope along with a check made payable to “Hospice of St. Mary’s” and mail to P.O. Box 741, California, MD, 20619. To order by credit card online from “Brown Paper Tickets” go to www.bluegrassforhospice.com and click on the “Tickets” tab.
If you’d like to purchase them in person, they are available at The Trading Post, Rt. 5 and Indian Bridge Rd in Great Mills, MD.
For more information, to be a sponsor, or to reserve a vendor space, contact Jay Armsworthy at 301-737- 3004 and check the website as well, www.bluegrassforhospice.com.
