43
Kinsman’s Posey talks bluegrass, festival
By REBECCA S. NIEMINEN
KINSMAN
As a small boy, Kinsman resident Mark Posey learned to love, as well as play, bluegrass. The music was part of his family’s heritage.
“During the 1950s, many families, including mine, moved to the Youngstown-Warren area from West Virginia to work in the mills,” Posey said. “They brought their music with them. Growing up, my parents or grandparents either listened to bluegrass or played it, so I got into the music at a very early age.”
Today, Posey plays upright bass with his bluegrass band The Red Dust Mountain Boys. He also plays mandolin, fiddle and guitar and operates Doghouse Entertainment, an organization that helps promote area bluegrass festivals.
Posey wants to spread the word about the upcoming Pioneer-Valley Lake Bluegrass Festival, which is set for Friday and June 25 at Pioneer Picnic Campgrounds in Pierpont in Ashtabula County.
“This long-running festival used to be held at a campground in Southington,” he explained, “but the Southington campground closed, so we want to get the word out that the festial has moved and will be in Pierpont now.”
Five bands are scheduled to play at this year’s festival: The Red Dust Mountain Boys of Kinsman; Vertical Limit of Columbiana; Caney Creek of Akron; South 79 of Ashtabula; and The Daniel Prater Band of Akron.
“The bands will play non-stop on Saturday except for a dinner break from 5 to 6:30 p.m.,” Posey said. “Alcohol is permitted but not allowed in the stage area.”
The campgrounds offer primitive camping, but Posey said 47 of the 50 campground sites are already spoken for.
Posey said he looks forward to celebrating and sharing the music he loves at the upcoming festival.
“This is good, clean, family entertainment,” he said. “I encourage people to come out and see what it’s all about. Many people set up their lawn chairs and sit and listen all day long. The campground has concessions, a full-working kitchen, as well as a large stage area that’s under cover. If the weather cooperates, we expect maybe 600 to 700 in attendance.”
The Red Dust Mountain Boys will play at numerous festivals this summer, and Posey said bluegrass band members typically have very busy summer schedules.
“We are like a band of gypsies in the summertime,” he said. “Outdoor shows are popular throughout Ohio and neighboring states all summer long, so if you are in a bluegrass band, chances are you work your day job during the week and then pack up your camper and head out almost every weekend to play at a show.”
The Red Dust Mountain Boys have entertained at popular venues such as W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, and have shared the stage with well-known bluegrass artists such as Rhonda Vincent.
“We play all the old, traditional favorites,” Posey said. “At a bluegrass show the crowd can shout out a song they love, and chances are we know it. The atmosphere is relaxed, like you’re among family, playing on the front porch.”
Besides Posey, The Red Dust Mountain Boys are: Jim Peska, mandolin; Herb Saffle, dobro; Greg Dogrill, banjo; and either Wes Peska or Bob Cotrell on guitar.
Posey said it can be a challenge to keep the love of bluegrass alive for the younger generation.
“Many of the people who attend the shows are older, but we want to keep this music alive for the younger generation, and for future generations, too. This is part of our heritage,” he said. “We work to attract younger audiences to these festivals as well as the older people who want to be taken back to their childhoods when they were listening to this music on the radio or listening to family members play it.”