Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 17, 1995                   TAG: 9508170070
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

OSBORNE BROTHERS AND LEWISES WILL PERFORM AT VINTON BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

The Osbornes will be the opening night headliners, and the Lewises will headline the closing day.

Admission to the festival, which will be held at the Vinton Farmer's Market and the adjoining stage area on Lee Avenue, is free.

Rhona Wray, vice president of the festival organization, said this year's event will have about 20 bands. Between 50 and 60 people will perform either as band members or individual entertainers, she said.

Wray said that this year's festival is about the same size as last year's.

The Osborne Brothers and bands from the Roanoke Fiddle & Banjo Club will be the entertainers for the opening tonight at 6.

Music on Friday also start at 6 p.m. and will feature the bands Inheritance, Against the Grain, Flint Hill String Band and bands from the Fiddle & Banjo Club.

Saturday's events begin at 9 a.m. and run until 11 p.m., when the winning bands will be announced. One prize will be a special award named for the late Gene Burrows, who was a Vinton resident and a member of the Shenandoah Cut-Ups.

Sunday's activities begin at 11 a.m. with an outdoor church service. During the day, various groups will present gospel bluegrass concerts, with the Lewis Family being one of the main groups.

In addition to music, the festival will feature crafts displays on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Activities are planned for children.

Several businesses and the town of Vinton are sponsoring the festival.