Local music legend hosts fourth annual bluegrass festival

Vernon Fest, an all-day bluegrass festival, was held on Aug. 1 at Ross Christian Church in Hamilton. 

It featured 10 bluegrass bands: P’s in a Pod, Sterling Bluegrass Band, Blue Note, Porch Goose, the Great Miami Bluegrass Band, Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, New Mountain Heritage Bluegrass Band, the Bean Blossom Ramblers, Foxtowne and The Hop River Band.

The festival is named for local bluegrass musician Vernon McIntyre, who organizes the event and runs the Famous Old Time Music Company at 1196 Ross Millville Rd. in Millville.

McIntyre’s love for bluegrass started early when he ran away from home at 15 for New York.

“I got on a show called “Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour,” McIntyre said, “there were some great musicians on there at one time … I started playing banjo all the time.” 

He played with a bluegrass band in New York City before returning to Cincinnati in 1960 to join his father and play with Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys, who made history one year earlier as the first bluegrass band to play in New York’s Carnegie Hall. Though McIntyre didn’t perform with the group at Carnegie Hall, he played with them on six recordings, according to pickersguide.com.

Over the next few decades, McIntyre played with several different bluegrass groups, including at famous concert venues such as the Grand Ole Opry. His favorite show was in Baltimore, Maryland, on the Chesapeake Bay.

“We played a show to about 35,000 people, and it was just kind of a magic night for me,” McIntyre said.

McIntyre now plays with his band, Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass. The group consists of Vernon McIntyre and his wife Kitty McIntyre, Robert Campbell, Susan Shook and Tammy Powers. The band plays at the Vinoklet Winery on the first Wednesday of each month, in addition to other festival performances. 

According to the Famous Old Time Music Company website, McIntyre purchased the store from bluegrass bassist Rich Hart in 1984, when the business was located in Cincinnati. In 2001, he also purchased the Boatwhistle Memorial Hall in Wapakoneta, Ohio, where he held bluegrass jams, concerts, and festivals.

Approximately six years ago, McIntyre sold his other properties and purchased his store in Millville, which he also named the Famous Old Time Music Company. McIntyre said a friend of his encouraged him to “open up a little store, a place to hang out,” and while this was his intention, “it’s turned into a business again.” 

Though his store is filled with bluegrass instruments, McIntyre has hundreds more that aren’t on display.

“I’ve got more Martin guitars and banjos than any stores in 10 states put together,” McIntyre said.

In addition to selling instruments, McIntyre and his wife teach lessons in guitar, mandolin, fiddle, electric bass and banjo, as well as hosting weekly bluegrass jams on Monday evenings.

Mary Jones, who works at the store, described it as a hub for community.

“There’s a community of musicians that Vernon has known for many years … so there’s that community aspect from his history,” Jones said. “And there’s also now the community aspect since he’s had that store in Millville, getting more involved with the local individuals.”

 Jones said there are many people who “stop in just to say hi, whether they play music or not.” 

Four years ago, McIntyre built a stage behind his shop to accommodate the bluegrass jams, which were growing too large to fit in the building. He then decided to use the stage to host his annual Vernon Fest bluegrass festival. 

This year, the festival was moved to Ross Christian Church due to weather.

“There might not have been as many people as if it had been outside, but (they) still really had a pretty good turnout,” Jones said.  

Jones and McIntyre stressed that the festival is a group effort. Many people help organize the festival, set it up on performance day and come to support the performing musicians. 

“Everybody’s always willing to pitch in and help,” said Jones.