Musicians Against Childhood Cancer 2013 - Preview

 The 2013 edition of Musicians Against Childhood Cancer bluegrass festival will run at the Hoover - Y Park in Columbus, Ohio from July 17 - July 20, 2013. Featuring more than forty national bands over a full four day period, this event has contributed $716,397.00 to St. Jude and the YMCA, helping children around the world. Many of the finest bluegrass bands in the country contribute their time to help in the battle against childhood cancer through St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Drawing a large audience from all over the country and around the world, the MACC is noted as a fan friendly event that, while large, has maintained a homey atmosphere and an infectious spirit developed through a shared sense that both the musicians and the audience can have a wonderful time while enjoying the very best in bluegrass music.

The Music

The MACC is best known for the Classic Performances featured each year. Promoter Darrell Adkins, who has been promoting bluegrass in the Columbus area for over thirty years, is known for his ability to bring together musicians who don't often appear together for what are often one-time-only performances.  This year is no exception. J.D. Crowe, Bradley Walker, and others will perform in a tribute to several key albums by Keith Whitley. A celebration of 50 years in music will feature Larry Sparks and Doyle Lawson, who have never before appeared together on stage.

          

              Larry Sparks                                    Doyle Lawson

 

Rhonda Vincent, Russell Moore, Junior Sisk, and a surprise guest will appear together in another Classic Performance.

Junior Sisk

Rhonda Vincent

Russell Moore

A "Classic Country" set will feature Carl Jackson, Jerry Salley, and Larry Cordle as well as many unannounced guests on Saturday evening in what's come to be known at the MACC Opry, a not to be missed gala closure held each year at the MACC. The MACC Opry will also offer debut performances by Flatt Lonesome, Mo Pitney, and Billy Alan Droze.

Carl Jackson

Jerry Salley

Larry Cordle

Val Story

 Wednesday

 

Don Rigsby

Marty Raybon

James King

 Dave Adkins & Republik Steele

MACC Debut

  Thursday

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

Sierra Hull

Gary Nichols (The SteelDrivers)

 

Friday

Ben Eldridge

Last Original Member of Seldom Scene

Dudley Connell (Seldom Scene)

 Feller & Hill and the Bluegrass Buckaroos

Lou Reid & Carolina

 

Saturday 

J.D. Crowe

Dale Ann Bradley

Bradley Walker

The Gibson Brothers

 

 The MACC lineup is so heavily loaded with Grammy, IBMA, and SPBGMA award winners that it's impossible to picture them all in this preview.  Most bands perform one hour-long set. Since they contribute these performances to benefit the MACC, please patronize their merchandise tables, as it helps pay the way. Suffice it to say that bluegrass lovers get a chance at such a lineup only rarely. If you haven't bought your tickets yet, do so on line, by mail, or at the gate. For a full schedule of performance times click here.

The Details

 Hoover Y Park (owned and operated by the Central Ohio YMCA) is located only minutes from downtown Columbus, Ohio at 1570 Rohr Rd., Lockbourne, OH.  It consists of sixty-five acres of tree shaded and open fields with plenty of room  for seating in front of the new, modern stage built a few years ago, and spacious, spread out areas for camping. Over the years, the site has been improved with the addition of electric and water sites. This year 65 new 30 amp electric hookups have been added. Below is a map of the site:

Click here to view a full-size map

You can find additional information about camping and a contact number for making reservations here. There are plenty of rest rooms on the site as well as a pay shower facility. The sound for the MACC is about the best you can find anywhere, clear and crisp with excellent carrying quality without ever becoming too boomingly loud for comfort. While personal golf carts are prohibited, several volunteers drive festival carts around the spacious site providing rides for those who need them.

Tickets

You can order tickets online by clicking here. If you are not comfortable purchasing online, you can phone here: 740-548-4199 or order by mail:

Musicians Against Childhood Cancer

1434 S. 3 B's and K Rd.

Galena, OH 43021

Remember that the MACC is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, making a portion of the price of tickets deductible.  You can also contribute to the MACC by buying raffle tickets for the beautiful replica of the Clarence White/Tony Rice 1935 D28 Martin Herringbone guitar made by Todd Sams. Raffle tickets are $10.00 a piece, and can be ordered online, too.

 Camping in the Bottoms

Merchandise Row

Finding a Place to Relax & Listen

The MACC Store

Spacious Shade Tent

Plenty of Food Vendors

Viewing the Stage in the Shade

Camping in the Field

 Portable Showers

Looking to the Back of the Performance Area

How to Get to the MACC

for driving directions click the link below the map

and add your current location in B

View Larger Map

Musicians Against Childhood Cancer is, simply, a unique and special experience, even for the most frequent of festival goers. It combines one of the best lineups you can see anywhere with a sense of mission and purpose driving it. The loss of Mandy Adkins, well known to many of the musicians performing, to brain cancer in 2000 made the change of direction for this festival a necessity for the Adkins family. Since then, thousands of people have contributed to St. Jude Children's Reaseach Hospital while having the time of their lives listening to the music they love and interacting with musicians they like and admire.You'll be welcome and you'll have a wonderful time! See you there.