The 2016 Musicians Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) festival took place last week at the Hoover Y Park in Columbus, OH. Darrel and Phyllis Adkins’ annual event is held in memory of their daughter, Mandy Adkins, who passed away from an inoperable brain tumor in 2000. All of the proceeds generated from the MACC benefit St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Friday’s program included great bluegrass music from The Dave Adkins Band, Flashback, Alan Bibey & Grasstowne, an All-Star MACC Jam (Randy Kohrs, Clay Hess, Paul Harrigill, Alan Bibey, Stephen Burwell, and Beth Lawrence), The Boxcars, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Doyle Lawson & Paul Williams (featuring Joe Mullins), The Steeldrivers, a Tribute to James King (Dudley Connell, Don Rigsby, Joe Mullins, Chris Hill, Ronnie Simpkins, Rickie Simpkins), and The Seldom Scene. The MACC is known as “A Festival of Hope,” and the event featured a new “Balloon Launch of Hope” today as well, allowing attendees to release a balloon as a symbol of hope in honor of a loved one or as a way to turn something over to the Lord.