Rhonda Vincent and the Rage are a Saturday staple at the Milan Bluegrass Festival. Rhonda always goes out of her way to accommodate all of her fans, but this past Saturday she went above and beyond. A young girl and her mother came to the front of the “meet and greet” line. This young girl (named Kristen) admired Rhonda’s dress and explained that she was in Miss Monroe County pageant this coming weekend, and sure would like a dress like Rhonda’s.
Rhonda told Kristen she could try on the dress and have it if it fit. She took Kristen on the bus and they had a fitting. The photo above is Rhonda, Kristen, and the dress she will wear in the pageant this weekend. Thank you so very much Rhonda. Kristen is probably the happiest youngster in Michigan!!
Saturday was a great day at Milan. Volume Five opened the day with a bang. They have rapidly become a Milan favorite. Larry Efaw and the Bluegrass Mountaineers brought their Stanley-style, hard driving bluegrass to the Milan stage. Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice hit the stage with some of the best traditional bluegrass around today. Rhonda Vincent brought the Rage to Milan again this year. She is arguably the most popular entertainer that graces the stage.
The Detour bluegrass band closed the show to a very appreciative crowd. Band leader Jeff Rose made the weekend special. Current Milan sound man, and former Detour sound man, Jimmy Kittle’s son is very ill with transplanted organ rejection. The Southeast Michigan Bluegrass Music Association was taking donations to help with the Kittle family’s extra expenses. Jeff offered a match of up to $500 from Detour for donations made to the association Saturday. The association gathered $601 to make a total donation of $1,101 for the J. Kittle Medical Fund! Festival promoter and KC Campground owner, Mark Gaynier, also pledged $1,000 to the medical fund. The Milan Bluegrass Festival and the Southeast Michigan Bluegrass Music Association is grateful to everyone who donated.
