PICKENS — Get ready to tap your feet to music that can’t be beat — delivered by talented musicians of all ages, including students from the Pickens area.

The 3rd Annual Papa John Foster Memorial Music Festival will be held Saturday, May 1 at Pickens High School’s Bruce Field.

Beginning at 10:30 a.m., the festival will feature a mix of bluegrass and old-time music by Curtis Blackwell and the Dixie Bluegrass Boys, City Limits with the legendary Lewis Crowe, the hard-driving sound of Different Strokes, Last Road, Al Osteen & Friends,

the old time music of the Blue Ridge Rounders, and the Long Mountain Ramblers (Dean Watson & Steve McGaha).

The concert is a fundraiser for the Young Appalachian Musicians program — an innovative program that pairs experienced musicians with young student eager to learn about traditional music.

Students in each of the schools currently hosting a YAM program – Ambler, Hagood, Holly Springs, A.R. Lewis Elementary Schools and Pickens Middle School — will take the stage throughout the day, and the concert will be kicked off by the Pickens Senior High Bluegrass Band.

“The YAM after-school program teaches banjo, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin to schoolchildren, and the Papa John Foster Memorial Music Festival provides a wonderful opportunity to hear these talented young people who enjoy learning about their musical

heritage,” said Betty McDaniel, Executive Director of the YAM program.

The festival is named in memory of John Derill Foster, a tireless supporter of young musical talent who passed away in June 2008.

“He was a friend to everybody and was affectionately known as ‘Papa John’ to the Bluegrass community,” said David Snyder, who will handle the sound for the festival. “He and his wife Frances enjoyed many Bluegrass festivals together until her passing. Without his traveling companion, John seemed to drift away from his favorite pastime,” Snyder said.

Mrs. Foster passed away in 1996.

“Momma and Daddy went anywhere and everywhere in my motor home,” said Johnny Foster. “They attended many festivals and followed The Lewis Family when they performed until Momma passed.” Years went by before John Foster began attending music festivals again and he invited his granddaughter, Amanda Foster, to go with him.

“Amanda fell in love with the music and showed interest in learning to play,” Snyder said.

“This rekindled John’s passion for Bluegrass music.” Amanda Foster performed with the popular group Oolenoy Valley during her teenage years. John Foster never played an instrument but Amanda is not the first Bluegrass musician in the Foster clan. John’s late brother, Verner Foster, played fiddle with Curtis Blackwell and the Dixie Bluegrass Boys back in the ‘70s.

“Papa John encouraged Amanda and provided the instruments as this gifted young musician quickly learned to play the fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass and banjo,” McDaniel said.

“But he supported and encouraged all youngsters with an interest in Bluegrass music and was excited about the Young Appalachian

Musician program. It is this legacy that we endeavor to preserve with the YAM program.”

The YAM program, and its parent program —Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music — have begun a new program, YESIYAM, for those interested in support the YAM mission.

YESIYAM is a booster club designed to support the YAMs and enable the program to expand into more local schools.

YESIYAM members will begin receiving a quarterly newsletter in July featuring Young Appalachian Musicians in our community. A family membership in YESIYAM is $50 and will extend through June 2011. Those who join prior to the festival will receive 4 tickets for the festival this year and also the 2011 festival.

Additional membership benefits will be announced as they become available.

To join YESIYAM, or otherwise contribute to the program, donations may be sent to: POSAM, c/o Betty McDaniel, 792 Holly Springs School Road, Pickens, SC 29671.

For further information call 864.878.4257 or e-mail POSAM_Info@yahoo.com.

When you come to the festival, come hungry:festival concessions will include BBQ, hot dogs, funnel cakes, cakes and cookies, soft drinks and coffee. Please bring your own chairs. Alcohol, coolers and pets are prohibited.

Music festival tickets are available from any YAM member school. Adults (18 and over) $10, Youth (under 18) $5, and children (5 and under) will be admitted free. Tickets may also be purchased at Dacusville Tire, Horizon Records in Greenville, Music Maker in Easley, Phil’s Music in Greer, and at the gate. In case of inclement weather the festival will be moved to the Pickens Senior High School auditorium.

One lucky music fan will walk away with a new instrument to add to their collection. Festival organizers are raffling off a clawhammer banjo. The banjo, valued at $1,300, was built by Lo Gordon of Brevard and comes with a gig bag and a strap.

The drawing will be held at the close of the festival, and winners don’t have to be present to win.

Tickets for drawings are $20 each, but only 150 tickets will be sold, giving each ticket a 1-in-150 chance of winning.

Those tickets can be purchased at Oolenoy Jam in Pumpkintown on Friday nights, at any YAM school (Holly Springs, Pickens Middle, Ambler, AR Lewis, Hagood, Pickens High), or call McDaniel at 864-878-4257 or email(mcdanibw@pickens.k12.sc.us) Betty. Checks can be made out to POSAM (Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music, Inc.).

Gates open at 9:30 a.m. In case of inclement weather, the festival will be moved to Pickens High’s auditorium.