Bones Fest XII Electronic Media Kit |
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News Release About the Rhythm Bones Society
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News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Saint Louis To Host First Musical Bones Fest West of the Mississippi River Sep 10, 2008 (SAINT LOUIS, MO)-- Musical bone players from around the country and around the world are making plans to gather in Saint Louis this October for the twelfth annual Bones Fest sponsored by the Rhythm Bones Society. The Rhythm Bones Society (RBS) is a non-profit educational organization formed for "the purpose of the continuation, promotion, and improvement of rhythm bones (an ancient musical instrument) and other related musical instruments," according to the by-laws of the group. "The Rhythm Bones Society has chosen St. Louis as its host city for Bones Fest XII, our annual gathering of rhythm bones players from around the world," says Spike Bones (aka Darryl Muhrer) of Columbia, Missouri, and this year's host for the event. "This is the first Bones Fest west of the Mississippi River," adds Muhrer. "Up until now," says co-host and Saint Louis resident, Scott Miller, "Bone Fest has only been held in the New England states, Kentucky and Tennessee." "We are all very excited that we're going to a new part of the country," adds RBS Executive Director, Stephen Brown, from Winchendon, Massachusetts. "This should be a very fun time for us," exclaims Brown, who made history in 2003 as the first American to win the All-Ireland Bone Playing Championship. Bones Fest runs the weekend of October 17 through 19, 2008 and features beginning and advanced bones workshops, jam sessions, a bones museum, and the world's largest bones marketplace. The Fest takes place at the University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL) as well as Union Station, Soldier's Memorial, the Gateway Arch and the river front. Registration opens Friday, October 17 at 12:00 noon and runs until 8:00 PM in the Museum Room of Provincial House on the UMSL (south) campus. Registration continues Saturday morning at 9:00 AM. Who can attend Bones Fest? "Anyone, whether you are an RBS member or not, can send in the official form from the rhythmbones.com website and register for Bones Fest XII," says RBS Secretary/Treasurer Steve Wixson of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Wixson was declared the 2003 World Bones Champion by the National Traditional Country Music Association. How much does it cost to register? "The cost for Bones Fest is $35 if you register online, or $40 at the door," says Wixson. The highlight of the event is the Grand Bones Fest Show which is free and open to the public. The show will be staged Saturday night from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM in the 350-seat Marillac Auditorium on the UMSL campus. The show is free but requires a ticket for admission. "Skilled bones players are scarcer than hen's teeth," says Miller ruefully, adding, "odds are you will never get a chance to see a live bones performance like this again in your lifetime." Interested persons can obtain tickets at the Provincial House Museum Room at UMSL during the festival on Friday from 12:00 noon to 8:00 PM, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. But what, exactly, are rhythm bones? "The bones are two pieces of bone, generally cows' ribs, or wood," Brown explains, adding, "they are curved slightly." And how are the instruments played? "Playing the bones is all in holding them correctly," says Brown. "By moving the hand, wrist and arm a variety of rhythmical patterns can be produced." How many people play the bones? "I speculate there are tens of thousands of bones players in the world and to date we have found about 650," says Wixson, who serves as the group's bones researcher and editor of the organization's quarterly newsletter. "Many can trace their bones playing to the end of the minstrel era," he explains, "or from a relative who learned from a minstrel show. These people have gray hair and are getting old. In one or two decades they will be gone and the number of bones players will be small. The work of our society is clear - pass on bones playing to the next generation." That is why the organizers of this year's Bones Fest have made a special effort to involve Saint Louis area musicians. Muhrer has contacted music schools and organizations throughout the region about the event with hopes of encouraging students, musicians and teachers to discover - and pass along - the ancient art of bone playing. So don't miss this extremely rare opportunity to learn how to play the ancient instrument, give them a rattle, and see a live performance featuring 50 or more players from near and far. What's the best reason to attend Bones Fest? "Bones Fest is a real hoot," says Miller, another World Bones Champion, adding, "It's more fun than you can shake a stick at." You can check out the Rhythm Bones Society online, get detailed information about Bones Fest XII, and register for the event at www.rhythmbones.com/. About the Rhythm Bones Society The Rhythm Bones Society is an IRS 501c(3) non-profit educational society formed for the purpose of the continuation, promotion, and improvement of rhythm bones (an ancient musical instrument) and other related musical instruments. The Society sponsors an annual festival, newsletter and website. The group was formed as a non-profit organization in 1999 during a meeting at Bones Fest III. The name "Rhythm Bones Society" was selected to distinguish musical bone players from archaeologists, osteopaths, trombone, domino and die players. RBS member Joe Birl holds a trademark on Rhythm Bones (since 1948) and kindly allows the Rhythm Bones Society to use the name. Benefits of membership in the Rhythm Bones Society include a subscription to the quarterly "Rhythm Bones Player" newsletter and reduced prices for Society events such as the annual Bones Fest. Bones Fest XII Electronic Media Kit Interview Contacts Spike Bones (Darryl Muhrer) Scott Miller Stephen Brown Steve Wixson ###
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