Big bluegrass festival in Syria

Audiences attending the Graves Mountain Lodge Festival of Music have heard multi-instrumentalist Randy Kohrs play in a number of bands over the years. This season, it’s his turn in the spotlight.

Kohrs will be leading his own band, the Lites, in two performances Thursday, May 29, to help open the Syria resort’s 16th annual bluegrass festival.

Listeners will get to hear his tenor voice on lead vocals, accompanied by the resophonic guitar work that has helped keep him an in-demand musician on more than 500 albums spanning the spectrum from country to rap.

“For me, I’m all about stretching the boundaries and making a sound that is identifiably mine,’’ Kohrs said. “At the same time, I’m much more of a lover of traditional country music than what’s on the radio today.’’

Fans can pick up on his tastes by giving his latest CD, “Old Photograph,’’ a listen before the festival, or by reaching back to 2004 to hear “I’m Torn,’’ which featured his duet with Dolly Parton, “It Looked Good on Paper.”

His live show gives listeners a chance to hear his rich musical influences.

“Being a slide musician, I’m very rooted in the blues,’’ he said. “I’ve played on rap records, contemporary Christian records. The instrument fits into any genre.’’

The Iowa native’s versatility has been matched by his patience. After all, he earned the money for his first dobro at age 11 by raising and selling a calf. Kohrs has played pedal steel, electric guitar, bass, mandolin and other instruments on CDs by other artists, and he performed with Continental Divide and John Cowan.

He’s even comfortable on the other side of the sound board. Kohrs picked up a Grammy Award in 2007 for his producing and engineering work on Jim Lauderdale’s “The Bluegrass Diaries.’’

When it comes to selecting a song, Kohrs wants to be sure it has something to say.

“For the most part, I look for really great lyrics in songs,’’ Kohrs said. “It has to hit me emotionally the right way.’’

He takes his time searching for “songs that really fit me and fit me vocally. Just because it’s a good song doesn’t always mean it’s good for me,’’ he said.

This year, bluegrass can help music lovers stay green — and save green.

Gas-conserving music fans can make the most of their travel budgets by parking once and hearing multiple acts for one price. Folks who stay for an entire day of the festival can take breaks to go hiking, fishing, swimming or horseback riding, which opens options for families with active children or groups of friends with different interests. It’s also possible to camp at Graves Mountain Lodge and spend the whole weekend at the festival, which runs through May 31.

This year’s musical offerings will start Thursday, May 29, with a performance by Madison County’s Courtney Hollow Band. Next will be the Wells Family at 1:45 p.m. and again at 4:45 p.m., followed by Kohrs and the Lites at 2:30 and 6:15 p.m., Steep Canyon Rangers at 3:15 and 8:20 p.m., the James King Band at 4 and 9:10 p.m., the Lewis Family at 5:30 p.m. and the Isaacs at 7 p.m.

The Friday, May 30 lineup includes Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain, the Bluegrass Brothers, the Seldom Scene, Sierra Hull and Highway 111, the U.S. Navy Band’s Country Current bluegrass group, Blue Highway and Cadillac Sky. There also will be an evening performance by Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band, featuring Con Birch, Wayne Taylor, Mark Newton, Pat White, Joe Wheatley and Frank Solivan.

The Saturday, May 31 schedule offers Mark Templeton and Pocket Change, Grasstowne, the Mark Newton Band, Cherryholmes, Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top X-Press, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, the Graves Family with Carl Jackson and Ralph Stanley, Ralph Stanley II and the Clinch Mountain Boys.

Head to http://www.gravesmountain.com and click on “Festival of Music’’ to get camping and lodging information. A three-day ticket, which is necessary if you’re planning on camping there, is $90.