CRESTVIEW — The “bluegrass” B in the Triple B Cookoff's name is safe, but these days, it might also stand for simply “bands."

Triple B organizers want live performances that appeal to more attendees. And, as the event continues to grow and draw attendees from beyond Crestview and Okaloosa County, “we wanted to reach out to a broader audience,” Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce executive assistant Jennifer Pierson said.

REVFEST INSPIRATION

Pierson, who worked on festival budgeting and entertainment scheduling, said some of bluegrass bands were beyond the chamber’s Triple B budget.

However, having worked with RevFest — the Fort Walton Beach regional art and music festival — she was familiar with other bands suitable for Crestview’s cookoff, and saw a way to kick up the event’s entertainment without breaking the bank.

The result is exciting, Triple B Chairman Derek Lott said.

“We’ve got some real good bands this year,” he said. “The music talent part is great. They’re pretty big bands along the coast.”

BLUEGRASS ROOTS

While new bands to the Florida Lottery stage bring what Pierson describes as “jam-funk” and a “modernized ‘50s and ‘60s kind of sound," the event still honors its bluegrass roots.

Dismal Creek, of Santa Rosa Beach, boasts “an unlimited arsenal of bluegrass traditionals and old-time favorites,” the band's Facebook page states.

Vocalist and guitarist Jim Hall, banjoist Rick Stanfield, mandolin player and vocalist Neil Sebree, and upright bass player and vocalist Dub Bryant say their influences include, among others, Del McCoury, Hot Rize, Seldom Scene, Bill Monroe and Capt. John Hartford.

Their interests always include playing music almost everywhere imaginable: “front yard picking, backyard pickin’, in-house picking, basement picking, mountain top picking, desert picking, field picking, boat picking, steam powered pickin’, river pickin’, and car pickin’,” their Facebook page states.

SOUTH STAGE

Music bookends the Triple B, with the Florida Lottery Stage set up across from the Okaloosa County Veterans Memorial and the South Stage between Coney Island and Casbah Coffee Company on Main Street.

That stage traditionally features local acts, including rising stars, duos, gospel quartets and student groups. Its entertainment is organized by the chamber’s Arts and Culture Committee with the local Friends of the Arts' assistance.

Pierson said "there’s a little bit of everything for everybody."

“We like the idea of having more than bluegrass,” Lott said. “You may not like what I like and I may not like what you like, but at the end of the day, there’s lots of good music and people walking up and down the street enjoying it.”

ONLINE

For more on Dismal Creek, see http://dismalcreek.com, Facebook.com/dismalcreek and www.reverbnation.com/q/5og7gw.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.                 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B: Diverse entertainment styles to enjoy at this year’s barbecue festival

Editor's Note: Dismal Creek's performance  is 11 a.m. March 28 at the Triple B Cookoff on Main Street in downtown Crestview.

Your Facebook page states Dismal Creek "set out to bring their mountain roots to the beaches of the Panhandle and beyond." Which mountains?

Jim Hall, our guitar player, is from Denver, Colo., originally. Dub Bryant, our bass player, is from the north Georgia foothills of the Appalachians. Neil Sebree, on mandolin, is from the Appalachian hills of Ohio … I was born and raised in Missouri in the mystic Ozark mountains. No place I'd rather be!

Your group had big wins in the Seventh Annual Beachcomber Music Awards March 2 in Destin. Best Bluegrass Artist; Best Country Artist; Best Folk Artist; and for you, Best Instrumentalist and Musician of the Year. How'd you celebrate?

 I'm gonna have to redirect questions pertaining to the night of March 2 to our lawyer.

What do you think it is about your music that strikes a chord with your fans?

I think people can appreciate the honesty of string band music, and that it brings everyone back to a more simple time. And it's just good old-fashioned party music!

What can Triple B attendees expect?

 A song about the old cabin home. Moving away from the place you love and coming back to find they tore it down and built a 7-Eleven.

What's your favorite Northwest Florida venue?

Grayt grounds in Grayton Beach. RIP. (The Grayt Coffee House closed its doors on March 15.)

What do you guys enjoy doing off stage?

Jim likes romantic walks on the beach, Neil likes sailing and competitive wing eating. Dub is into drag racing and monster trucks and I spend most of my time on farmersonly.com.

What's next for the group?

I tell ya, we got the release of an album coming out in the next month containing traditional bluegrass tunes, then later this year we are releasing an album of original material; several tours and bluegrass festivals. I ain't had this much fun since the hogs ate my brother!

ONLINE

For more on Dismal Creek, see http://dismalcreek.com, Facebook.com/dismalcreek and www.reverbnation.com/q/5og7gw.

Email Editorial Assistant Renee Bell, follow her on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B: Q&A with Dismal Creek banjo player Rick Stanfield

CRESTVIEW — This year's Triple B raffle started with a barbecue grill.

It was a seemingly simple, commonsense raffle prize for a barbecue festival.

And then it grew.

And it grew.

And it grew some more.

After Triple B Cookoff Chairman Derek Lott, of CCB Bank, secured the donation of a $350 stainless steel Better Homes and Gardens gas grill from Wal-Mart, it seemed the task was done.

“That’s how it started,” Lott said. “Then every month, I thought, just to make it a little more exciting, we went to different sponsors to see if they wanted to get their name out there.”

As Wal-Mart had already contributed a grill cover and grill utensils, Summerlin Truck Outfitters added a $250 Engel Deep Blue cooler to the package.

Soon, other area businesses jumped on the chance.

Hub City Ford provided a selection of gourmet meats from Carroll’s Sausage and Meats Country Store.

Publix supermarket added a $50 gift card.

Lott’s bank chipped in a $100 VISA gift card.

Saturday, someone will reap the rewards. Raffle tickets cost $1 each and are available at the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce office, 1447 Commerce Drive, next to the Community Center.

They'll also be sold during the event at the chamber’s booth near the Florida Lottery stage.

Proceeds benefit the chamber’s nonprofit programs that support the community and its member businesses, including public events such as the Triple B and fall Wine Gala.

“You got a super-good grill. You got meat to throw on it,” Lott said. “You got a super-good cooler. You got gift cards to buy whatever else you need. All you need is friends and you’re good to go.

“And you’ll have 12,000 of them on Main Street if you win.”

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B: The grill raffle that grew

CRESTVIEW — As Tucker Ewing, Mike Ingram and Charlie Buice prepare for their 12:30 p.m. Saturday performance, they're putting finishing touches on their first album.

The Rips' debut album, which is all about vintage surf rock, is scheduled for a spring release. Copies will be available in early April at their upcoming shows, and on iTunes.

And the Destin band's anticipation is building.

"We are incredibly excited about this album," Ewing said. "(It) will really showcase our sound: classic and vintage, yet original and catchy."

Q&A

Where are you from?

Tucker Ewing, lead vocalist and bass guitarist: Born and raised in Colorado; lives in Santa Rosa Beach. Mike Ingram, vocalist and electric guitarist: Born and raised in Destin. Charlie Buice: Born and raised in Fort Walton Beach.

(To the vocalists) With the guitars, beards and matching sunglasses, I have to ask: Are you guys related? Ha ha! We have no blood relation, but we certainly feel like family!

How long have you been making music together? Charlie and Mike have been playing in different bands together for years. And after meeting Tucker in November of 2014, The Rips were formed.

Why did you become a musician?

Tucker: I remember being captivated by bands and musicians at a young age, and knowing that I wanted to be on stage.

But the real turning point for me was when I started writing my own music. At that point, I quickly realized that singing and playing my own music was my favorite thing in the world.

What's in store for Triple B attendees?

Our tunes are inspired by music from the 50s, 60s and 70s, meaning, our sound has vintage guitar tones, catchy grooves and sticky melodies that you can't get out of your head.

What's your favorite song to perform as a guitarist? As a drummer?

For all of us, playing songs that we wrote is the most fulfilling. 

What's next for The Rips?

The future is looking very bright for us. We will be playing locally along the Gulf Coast through the summer, and then we will begin doing small tours starting in the fall.

From there, we plan to keep traveling, writing and recording, as much as possible.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

See The Rips' photos, videos and performance dates at www.facebook.com/theripstunes and www.theripstunes.com.

Email Editorial Assistant Renee Bell, follow her on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B: Surfer rock group to play before new album drops

Participating barbecue cookoff competitors, as of this writing, include Funny Farm BBQ, Kickin' Ash Since '68 and Ranch House Kitchen, but competitors often sign up at the last minute, and more are expected according to event organizers.

This year's competitors also include Bel Aire Terrace Apartments, Black’s Magic BBQ, Double Deuce Smokin’ BBQ, Funny Farm BBQ, Hub City Smokehouse, Jackson’s BBQ Catering, Kickin’ Ash Since ‘68, Matthew’s Real B-B-Q & Catering, Pigstickers, Poverty Hill Smokers, Ranch House Kitchen, Ricky J’s BBQ, The Little Smokehouse and Two Brothers Bar-b-que.

Two-part People’s Choice tickets can be purchased for $1 each. Take the ticket’s “sample” portion to any participating barbecue competitor in exchange for a taste of their food.

After sampling various competitors’ offerings, bring your ticket’s “vote” portion to any Triple B information booth along Main Street, where each participating competitor will have a bucket for their tickets. The People’s Choice Award winner —announced at 5 p.m. — will win the People’s Cup Trophy and a cash prize.

Fifteen groups competed in last year's barbecue cookoff, according to a Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce list.

SCHEDULE

10 a.m.: Opening ceremonies, including the national anthem, sung by Meaghan North of Crestview.  The Emerald Coast Young Marines will present the colors, and Mike Wright Reynolds will emcee on the north end stage. Ceremonies coincide with the start of the barbecue competition.

11 a.m.: Dismal Creek

12:30 p.m.: The Rips    

1:30 p.m.: The Okaloosa Sound

3:20p.m.: The Good Lookings  

5 p.m.: Awards ceremony for barbecue competition winners

6 p.m.: Event ends

Editor's Note: Patrons also can enjoy illusions by Black & Co., music by Blackbird and The Okaloosa Sound, and demonstrations from Gordon Martial Arts students. Times for these events was not scheduled by press deadline.

•••

EVENT SPONSOR: COX

Platinum Sponsors: CCB Community Bank, CenturyLink, Lee Buick GMC and Okaloosa Gas District

Gold Sponsors: Asurion, Childcare Network, Community Bank, Legal Shield and Shoal Creek Rehabilitation Center

Silver Sponsors: Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, First NBC Bank, Gordon Martial Arts, Gulf Power, Okaloosa Title & Abstract Co., and STO Summerlin Truck Outfitter & Service

Bronze Sponsors: Chessher Motors, Eglin Federal Credit Union, Emerald Coast Dermatology, Jays Guns & Accessories, Holloway & Hardy PLLC, Main Street Land Title Co. LLC, Moulton Land Title, Okaloosa County Teachers Federal Credit Union, Shaw Moving & Storage, The Fred Astaire Dance Studio and The Lewis Diamond Gallery

Partners: City of Crestview, Emergent Recording & Production House, Florida Lottery and North Okaloosa Medical Center, Wise Equipment, Cumulus Media, Walmart, Publix

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B: Competitors, schedule and event sponsors

CRESTVIEW — A group of Crestview High School chorus students was among Okaloosa, Walton, Escambia and Santa Rosa counties' lone representatives at the March 16 Florida Vocal Association state competition at Jacksonville University.

The singers qualified in November 2014 for the State Solo and Ensemble Music Performance Assessment, choral music Director Kevin Lusk said.

Crestview students’ ratings were:

•Duet: Maddie Anderson and Emily Jacobson: Superior

•Solos: Maddie Anderson, Emily Jacobson, Morgan Seip and Eli Rogers: Superiors

•Chanticleer and Destiny show choirs: Excellent

•Chanticleer Women: Superior

•Destiny Ensemble 2: Excellent

•Student Conductor Morgan Seip: Excellent

•The duet and the Chanticleer Women's ensemble were selected to perform on the Honors Showcase.

“Judges recommend outstanding performances for a special recital that performs for all participating schools,” Lusk said. “This is the second time that the Chanticleer Women's Ensemble has been selected.”

The Women’s Chorus will perform April 24 in the State Choral Music Performance Assessment competition in Tallahassee.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview High chorus excels at state competition