By Joseph Morgan

joseph@southerntorch.com

FORT PAYNE, Ala.—During the 10th Annual Boom Days celebration, the Fort Payne Opera House will spring into life with a vibrant celebration of Southern traditional music styles at the Boom Days Hootenanny event, a free show on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Grammy award-winning Bluegrass legend Norman Blake along with accomplished Bluegrass banjoist Jim Connor, Alabama Bluesman Russell Gulley and rising Blues star Jontavious Willis will perform a dynamic mix of traditional forms of American roots music as part of the Boom Days festival’s focus on celebrating local heritage and culture.

Grammy winner Norman Blake’s appearance will compliment his performance at Boom Day’s Verizon Wireless Stage earlier in the day. Blake is perhaps best known for his inclusion on the Grammy-winning “O Brother Where Art Thou” soundtrack and his decades of performing with such legends as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and many others.

Fort Payne’s Boom Days Heritage Celebration enters its 10th year during 2015 and has been designated by the State of Alabama Department of Tourism as the official “Alabama Event of the Year” for 2015, beating out thousands of other nominated events.