Submitted photos The Seldom Scene will headline this weekend’s Mitch and Cindy’s Bluegrass Festival at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds.

A band “seldom scene” in these parts will headline this year’s Mitch and Cindy’s Bluegrass Festival at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds.

The Seldom Scene, whose original lineup was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2014, will perform Saturday at the Memorial Day weekend festival.

Cindy Matheson, co-founder of the festival with her husband Mitch Meadors Jr., said she believes this will be the first time the band has played locally.

“We always try to bring in somebody that’s not been in this area a thousand times, somebody that’s unique and different, but everybody loves them,” she said. “We always want to bring in a new crowd to add on to the crowd we had last year, because once they come, they come back.”

The Seldom Scene was one of Matheson’s favorites growing up, and the group’s original dobro player, Mike Auldridge, is the reason she started playing the instrument.

“That’s who I cut my teeth on, that was my heroes,” she said. “They weren’t that traditional bluegrass, that hardcore first generation. They were more the second-generation bluegrass, kind of on the cutting edge, doing some newer sounding style music, instead of the old traditional mountain music. They took it up to a new level that interests younger people. It’s kind of like the Billy Strings of today, I guess.

“That got the young people involved, and they were jokesters on stage. They were entertainers. They weren’t just sitting up there doing their show. They would entertain you, and that made a world of difference in the bluegrass community, because the first generation were very stiff and proper and just stood there and played. So that kind of brought in a new feel and fun thing. And they were just wonderful. And the music that they chose was, I would say, a little contemporary for that time.”

Clay Hess, who has played the festival since it started, recently joined The Seldom Scene, following the retirement of lead singer Dudley Connell. Hess also has worked with such acts as Ricky Skaggs and Sierra Hull.

He continues to front his own Clay Hess Band, which features Meadors on mandolin and vocals. Hess will be doing triple duty, playing sets with the Seldom Scene at 4 and 9 p.m. Saturday, performing with his own band at 2 p.m. Saturday and backing festival attendees for karaoke with the Clay Hess Band at 10 p.m. Saturday.

The festival opens at 2 p.m. Friday with Ottawa County Bluegrass, followed by New Tradition, Open Highway, Dynamic Duo/Bonding Buddies and the Kevin Prater Band.

Saturday starts with workshops and a presentation by Mike Wilson as President William McKinley.

“He’ll talk to everybody about the great things that President McKinley did, and he’ll dress in costume and put on a little show for us on Saturday morning,” Matheson said. “I’m excited about that new thing.”

Additional acts on Saturday include Muddy Krick, a return appearance by the Kevin Prater Band and the Lincoln Mash & Heather Alley Band, who Matheson predicted will be big.

“When they hit the big time, they are going to shoot straight up,” she said. “They are amazing. She has a voice like Alison Krauss, and she plays the fiddle too. They’re just so talented.”

A bluegrass worship service is planned Sunday morning, followed by a Jeep Jam from 1 to 4 p.m. that includes a Jeep parade.

The festival officially closed at 4 p.m., but the gates will reopen at 5 p.m. for a concert featuring Speed Limit, Deja Blue (Lakeview High School’s rock band students) and Jesse Matheson. Sunday evening activities are free for festival weekend pass holders, and $10 for separate admission.

A portion of the proceeds from this year’s festival will benefit Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice.

“We lost my mom, so we’re dedicating the festival to my mom’s memory,” Matheson said. “They were so great for my mom. I think it’s such a worthy cause.”

If you go …

WHAT: Mitch and Cindy’s Bluegrass Festival

WHEN: Friday, Saturday and Sunday

WHERE: Trumbull County Fairgrounds, 899 Everett Hull Road, Bazetta

HOW MUCH: Tickets are $30 on Friday and $35 on Saturday or $65 for a weekend pass. Admission is $10 after 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, go to mitchandcindys bluegrass.com.