Reid Northrup was a founding member and first President of the NorthEast Country Music Association and was the Manager of the Altamont (New York) Fair for almost twenty years. Reid worked diligently thought out his career to promote country music acts from the northeast, welcoming country acts to the Altamont fair as often as possible. In honor of this man the former Grove Stage will be renamed The Reid Northrup Memorial Stage. The folks at The NorthEast CMA want to place a plague on this stage and therefore had this event to defray the costs.

      Unfortunately, Mother Nature decided to put on one of those "perfect for a barbeque" Sunday afternoons, so the attendance was very light. Those faithful who did venture"in" were treated to four hours of music and fun.

      Donating there time to this cause and entertaining were local favorites Aged In The Hills, The Back 40 Band, Al and Kathy Bain and Blue Moon.

      Leading off were Al and Kathy punctuating their well practiced bluegrass and country act with jokes and well meant digs at each other. Aged In The Hills followed with a nice performance of there own work and some cover tunes including a very good cover of Trick Pony's Pour Me sung by the their lead singer Lorie Green. Al Bain joined them on banjo for a couple of bluegrass tunes and "Party Martie Roberts" sang a Cajun song with them as well. Up next were Blue Moon playing some great bluegrass, and then finally The Back 40 Band playing a set of cover tunes mixed with some of their own work showing us why they were selected to open up this years WGNA CountyFest. George Schacher of Aged In The Hills joined The Back 40 Band on fiddle and guitar for a few tunes getting a warm up for when he joins them at Country Fest. There was also a surprise appearance by Don Gaylord from North Forty who sang and played harmonica.

      WGNA radio personality and area dance instructor Kevin Richards was on hand to treat the crowd to some of his classic country trivia questions as well as to show off some of his dance skills.

      This was a terrific afternoon of music and fun. Money was raised for a worthy cause. Anyone who could not make it out, but wishes to donate can do so by sending a check made payable to NorthEast CMA to P.O. Box 766 Altamont, New York 12009.