by Blair Lovern

Killer lineup starring Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, the Claire Lynch Band and more comes to Pizza Hut Park on Sunday.

Frisco brings a killer lineup to its first big bluegrass festival this Sunday. Festival director and founder Alan Tompkins said he hopes this one goes well enough to make it an annual event.

"I know you darn sure can't satisfy everyone when you put something like this together," he said. "Someone will complain about something. But we couldn't bring up a better, well-rounded lineup as this."

Coming to town are: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, the Claire Lynch Band, Williams & Clark Expedition and local boys Cadillac Sky. The festival will help benefit the Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation Patient Assistance Fund.

Tompkins - vice president and general counsel of Hunt Sports Group, which operates Pizza Hut Park - grew up in Kentucky and said he's always wanted to bring this sort of festival to town.

"I'm a bluegrass fan," Tompkins said, "and one of the things we thought when we planned for Pizza Hut Park is to have smaller, community based concerts - smaller than Kenney Chesney and George Strait and the others who've come through here. We've always wanted to bring in country and jazz acts and bluegrass, which is kind of my area of expertise and interest. I've been pushing this idea for a good while."

Pickers will be able to jam in the Verizon Wireless Club. The seating for this show will differ from past shows at PHP. As brilliant as the musicians are for this show, they won't draw the George Strait crowd. The seats will be in the actual stands, not on the field.

"With the big shows, you put the beer down on the field and porta potties," Tompkins said. "We didn't want people to have to go through all that for this festival. Basically, the stage is set on the 50 yard line facing the West grandstands and the artists will play in a close and intimate environment. All the patrons will have stadium style seating, so it should make for a close and warm environment to enjoy the music."

Tompkins, who grew up in Kentucky playing in Southern Gospel groups, will be the emcee for the day. But he also plays banjo and upright bass and said he wants to try to sneak in a few lessons from two of the best in the business, Jim Mills (banjo picker for Ricky Skaggs) and Missy Raines (bass player with Claire Lynch).

"Am I bringing my instruments? Oh, absolutely," Tompkins said. "I'm encouraging people to come out and enjoy the day, the weather is supposed to be good. It looks like it will be a great day for music and I hope it helps prove it's a viable thing to do every year here."

What do you think?