The Sylva Rotary Club will host the 3rd annual Bluegrass & BBQ Festival June 17 with BBQ dinners being served starting at 5 p.m. and live music with the Whitewater Bluegrass Co. and Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time beginning at 7 p.m.

The Whitewater Bluegrass Co. has been performing around the country for the past 20 years. Whitewater frontman Marc Pruett has been recognized by the music industry with a Grammy for his banjo work on the Bluegrass album of the year, Bluegrass Rules!, with Ricky Skaggs.

Headliners Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time have released eight albums. Their awards include numerous Country Music Association awards, two Grammy Award nominations, three Country Music Television awards, several awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association and recognition from the Academy of County Music. Musicians from the group each have won their own awards as well.

Bluegrass & BBQ is the Sylva Rotary Club’s largest annual fund-raising event. Proceeds will support community service projects. Recent local projects include landscaping at Smoky Mountain High School, the playground at Sylva’s Poteet Park and support for the Community Table. The event will take place at the Smoky Mountain High School football stadium located in Sylva. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the gate. Admission for children under 12 is free. BBQ costs are separate, starting at $3. The rain location is the SCC Myers Auditorium. For more information, visit the Sylva Rotary Web site at www.sylvarotaryclub.org where there is a link to the event, directions, general information and the performance line-up.