Can you believe it? Before you know it the 2009 edition of the "Cabin Fever Pickin' Party" will have come and gone. But let’s savor the fact that it isn’t here yet and that the fun is all ahead of us. Cathy & Earl
Banton and their family have been presenting the wonderful weekend for 14 years. Yeah, isn’t that amazing! I can proudly proclaim that I have attended every show. Now I have to admit that at one
weekend of Cabin Fever while we were back in Williamsburg, I showed up with one of the worst cases of the flu that I can ever recall having. Many people left Cabin Fever that weekend with the flu and I have always felt bad about that, but not bad enough that if I had the flu again I still would come. I’ve had my flu shot, so let’s hope that will not happen. Speaking of Williamsburg, we used to meet at the George Washington Motor Inn and, boy oh boy, did we have some good times there. There were only about 200 of us at that first Cabin Fever. As a matter of fact we were so small that we didn’t even use up half of the hotel. We may have only used half the rooms, but by golly they knew we were there. We jammed everywhere. The poor folks at the front desk must have been frazzled as the music around that front desk went on non-stop for three days. I got there as early as I could that Thursday morning and when I walked in there was a group playing there in the lobby. John “Charlie Moore” Donaldson asked me to get out my Banjo and we jammed for several hours. I can truly say I was part of the very first jam at Cabin
Fever. Later that evening there was a large jam where we all sat in chairs in a huge circle and passed around song after song. With over 20 people in a jam and everyone wanting a chance to pick it takes a while to do just one song. Another thing that has changed is smoking. Back then I had just stopped smoking, but most of my friends still were. There was an entire hallway of smoking rooms and the haze hung in that hall like a fog. Now, most everyone doesn’t smoke and if they do, it must be outside.
It’s fun to reminisce about those days, but these “good new days” are coming up and that’s what this article is all about. First, I need to tackle the hotel space issue. We are up against another musical group this year. The rock band “Phish” has come back together for a reunion concert tour. Having been formed in the Hampton, Virginia area, they have a huge following in that area. They have booked the Hampton Coliseum
over the same weekend as Cabin Fever and there huge following of fans has taken just about every spare room in all of Hampton and beyond. So, if you didn’t plan ahead and book your room last year before
leaving Cabin Fever it is likely you will not find a room anywhere near Hampton. All I can tell you is to be persistent and keep on trying. Cabin Fever is just too much fun to miss. Please, this year, be sure to turn in
your hotel reservation form as early as you can. If you can’t get a room this year, please order your tickets in advance. With the tickets there will be a hotel reservation form for the 2010 version of Cabin Fever. Be sure to fill it out and go to the Holiday Inn, even if you don’t have a room, and drop that form in the box on the front desk. This won’t guarantee you a room next year, but you’ll certainly have a better chance at
getting one.
This year, for the first time, there will be official showcase bands on Thursday evening. The first band up on Thursday at 7:20PM will be Hard Drivin’ Grass. These young folks from the Lynchburg area won the VFMA band championship back in 2007. It is heartwarming to know that there is a new generation interested in Bluegrass and will carry on the tradition. Next up is Some Assembly Required from around Richmond. Some Assembly Required has been busy in the studio and expects to have their first CD available by the time of this showcase. I’m afraid I’m a bit out of touch with the newer bands and really can’t tell you anything about them. The last two band to play on Thursday are Blue Mountain Sunrise and Hanover Express.
Friday has a full day of showcases beginning with Jonathan Dillon. If you’ve been around Bluegrass in Central Virginia the last few years you should have noticed Jonathan Dillon. This young man began wowing crowds at a very young age and is now a veteran at under 15 years old. Finishing out the afternoon showcases are; New Grass Revue, Eastern Tradition, Sweet Potato Pie and Loose Gravel. After the supper break at 5 PM things get going again with Aspen Run followed by Ted Jones & The Tarheel Boys,
Blu’ Lonesome, Deer Creek Boys and Code Blue.
Throughout the day on Saturday there will be workshops on Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Bass, Fiddle, Dobro and vocals. Check the schedule in your Cabin Fever program for times and places. The early afternoon
showcases on Saturday begin with the Fitzmaurice Band followed by Thunder Creek, Kody Norris & The Watuga Mountain Boys, Deeper Shade of Blue and Northridge. After supper things get started with Constant Change followed by The Virginia Ramblers, Greetings (Note, this may not be a band, but it is
listed as such), Lonesome Highway, The Midnight Ramblers and Mark Templeton & Pocket Change.
On Sunday at 9AM there is a Gospel service featuring the music of Bluegrass Gospel Express.
Here’s hoping you will join me as I enjoy my 14th annual “Cabin Fever Pickin’ Party.” See you there!
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