Cabin Fever Pickin' Party March 5th thru 8th, 2009 Hampton, Virginia

As our memories of the holiday season begin to fade we are anxiously awaiting the winter to pass, so we can make that short drive down to Hampton, Virginia to enjoy the 14th annual “Cabin Fever Pickin’ Party.” 
Cathy & Earl Banton and their extended family have been working hard to get everything ready for us.  They do everything they can to make our visit as easy and friendly as possible.  For example, as in years past there is early registration.  That is you can turn in your tickets and receive your armbands on Thursday
instead of using part of Friday to get it done.  Also, if you arrive early you can turn in your 2010 Hotel Reservation Form, making getting the room and hotel of your choice more likely.  This prompts me to
recommend you order your tickets right now.  There is a $5 savings by ordering early.  Hey, you know you’re going so why not order your tickets at $25 each for the entire weekend and save that $5.  I think right here is the best time to explain the ticket price.  There are no one day tickets.  The cost is $25 for the weekend or if
you come just for one day, it’s still $25, so why not come for the weekend.  With your tickets you will receive the 2010 Hotel Reservation Form which you can fill out and turn in to the Hotel registration desk as
soon as you arrive. Personally, I look forward to Cabin Fever more and more each year.  So much so that I arrived on Tuesday
last year and plan to do the same this year, if not even earlier.  My thinking last year was that I would have a day with just me there, but I was wrong.  There were enough folks there for a big jam in the lobby.

The best thing about Cabin Fever is the jamming!  Oh yeah, the jamming.  The Holiday Inn in Hampton, Virginia was built over the years and there are 6 distinctly separate buildings that are all (Except for one) connected by a large atrium area.  With the various shapes of the buildings there were many little nooks and crannies created when the buildings were joined.  These small places are perfect for having small intimate jam sessions.  I’ve noticed there are two distinct types of jams.  There’s the “public jam” where the pickers
try to position themselves so they can be best seen and heard by folks all around the hotel.  You’ll find these folks crowded near the pay phones just off the atrium or in the lobby near the hotel registration desk.  The
“private jams” occur in the little nooks around the hotel or for those who wish to be even more private they will jam in their hotel rooms.  But, even these “private jam” folks will leave the room door open so people can come and go.  As indoor events go, and I’ve attended many including SPBGMA and IBMA, there is not a Bluegrass event with more jamming than Cabin Fever.

 
There are folks who aren’t really interested in jamming, but still love Bluegrass music.  They would rather be entertained by bands on stage.  Well, Cabin Fever hosts 4 days of showcase bands on the main stage.  The
bands scheduled to play this year are: Hard Travelin Bluegrass; Some Assembly Required; Blue Mountain Sunrise; Hanover Express; Jonathan Dillon; New Grass Revue; Eastern Tradition; Sweet Potato Pie; Loose Gravel; Aspen Run; Ted Jones & The Tarheel Boys; Blu’ Lonsum’; Deer Creek Boys; Code Blue; The Fitzmaurice Band; Thunder Creek; Kody Norris & The Watuga Mountain Boys; Deeper Shade ofBlue; Northridge; Constant Change; The Virginia Ramblers; Greetings; Lonesome Highway; The Midnight Ramblers; Mark Templeton & Pocket Change and Bluegrass Gospel Express.  So, if you prefer to sit and be entertained then there is plenty of music to enjoy.

  
There are lots of restaurants around within walking distance, so meals aren’t a problem.  There is a very nice restaurant right there in the Holiday Inn in the atrium.  They serve buffet breakfast on weekends as well and lunch and dinner meals. So, get those tickets and make plans to join me in Hampton, Virginia at the “Cabin Fever Pickin’ Party.”

Here are some photos from Cabin Fever 2000.