Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2011!!!!

Yes, I know it's been a long time since I've written anything and I apologize for not keeping you informed, as I should.  I've been going through some minor health problems and have decided that I must control my type II diabetes. 

Back about 4 or 5 months ago I went to bed feeling fine and woke up with my right ear all plugged up.  There was drainage, but I simple could not get it to clear.  I made many trips to my ENT and was treated for fungal infections and bacterial infections separately and even in tandem, but that ear seemed to fill more and more and hearing went to almost nothing in that ear.  Intuitively, I suspected I knew what I had to do to get this ear cleared up.  As long as my diabetes was running wild and out of control it would never get well.  Soooo, I went to my family doctor, who happens to be a very pleasant and attractive young nurse practitioner.  Her smiles are radiant and hey, we guys are pretty easy.  Turns out my sugar was higher than I even thought.  My A1C (you diabetics know what I'm talking about) was 15.4 and my first meter reading the next morning was 488!  Definitely in the danger zone.  Mary, my nurse practitioner, decided it was time that I be put on insulin.  I both wanted this and didn't because even though I've had dozens of people tell me that little needle is painless I simply did not believe them.  As it happens, they are all correct, it does not hurt 99% of the time.  Every once in a while I will hit a nerve directly and there will be a brief and minor stinging sensation.  My diabetes is now under good control and I am feeling 100% better.  I am working on saving my life!  Oh yeah, my ear has cleared up and I am hearing quite well.

There's not a lot of news to report about Bluegrass, but I'll tell you what I know.  If you like jazzy flavored acoustic music (Are you listening Wally & Tim?) Missy Raines & The New Hip will be at the Kenbridge Community Center on January 29th, 2011.  Call WSVS radio in Crewe for ticket information.  Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.  I am not a huge fan of jazzy Bluegrass, but Missy is simply the best acoustic base player on the planet and it would be an huge error in judgement for me not to attend this performance.  Check out Missy on Facebook here.

January is right around the corner and that means the Appomattox Bluegrass Series will soon commence.  I haven't heard from promoter Kelly Smith in Appomattox yet, but I'm sure she will get in touch and I'll let you know all about the concerts early next month.

It's the Christmas season and I know you don't have a lot of time to read blogs, so I'll make this one short and wish all of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"NUFF SAID!"

Mountain Roots Music Camp - March 24th,25th, 26th & 27th, 2011 @ Pine Mountain State Resort - Pineville, KY

Hi folks.  I guess most of you are wondering where I've been since IBMA.  I know you were all expecting a long narrative of my week at IBMA, and to tell the truth, I had planned to do just that.  But, there were things at IBMA this year that didn't seem quite right, but instead of blowing off steam here (If you want to receive my steam about these problems, send me an email and I'll forward the omitted blog to you) , I decided to let it all go and tell you about this wonderful couple,Vanessa & Darron Nichols, I met at IBMA and the the musical academy they host each year.  Their brochure is so well written that I will simply use their words to describe it all.

"The Cumberland River Academy of Bluegrass and Appalachian Music, Inc. Presents:"

MOUNTAIN ROOTS MUSIC CAMP 2011, March 24th thru 27th, 2011

"Hosted by: Cumberland River Academy Founders: Dale Ann Bradley, Steve Gulley and Vanessa & Darron Nichols; with Alan Bibey, Tim Stafford, Ron Stewart and Missy Raines" (Gary here, Wow! What a faculty!)

"Come and be a part of the musical heritage of the Appalachian mountains. Share with and learn from today's top musicians, singers and song writers of Roots and Bluegrass music."

"We invite you to our mountains to see and learn firsthand of the people and the artistry that has created the music of America.  Come hear for yourself the lonesome cry of the pine, see spring bursting forth in the Kentucky mountains, smell the aroma of a hardwood fire. then set that experience to music, your music that we help you develop and refine."

"Your weekend will include Three Nights accommodations at Pine Mountain State Resort, Six meals prepared at the lodge, a showcase and All Star Concert and Dinner at the Historic Bell Theater in downtown Pineville, Kentucky.  Plus, one-on-one instructions and tips on your playing, singing and writing.  Your experience will begin:

Thursday

On March 24th you will be met by the instructors and have dinner with them at the lodge.  You will be given instructions of the events to come and treated to a little music.  We will give you time that evening to get settled in and enjoy the quiet comfort of the mountains or jam until dawn!

Friday

The 25th will begin with breakfast at the lodge and orientation before breaking up into classes.  Lunch will be at the lodge, then back to class.  Classes will be 50 minutes long and at your pace.  Friday evening will be Dinner and a showcase of Your talent.  After that you will be free to explore the mountains, take a short trip to the Cumberland Gap, or just sit by the fire and relax. (Me again.  You could jam until dawn again!)

Saturday

The 26th will be much like Friday with the exception of Dinner at The Bell Theater and an All Star Concert.

Sunday

There will be an optional "breakfast buffet" and closing devotion.

______________________________

So if you're a picker, singer or song writer and want to further your craft and skills, or if you are a music lover and just want to hang out with the pros, you don't want to miss this opportunity.  We offer all inclusive rates starting at $425.00 for single occupancy.  Packages can be tailored to include just lodging, meals or tuition.  Airport shuttle (MG/TYS) will be available.

For more information on the CAMP contact: Darron Nichols 606-627-0452 or 606-337-3806 or by email crabluegrass@gmail.com.  Or visit: www.cumberlandriveracademy.com.   For more information on the Pine Mountain State Resort visit: http://parks.ky.gov/findparks/resortparks/pm/.   We would like to offer special thanks to our sponsor "LONG GUITARS."

"The Cumberland River Academy of Bluegrass and Appalachian Music"

Mission Statement:

"The music of the Appalachian Mountains can be compared to the creation of the United States as a nation.  The music, like the USA, is a melting pot of cultures from around the world.  Acoustic stringed instruments brought from Europe and Africa, when mixed with the toil. strife and loneliness of the Appalachian settlers, created a music form that has lasted for more than 500 years.  Our mission is to protect, preserve and nurture the artistic creativity of the people of the Appalachian Mountains, to bring international attention to our history and culture, and to earnestly kindle and cultivate self-pride in our heritage for this generation and generations to come."

Purpose

"Our purpose is to foster excitement, provide encouragement and aid in development of personal talents through instructional opportunities.  Community involvement will be strongly encouraged.  Scholarships are to be provided through corporate sponsors.  We will seek funding through the arts, musical and educational grants as they become available.  We will bring revenue to area businesses through our musical camps, concerts, festivals and instruction."

Contact: Cumberland River Academy, 114 West Kentucky Avenue, Pineville, Kentucky 40977; 606-337-3806; crabluegrass@gmail.com.

Hey!  It's me again.  I hope that if you're reading this final note from me that you have read the information above from the Cumberland River Academy.  I see no guile in Darron or Vanessa; only a sincere wish to encourage, teach  and promote Bluegrass.  If you are interested in growing your talent or you know some deserving person whom you can sponsor, I think this weekend of training and fellowship is a no brainer.  What a great way to get a beginner on the right track or to refresh your own, perhaps, stale way of doing things.  Well, until next time......

"NUFF SAID!"

VFMA's "Jumpin' Bluegrass '10" - Chesterfield County Fairgrounds - September 16th, 17th, 18th & 19th, 2010

Each year during the last few days of summer the Virginia Folk Music Association (VFMA) presents "Jumpin' Bluegrass '10" at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds.  The first 3 days are simply a very good Bluegrass festival, but what sets this VFMA event apart from other festivals is they they are authorized by the State of Virginia to not only induct deserving Virginians into the VFMA hall of Fame, but to also have contests to select the best Bluegrass performers in the state and name them as champions.  I'd say that makes Jumpin' Bluegrass '10 just a little different.  Oh yeah, there's another thing, too.  The admission price is only $5 per day, with parking costing  only $5 with the purchase of a 3 or 4 day ticket.  So, to make a long story short, if you're planning to stay the entire weekend (4 days) it'll cost you $25 including parking.  There are other fees for camping and the use of electricity.  For more information about these other fees call Lois Gaither at 804-339-7620 or Sigrid Williams at 804-347-2925.

Now, let's get on with the festival.  The groups appearing on Thursday are: Willis River (Youtube videos), Old Time Pickers, Old Stage Road, East of Afton, River City, Sleepy Hollow, Lois & Fred Gaither and more to be announced.  Don't forget that every Thursday at VFMA's Jumpin' Bluegrass there is a free "Cornbread & Beans Pot Lick Supper."  I'll be bringing BBQ as I have over the last several years, except this time the BBQ will be from me alone.  Also, as I've said in the past, please bring a covered dish to add to the meal and make it something you really like.  That way you'll know there is at least one thing there you like!  Some of the best jams occur on Thursdays at Bluegrass festivals and it is no different at Jumpin' Bluegrass.  So, be sure to bring your instrument and be ready to pick.

Things begin to heat up, music wise, on Friday as some great local and regional talent climb up on the indoor stage. Did I forget to mention that the entire festival is held indoors?  The building is large and expansive with insulated walls that help prevent echoes.  Don't forget your lawn chairs!  The Big Boss Combo performs on Friday.  I want to tell you about the Big Boss Combo.  They have been playing around Richmond for probably a decade now and for years I chose not go to their performances.  To me  a 'combo' was a jazz band and I didn't want to hear jazz.  Then a friend told who they were and I have been enjoying their music ever since.  I'm not gonna tell you who plays in the band, but I am gonna tell you to be sure to catch at least one of the Big Boss Combo sets.   Make it their first set because you're gonna like them and you'll want to catch both sets.  Copper Ridge also plays on Friday.  I'm not sure if these guys met at our club, The Virginia Bluegrass Family, but many of them regularly attend on 2nd Tuesdays at the Jahnke Road Baptist Church.  Copper Ridge plays good Bluegrass so make sure you catch them when they are on stage.  Big Country, who were nominated in 9 categories at SPBGMA this year, will be playing on Friday.  Please don't forget to see Borrowed Time as they perform of Friday.  Gary Davis and the band present non-traditional songs in a Bluegrass format along with pleasingly self deprecating  humor and, believe it or not, some songs from the Bluegrass repertoire. North Carolina's Easy Street perform on Friday.  Easy Street has showcased at the Night Owl Concerts in Hampton as part of the "Cabin Fever Pickin' Party."  A group from Pennsylvania, Remington Ryde will also perform on Friday.  This band boasts what I believe is one of the very best Banjo pickers, ever.  Billy Lee Cox plays all styles, all the while not seeming to have to pay attention to what he is doing.  He is amazing.

Saturday is a big day at Jumpin' Bluegrass '10 because Virginia's own McPeak Brothers will be inducted into the VFMA Hall of Fame.  Code Blue will perform their usual friendly and fast moving show.  Bud will probably not tell a joke.  What am I saying!  Of course he'll tell a joke!  Homeward Bound will perform Saturday as will Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain.  We are fortunate to have Melvin Goins at Jumpin' Bluegrass '10 as he is one of the fast dwindling members of the first generation of Bluegrass musicians.  Melvin along with his brother Ray Goins were half of the legendary Lonesome Pine Fiddlers.  From Melvin's web site:

Lexington, KY-  Melvin was honored on March 17, 2010 along with his late brother Ray Goins as part of the 2011 Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. Melvin and his brother Ray formed the Goins Brothers in 1969 after a long stint with The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers. In 1994 Ray had to quit the road full time because of health problems but still played from time to time with Melvin. Melvin formed his new band Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain after Ray had to quit the road. To see more about their induction see this link.
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/03/18/1185524/montgomery-loveless-among-ky-music.html

Melvin is a great musician and I am pleased to see him honored in his home state.  It is sad that Kentucky could not have moved quicker so Ray could have enjoyed the honor.  Shenandoah Drive will also appear on Saturday.  And, there will be a special recognition award given to the School House at Lucketts, VA.

Well, that about does it.  Oh yeah!  Don't forget that the Bluegrass Championships will be held on Sunday, so make sure you practice real hard and enter.  There's a $1000 prize to the 1st place band!  As they say about the lottery, "You can't win if you don't play!"

Please make plans to join me and all of your friends at VFMA's "Jumpin' Bluegrass '10."

"NUFF SAID!"

Grottoes Family Bluegrass Festival - Sept 9th, 10th & 11th, 2010 - Grand Caverns Regional Park - Grottoes, VA

September is upon us and with it is the "Grottoes Family Bluegrass Festival" held at Grand Caverns Regional Park in Grottoes, VA on the weekend of September 9, 10, 11, 2010.  The park at Grand Caverns is a cozy and seemingly small park, however it's size is larger than you might think.  There is a beautiful flat camping area with lots of trees and plenty of pavilions all around the park.  It is the perfect place for Bluegrass.

Thursday get underway with Next Best Thing, a band comprised of Rhonda Vincent's two daughters, Sally & Tensel.  These girls have inherited the singing gene from their mother.  They can really sing bluegrass.  The above link is to their Myspace page.  Click here to access their Facebook page.  Just to be sure the days proceedings are absolutely Bluegrass, Country Fried Grass is up next.  These guys combine country songs which they have adapted to Bluegrass and traditional Bluegrass together to blow you away with their strong Bluegrass music.  Next, Sally & Tensel had better mind themselves because Mama is here at Grottoes on Thursday, too.  That's right, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage wraps up the day. Rhonda understands Bluegrass and sings it as it should be sung.  Don't for get the Pot Luck supper at 6PM.  Just bring your favorite dish and join the fun.

Friday gets underway with Allegheny Blue.  Here is a short blurb from their web site: "All born and raised in the beautiful Shenandoah valley, bluegrass is in our blood. From the lonesome sound of Bill Monroe to the deep soul of Larry Sparks, music that has filled our ear’s and our hearts. The desire to create good music is what we are after, and the result of hard work, dedication, and a dream, is Allegheny Blue."  Next up is Jerry Butler & The Blue J's.  Jerry recently left the Carolina Road band to form his new group.  I just love the way Bluegrass continues to expand with each new group that grows from other groups.  Lost & Found is up next presenting their own easily recognizable brand of Bluegrass.  Nobody does it quite like the Lost & Found! The Bluegrass Brothers is the next band to play.  There have been many changes in the group over the last few months as family dynamics can change.  I think you're gonna really like what you hear.  Last up, but certainly not least, is the great Sammy Shelor & The Lonesome River Band, better known and loved by most of us as simply the LRB.  Sammy's dynamic and original style of Banjo playing has yet to be given the moniker "Shelor Style"  but rest assured it will.  Nobody plays it like Sammy!

Another big day of Bluegrass gets started on Saturday by The Little Mountain Boys.  I just recently heard this band at the Amelia festival and they are very good.  Don't miss them.  Next up is the James King Band.  Before proceeding any further I wanted to share a brief notice I received via email this week concerning James.

Bluegrass artist James King has been admitted to the hospital with blood clots in his lungs and leg. Please keep him in your prayers. Get well cards can be sent to: James King, P.O. Box 10179, Danville, Virginia 24543

I don't have any further information about James, so I suggest you listen to the Sweet Brenda & Him Show this Sunday from 7 to 10AM on WBBC 93.5 the Bobcat, Blackstone, VA for more details.  Lexington, VA's Nothin' Fancy is up next.  These guys are distinctly different and will entertain you.  The Bluegrass Brothers are back again on Saturday followed by the great Audie Blaylock & Redline.  Audie is at the top of his game right now and will amaze you.  He is truly dedicated to Bluegrass music.

Advance 3 day tickets are only $50.  I don't know when cutoff for these prices will occur, so I suggest you hop to it right now!  Either contact them via email at: lawsonentertain@aol.com or via phone at 804-561-0705 or by snail mail at Grottoes Family Bluegrass, C/O Brenda & Calvin Lawson, 5401 Cralles Road, Amelia, VA.  I hope to see you there!

"NUFF SAID!"

"Central Virginia Family Bluegrass Music Festival" - aka - "Amelia Bluegrass Festival" - August 19, 20 & 21, 2010

Boy-o-boy it sure has been hot, hasn't it?  We've had more than ten days of 100 plus degree weather and we're only half way through the summer.  Why did me have all this heat?  Well, just for one word, "Bluegrass."  Yeah, for Bluegrass because you know that every year during the dog days of August we celebrate Bluegrass at the "Central Virginia Family Bluegrass Music Festival" at the Amelia Family Campground.  After all the heat we've suffered through in June and July August will be a piece of cake.  So, now I better get busy and tell who's gonna be there.

Things get started of with Copper Ridge, a band from the Richmond, VA area.  Most of the guys in the band make regular trips to jam with us at the Virginia Bluegrass Family on 2nd Tuesdays in the Jahnke Road Baptist Church on Richmond's south side.  Following Copper Ridge is a great band from the area surrounding Smith Mountain Lake; I guess that's why they call themselves Smith Mountain Grass.  Next up is the unmistakable voice of Eddie Gill & The Grassmasters.  Eddie hails from around Roxboro NC and sings with a volume and clarity that is quite rare.  The next band up has a leader who has been simply fading away.  What?  Yep, Donnie Mason & In The Tradition follow Eddie.  I've missed many opportunities to see Donnie since his lifesaving gastric bypass surgery, but I will see him in Amelia for sure.  The North Carolina based Rye Holler Boys are up next on Thursday.  The last group to appear on Thursday is the Lonesome River Band (LRB) headed up by Sammy Shelor whose taste and timing is always there; LRB boasts the strong lead singing of Brandon Rickman.  While you're at the CD table buying the latest LRB project don't overlook Brandon's "Young Man, Old Soul" project.

Friday gets started off with the wonderful sister harmony sounds of The Church Sisters.  These twin sisters really do love to sing and it shows.  Make sure you catch at least one of their sets.  You'll be glad you did.  If you like your Bluegrass a little raucous and full of good humor then look no farther than Code Blue, the next band on Friday.  Following Code Blue is another "blue" band called Virginia Blue.  I couldn't find a web site for this group so I guess I'll just have to go down to the stage and see them.  The next band is Shallow Creek.  The first time I saw these guys they were just in their early teens and were struggling but determined to play Bluegrass.  Well, they can play Bluegrass!  I had a power outage here at home this past week and got my battery powered boom box out and began playing CDs.  I had this CD by Shallow Creek that was a tribute to Reno & Smiley that I had never listened to.  WOW!  It is good.  If you're a fan of Reno & Smiley be sure to pick up this CD from Shallow Creek.  The last band up is the Josh Williams Band.  Josh has assembled a great band to back up his strong vocals.  Josh readily admits that he is a huge Tony Rice fan and he learned every Guitar break Tony ever played, but more than that Josh is well on his way to becoming the new Tony.  That combination of great innovative Guitar work coupled with his increasingly strong lead voice makes Josh a force to be reckoned with.  Therefore, I reckon I'll be at both of his sets in Amelia.

The Saturday morning Gospel at Amelia gets started with Mark Templeton & Pocket Change. Mark sang Southern Gospel before coming to Bluegrass full time and he brings a few elements of Southern Gospel into his act.  Following Mark is the inimitable Bluegrass Brothers from out around Salem way.  The next group is the Little Mountain Boys.  Now, I must admit when I first heard of this group I was looking for a bunch of little guys.  Oops!  It's the mountain that is little, not the boys.  By the way, these guys are good!  The Wildwood Valley Boys are up next featuring Tony Holt, the only remaining member of the original band.  If that name Holt strikes a chord with you, you're right.  Tony's dad is Aubrey Holt, one of the founders of the Boys from Indiana.   Next up is a good ol' Virginia boy made good, The Larry Stephenson Band.   Larry hails from the Fredericksburg area,but has been living in White House, Tennessee most of his adult life.  I saw Larry for the first time when he was 16 years old and participated in a big Bluegrass show held at The Robins Center on the University of Richmond campus in the mid-Seventies.  Others that headlined that show were The Earl Scruggs Review, Doc Watson, John Hartford and Richmond's own Uncle Leroy.  What a day that was!  Now, if you like your Bluegrass straightforward and traditional with a little Jimmy Martin here and a little Stanley Brothers there, then look no farther than Kody Norris.  I was talking to Kody one very late night at IBMA in Nashville a couple of years ago and he told me he believes (much as I do) the band should respect the audience and dress well.  He told me he makes sure all of the bands suits are cleaned and ironed the entire band's suits before each performance.  That's dedication to the fans!  Last up at Amelia on Saturday is one of my favorite Bluegrass singers, Audie Blaylock & Redline.  Audie spent ten years with Jimmy Martin and if he learned anything from Jimmy that was timing and singing with conviction.

That covers the weekend and boy it's gonna be a good one for sure!   The cut-off date for advance tickets was August 5th, but even at the gate price of $60 that's a weekend of fine Bluegrass.  So, come join me and all of your friends and picking buddies at the "Central Virginia Family Bluegrass Music Festival."  We're gonna have some fun!

"NUFF SAID!"

"Bluegrass Ramble" A Grassitorial! by Gary Robertson

Alright, I know that Bluegrass needs all of the support it can get.  I do support it with all my heart and a good portion of my wallet.  Just last night I went to hear the great Swedish Bluegrass band "G2."  I sat  through an out door concert on the hottest day Virginia has seen since 1977.  If that isn't support for Bluegrass then I don't know what is.  By the way, G2 did a great job .  They did so well that when I got home I finished filling out my ballot for the IBMA Bluegrass Awards and selected G2 as one of my five choices for Emerging Artist, 2010.  But this isn't my reason for writing this.  Nooo...........!

I have a few pet peeves about Bluegrass performers.  Now, the first I want to speak about is the amateur and sometimes even semi-pro Mandolin players.  Why do they insist on playing Mandolins that are out of tune?  My guess is this.  Their thinking is that they have eight strings and no matter what anyone tells them they just don't believe each pair of strings should be tuned exactly together.  To them the thinking is "What's the point?  Why have eight strings if they are going to sound like I only have 4 strings?"  So, they will get them pretty close, but they will be sure to leave them just slightly different sounding.  If you are reading this and you're a Mandolin "player" and you don't tune your Mandolin properly please, please read this commentary again and get that stinking Mandolin in tune.  To reiterate this problem I have asked some of these "out-of-tuners" if I can look at their Mandolin.  I compliment them on their great sounding Mandolin while I am secretly touching up the tuning and I strike a few chords nice and loud and as it rings so clear and true I compliment them again as I hand it back to them.  It does no good whatsoever for within a few minutes of giving the Mandolin back, it is once again "tuned" to that eight strings of dis-harmony.  Okay, thanks; I've got that off my chest.

Now I want to talk about spontaneous applause.  I think it is wonderful and I have been known to break out into it myself on many occasions.  Here's my problem.  To the uninitiated in the audience any time a Bass player makes a simple solo run or a Guitar player lays out a simple solo they feel it is their duty to break out in "spontaneous" applause.  Well, stop it!  Please only applaud for really outstanding musical solos.  I've seen it many times when the audience realizes it has given great applause for a mediocre solo.  Feeling guilty about the faux pas they then applaud for every break, no matter the instrument, for the rest of the concert.  I think the Guitar solo applause goes back to the early days of Tony Rice.  Every break he played was truly outstanding, bringing many outburst of applause and Tony was good at helping the audience to decide to applaud.  At the end of each break he would subtly nod his head "thank you" reminding the audience they owed him a "spontaneous" applause.  A very cool trick that his brother Wyatt learned well, although his nods are a little less subtle.  So, now even the worst Guitar solo is met with applause and they shouldn't be.  Only applaud if you are moved by the skill exhibited during the break.  Now, on to Bass breaks.  There are few really great Bass breaks played in Bluegrass and believe me you will know them when you hear them.  Missy Raines doesn't play a lot of Bluegrass these days, but I don't believe there is another Bassist that knows the instrument any better than Missy.  With my stating that to you I'm sure you believe that I would applaud for every break she plays.  That is not true.  On many songs she plays standard runs and simple breaks (Difficult for most Bass players, but simple for her!), but every once in a while she really gets into the song and she'll amaze you with an absolutely astonishing Bass break.  The thunderous applause she receives for these break is truly deserved.  I have stood and loudly cheered and applauded for her outstanding work many times.  But, now we get down to the average Bass player in the average Bluegrass band.  He  most often slaps out some really loud rhythm while he moves his hand up and down the neck.  He makes it look like he just finished chopping down a Sequoia as he finishes with a flurry.  Without fail the audience cheers and applauds, but for what?  By applauding inappropriately we only re-enforce poor playing.  Why should they improve if we have told them with our applause they are "great."

Please help me preserve "spontaneous" applause for those really special musical moments.  If you pay close attention you will recognize them.  Then be the first to acknowledge the accomplishment with your unrestrained applause.  You'll be letting that musician know you appreciate his/her effort and obvious talent.  Don't let the "applause whores" strip you of your dignity and only applaud when you have heard music that is truly deserving.

"NUFF SAID!"

G2 Bluegrass Band from Sweden will Appear at Pocahontas State Park on Saturday July 24th, 2010

That's right folks that great band from Sweden known as simply "G2" will appear at the Pocahontas State Park tomorrow evening beginning at 6PM.  You know and I know that Virginia as well as a lot of the USA is suffering some of the hottest weather ever experienced.  So, for this outdoor show begin at 6PM will be brutal for the band and the fans.  I only happened to hear an advertisement on WSVS today or I would not have known this show was happening.

So, like I said the heat will be brutal, but G2 is a great band and deserves our attention.  So, if you can possibly stand a few hours in the heat, drive on over to Pocahontas tomorrow evening and help support, not only the G2 Bluegrass Band, but also, Bluegrass music in general.  After the show we can all go to a place where the A/C is COLD and have a nice dinner.  By the way, G2 has been nominated as "Emerging Artist of the Year" for this year's IBMA Awards.  Come to Pocahontas and join me to find out why.

"NUFF SAID!"

Owensboro, Kentucky soon to become "The City of Bluegrass"

The following is exciting news.  Please take time to read and absorb the information.

Yes, you read that headline correctly, Owensboro, KY has made a leap forward in it's dedication to Bluegrass music and the International Bluegrass Music Museum (IBMM).  Just today I received a letter from Gabrielle Gray, the Director of the IBMM, detailing the exciting news from the City of Owensboro and future growth of the IBMM and the city.  Below is Gabrielle's letter in its entirety.

"July 8, 2010

Dear IBMM Members:

In light of the much-heralded announcement made to the press by the City of Owensboro last night to make their newly-acquired 60,000 square foot building at the intersection of Main and Frederica Streets available to the International Bluegrass Music Museum for a new International Bluegrass Music Center, today we have been fielding phone calls and emails from people who are very excited by the possibilities (as indeed we all are). This letter will attempt to give information regarding the proposal, and as many answers as we have at this time.

The proposed Center would house the museum as well as other elements relating directly to bluegrass i.e. (POSSIBLY) a Bluegrass Opry, concert hall, bluegrass library, international center, recording studio, radio station, outdoor amphitheater, etc. Each element will be priced and either planned or not, according to what we can do with the funding we receive and raise. Most important, of course, is planning for posterity, for preservation of our current and growing collection of artifacts, and continuing the important work we're already doing such as gathering, digitizing, and cataloguing the video oral histories of the early practitioners of bluegrass music.
It's necessary for everyone to understand that the details are yet to be worked out, and that the museum's Board of Trustees has yet to vote to accept the building as the museum's new home. Much planning will need to be done by our board, museum staff and city planners to determine exactly what the new Bluegrass Center will look like, what it will house, what elements will be incorporated into the plan, and then financing over and above what the City is going to donate will have to be found. These costs are as yet undetermined and will continue to be thus until such time as plans for the new International Bluegrass Music Center are solidified and budgeted.

 
Our first step is a feasibility study that will begin almost immediately to determine whether or not the museum can sustain the increase in general operating expense inherent with occupying and maintaining a building three times the size of our current museum and staffing the new center appropriately to handle the plans as-yet-to-be adopted.

The proposed timeline for completion of the new riverfront development is the summer of 2012. Construction is to begin on the hotel and convention center by mid-2011. If the museum moves to this new location, it's possible that both the renovation and move could be completed in a year -- that is optimistic but not unreasonable, provided the funding is found, architectural renderings are approved, and the renovation goes smoothly.

 
The City of Owensboro and Daviess County Fiscal Court also publicly announced last night that they intend for the focus of Owensboro henceforth to be "Bluegrass". This is not surprising as this has always been a mega-bluegrass-supportive environment, thanks primarily to Terry Woodward's vision, leadership and generosity. What is a surprise, and a delightful one, is that they would help us move to the best block of real estate in town, in a building they would own and maintain, in the absolute kingpin location of a massive riverfront redevelopment project that spans 1.1 miles from the existing RiverPark Center all the way to English Park, incorporating the old Executive Inn property in approximately the center of that expanse. This is such an affirmation of Bluegrass Music and the Bluegrass Museum that it's impossible to put into words how elated this makes us feel. But of course, there is the money to raise!

Current potential plans have a large new Hampton Inn across one street, a new convention & events center across the other street, and the Ohio River running in front of it all. Current plans also have the convention center incorporating the pier structure on the river (from the old Executive Inn Showcase Lounge) into the new convention center, recapturing memories of all the great music shows that have taken place in that exact location over many decades.

 
All of this comes at a time when we are in full-scale planning for the Bill Monroe Centennial Celebration in 2011. SO, we are going to be BUSY, and again, if you can volunteer to help, please put us in your schedule. Maybe you can find a week in the winter of 2010 or the spring/summer of 2011 to spend here in O'boro making some significant dreams come true for current and future generations to enjoy.

As plans progress, we will keep you posted. Garian Vigil is the museum's publicist, so please stay tuned to her posts, as many of our announcements will come through her.
Thanks for everything each of you do to make bluegrass music so exciting that this city would take on such a large financial commitment to make an even-more marvelous home for the music we all love.
We welcome your input and suggestions. Please let us hear from you.

My best to all,
Gabrielle
270-926-7891 (Call to volunteer!)"

I've written Gabrielle with my intentions to volunteer a week of time to help.  Think about it.  The IBMM is your museum and it is dedicated strictly to Bluegrass music, your music.  We could go as a group.......

"NUFF SAID!"

Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court.

The following has nothing whatsoever to do with Bluegrass.  It speaks of the freedoms granted us by our constitution and our privilege to live in this great country and why we celebrate the 4th of July.  To all a very happy 4th of July.  Let Freedom Ring!

Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say  His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his 'allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah,' defiantly stating, 'I think I will not apologize for my actions,' and told the court 'I am at war with your country.'

Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:

Judge Young:  'Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you. On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General.  On counts 2, 3, 4and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutively.  (That's 80 years.)
On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed.  The Court imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 that's an aggregate fine of $2 million.  The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.  The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further. This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes.  It is a fair and just sentence.  It is a righteous sentence.

Now, let me explain this to you.  We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid.  We are Americans.  We have been through the fire before.  There is too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect.  Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals.  As human beings, we reach out for justice.

You are not an enemy combatant.  You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war.  You are a terrorist.  To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a soldier, you are not----- you are a terrorist.  And we do not negotiate with terrorists.  We do not meet with terrorists.  We do not sign documents with terrorists.  We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.

So war talk is way out of line in this court  You are a big fellow. But you are not that big.  You're no warrior.  I've known warriors. You are a terrorist.  A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders.  In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said: 'You're no big deal.'
You are no big deal. What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific.  What was it that led you here to this courtroom today?

I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing?  And, I have an answer for you.  It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.

It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom.  Our individual freedom.  Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose.  Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom.  It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea.  It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom, so that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely.  It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.

We Americans are all about freedom.  Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties.  Make no mistake though.  It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms.  Look around this courtroom.  Mark it well.  The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here.  The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure.

Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America , the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done.  The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.

See that flag, Mr. Reid?  That's the flag of the United States of America .  That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom.  And it always will.
Mr. Custody Officer.  Stand him down.

"NUFF SAID!"

I Finally Got That Longed For RV - Now If I Could Only Drive! ! ! !

That's right I finally purchased a nice older model RV.  It is a 1987 Coachmen Classic.  It's 34 feet long and has many nice features.  It was not a bottom of the line RV when it was new.  Now it's my driving abilities and that 34 foot length that has caused me heartaches.  Perhaps I should start at the beginning. . . . .

. . . . .I purchased the motor home on June 16th and proudly drove it home.  I spent the next few days cleaning and checking out the features.  I found the gas over electric fridge did not work like I was promised it did.  Dang! A little frustrating because I have heard the horror stories about how expensive they are to replace.  But, most everything else worked including the generator, although it is in serious need of a carburetor adjustment.  The RV has a nice long awning that needed a little coaxing to work, but now works perfectly.  All in all I was very proud of my decision to purchase the Coachmen and began moving my stuff from my small tag-along camper to the RV.  I found places for everything and was ready to pull out last Wednesday morning to attend the Sedalia Bluegrass Festival in Big Island, VA.  I was ready to pull out at 8:15AM.  All I had left to do was to buy ice for the weekend.  I started the engine and pulled to the end of my driveway and nosed out into the road to look to my left to be sure nothing was coming.  The way was clear, so I began to accelerate when I heard this awful loud crashing/crunching noise over to my right and behind me.  I stopped the RV and got out of my seat and walked to open the door to see what was wrong.  The door would not open.  It was jammed.  I looked out the window and there it was.  I was sick as I surveyed the damage I had inflicted on my RV.  I had failed to consider my mailbox and the 34 foot length of the RV and didn't pull out nearly far enough to clear it.  The box dropped right off the post, but the post raked the side of the RV and inflicted serious damage. (About the mailbox post.  Years ago when my street was actually US Route 460, our mailbox was routinely hit and knocked down.  My dad and I decided to put up a strong steel post and really sink it deep into the ground.  The next person to hit our mailbox would pay.  Yes I will!) I drove down the road and turned around and back into my yard.  I forced the entry door open and found the exit steps were completely destroyed and were only hanging on by some electrical wires.  The fiberglass side of the RV was ripped off for about 8 or 9 feet and I narrowly missed breaking a valve off the propane tack located right next to the entry steps.  As it was I did break the pot metal knob on the valve in half.  Unknown to me at the time I had two pilot lights that were lit.  Had I burst the tank there would have been a horrendous fire.  So, while I was disgusted with myself for my lousy driving technique, I was very happy to still be alive.

I got busy with my knife and cut the wires holding what remained of the entry steps and cast them aside.  I found a bungee cord to hold the door closed and proceeded to drive the the festival in Big Island.  I knew as I drove toward the festival that there were many friends and acquaintances there and they would razz at me endlessly about my idiocy.  They did not let me down!  While I did receive sympathy from most of my friends they simply could not resist raking me over the coals and explaining how I should have turned out of my driveway.  Thanks to all of you.  I know you love me, but you really don't have to show it so strongly.

If you're wondering, I do plan to repair the RV.  It is simply too nice to abandon, plus I've got money sunk into it that I simply cannot afford to lose.

I had a very nice time at Sedalia (sans the ribbing, etc.) and enjoyed a very hot weekend of Bluegrass.  There were jams each night and we ate as if there would never be another meal in our lifetimes.  My super quiet Honda 3000 watt generator handled my AC just fine and I had a nice cool RV to sleep in.  This was the first time in all my years of camping at festivals that I actually had a shower in my own camper.  The water heater worked flawlessly and I enjoyed 4 nice showers over the course of the weekend.  Also, I tend to take along much more than I need for any camping trip and my old tag-along camper was so small that it was simply piled high with all this stuff.  I found places for most everything in the RV and simply left behind those things which I found I never use.  In other words I enjoyed a very nice camping experience except for having to use a step ladder to enter and leave my RV.  Also there was a large hole at the entry where the steps had been.  I covered it with a piece of cardboard each night to keep the varmints outside.  Oh yeah, there was that bungee cord door thing.

My email address is at the top of the blog, so if you feel I need more instructions about driving or simply a bit more ribbing and harassment then drop me a note.  However for now.........

"NUFF SAID!"

Reminder! Donna Ulisse live @ The Uptown Coffee Cafe - Victoria, VA - July 2nd - Bluegrass Ramble

Hi folks,  I won't take up too much of your time today, but I wanted to tell you, that is, remind you that Donna Ulisse, a native of Hampton, VA will appear in person at the Uptown Coffee Cafe in Victoria, VA on Friday July 2nd.  Here's a a note from Donna:

Hello friends,

Any time I can play in my home state of Virginia, I am one happy girl! I have never been to Victoria but I sure am looking forward to playing there on July 2nd at the Uptown Coffee Cafe. I love playing the big festivals and theaters but there is also something real special about singing in a very intimate setting and being able to visit with everyone in between sets and after the show so I hope you will plan to be there with me and The Poor Mountain Boys on Friday night, July 2, 2010 as we play our hearts out for you.

Tickets are $10.00 each and advance tickets are recommended as seating is limited. You can call and buy tickets at  434-696-3600. The Cafe is located at 1812 Main Street, Victoria, VA 23974. You can learn more about this family owned cafe on their MySpace site. See you there!

Peace,

Donna 

Now, to the "Bluegrass Ramble" and this will be short.  I know I've told a lot of you that I would be traveling west to Owensboro, KY to attend the International Bluegrass Music Museum's (IBMM) Bluegrass festival called "River Of Music Party (ROMP).  Boy, I was going for sure.  I had made motel reservations and purchased my advance ticket and had even started planning my itinerary for my five days in Owensboro.  I was ready to go!  All was for nothing when I was reminded I had an appointment with my ophthalmologist.  If any of you ever have to see these specialists you are no doubt aware how difficult it is to reschedule.  Sooooo, with my eyesight a top priority I decided to cancel my plans and, instead, attend the Sedalia Bluegrass Festival after my appointment.  I know I will have a good time at Sedalia because all my friends will be there, but that's not the only reason or even the most important reason.  If you are my age and you grew up in the country or the south you're gonna know exactly what I'm gonna tell you about, but if you're younger and perhaps a city slicker (you varmint!) I'm gonna have to describe what I'm about to tell you.  There's a lady there near Sedalia that fixes "Fried Apple Pies" to sell for a charity.  Now I know you city slickers are wondering what the heck a "Fried Apple Pie" is and I'm gonna tell you.  First you make up a generous amount of home made pie crust.  Be sure you use plenty of shortening and you fold and roll out over and over until you just know it'll be flaky.  But, before you start making the dough you get out a whole bunch of those apples you dried last fall and put them in a bowl with water and lots of cinnamon and sugar to let them begin to reconstitute by soaking up the water.  Then you pinch off little pieces of the pie dough and roll out nice and round.  Put a tablespoon or two of the apples to one side of the crust and then fold over and crimp together with a fork.  Have a cast iron frying pan ready with a half inch or so of shortening (When Mama made them it was lard. Mmm Mmm!) already preheated and fry to a nice golden brown.  I'm gettin' hungry just writing about them.  Well, anyway this lady brings them and I eat so many my eyes bulge.  They are good and bring back many fond memories.

So, come on out to the Sedalia Bluegrass Festival and if you don't do anything else, eat a Fried Apple Pie!

"NUFF SAID!"

Grottoes Family Bluegrass Festival - June 17th, 18th & 19th, 2010~~~~Sedalia Bluegrass Festival - June 24th, 25th & 26th, 2010 Two Great Festivals!

There's a lot I want to share with you today.  I'll begin by telling you about the great time I had at the "Graves Mountain Festival of Music" out in Syria, VA.  I arrived on Wednesday and found Jack & Peggy Woodall and Bill & Gertie Richardson exactly where I expected to find them.  Bill came over to my sight and helped me get my canopy (Twice! But that's another story!)up.  From then on we enjoyed a wonderful weekend of Bluegrass and socializing.  I have to be honest and tell you it rained every single day, but the rains were short lived and the grounds dry quickly at Graves.  The friends I saw over the course of the weekend are too numerous to mention, but let it be said that Graves was a great time and seeing the old friends made it all the better.  I attended a number of the stage performances.  I guess my favorite was the last show Thursday evening when The Seldom Scene closed out the day.  As always, a great way to end any day at Graves.  The special performances held through-out the day on Friday as part of the Rural Rhythm live recording project were very good; especially the collaborations in the early evening followed by the special singing of "Graves Mountain Memories"  written by Carl Jackson especially for Jimmy Graves and the Graves Mountain Festival of Music.  The DVD and CD project is slated for release this fall.  It should be a very good recording.  Well, that's enough about what is past; it's time to tell you about two great festivals coming up real soon.

GROTTOES FAMILY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL - JUNE 17TH, 18TH & 19TH, 2010 - GROTTOES, VA

The team of Sweet Brenda & Him and their production company Lawson Entertainment presents the "Grottoes Family Bluegrass Festival" on June 17th, 18th & 19th.  If you've never been to Grand Caverns Regional Park near the town of Grottoes, VA you have missed not only a great and beautiful little park, but also the great Bluegrass Festival there.  My friends Billy & Lynette Dooley and Ralph and Rose Westfall and I went to the very first festival held at the park and to several more over the ensuing years.  Back in those days it was called the Grand Caverns Bluegrass Festival because the park is adjacent to the caverns.  The caverns, by the way, are wonderful and make a great break in the middle of a hot day at the Grottoes Bluegrass Festival.  One year WCVE Channel 23 brought their cameras to the Grand Caverns Bluegrass Festival and spent the entire day taping various jams and interviewing folks.  They took those hours of tape and reduced them down to about a 8 minute segment of their show "Virginia Currents."  It was a great segment that i still have on VHS tape.

Well, I had better get to the music or I'll be here on this computer all day.  There are three groups performing on Thursday beginning with a group called West Wind. This group is new to me.  What little I know I found on their FaceBook page  which is the link I have provided above.  Next is an up a coming band called The Hagar's Mountain Boys.  These guys are good and just keep getting better.  Be sure to catch them at Grottoes.  Last up in Thursday is none other than Marty Rabon & Full Circle.  Marty spent a number of years as part of the country act Shenandoah and after the break up of the group he reconnected with his Bluegrass roots and began the band Full Circle.  Marty has a strong lead voice and always keeps a top notch band.

Friday gets under way with Mill Run, a great band featuring the singing of Billy Sue & Bob Goff Junior.  Many of you may remember Billy Sue's dad Bill Clark.  His voice boomed over the top of his loud Martin Guitar back up work as he performed all around Central Virginia. Billy Sue learned from her dad and also is easily heard as she sings with soul and conviction.  Combine that strong voice with the equally strong voice of her husband Bob Goff Junior and you've got and unbeatable combination.  The next band up is Virginia Blue.  I can't tell you anything about Virginia Blue, so make some time to get down to the stage and check them out.  The next band is the very popular Country Fried Grass. These guys love to play Bluegrass which will be evident as you watch them perform.  These fellows all camp together at the Amelia festival.  Now, you don't see much of them during the daylight hours, but if you're up in the middle of the night and want to hear some Bluegrass then just listen and follow your ears to their all night jams.  The ever popular Bluegrass Brothers are up next.  This performance is just two short weeks after their their own festival.  I spoke with Rhonda Vincent at the Graves Mountain Festival this past Saturday and she said the crowds at the first Bluegrass Brothers Bluegrass Festival were huge.  Congratulations guys!  Wrapping things up at Grottoes on Friday is the great baritone lead voice of Josh Williams and The Josh Williams Band.  Most of you will remember Josh from his days with Rhonda Vincent & The Rage.  Josh's strong baritone voice is in great demand as he joins many performers in the studio to provide back up vocals.

There's another full day of Bluegrass on Saturday at Grottoes starting with one of the very best sister duets I have ever heard, The Church Sisters.  These twin girls, who really don't look like twins, are very talented and sing with that special harmony afforded very few, even if they are family.  Up next is another group of which I know little or nothing.  They are Shenandoah Drive.  The wonderful traditional sounds of Dark Hollow are up next at Grottoes on Saturday.  These guys truly love traditional Bluegrass and honor that tradition with superb arrangements of the older music in Bluegrass.  If you like your Bluegrass served up with a little braggadocio and comedy then you need to look no further than the music of Lonesome Will Mullins & The Virginia Playboys.  Last up on Saturday is the unmistakable voice of Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice.  Junior was once a member of the now defunct band Blue Ridge, but during those years he never reached the success he now enjoys.

So there you have it; three great days of Bluegrass at one of the very nicest parks in all of Virginia.  Make plans to attend The Grottoes Bluegrass Festival by ordering your advance tickets ($50)right now.  Call Sweet Brenda or Calvin at 804-561-0705.  Hurry!  Maybe I'll see you there.

Sedailia Bluegrass Festival - June 24th, 25th & 26th, 2010 - Big Island, VA

Do you remember those early festivals in the 70s and early 80s?  They were small and intimate and everybody knew everybody else.  Do you miss those days?  If you do then look no farther than the "Sedalia Bluegrass Festival" in Big Island, VA.  Now, if your thinking, "Hmm, Big Island, must be down on the coast?" Nooooo!  You are wrong.  Big Island, VA is on the James River near Bedford, VA.  I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but I've been told there's a (you guessed it!) big island in the river near there.  So now that we've got the 'big island" thing all cleared up, what about Sedalia?  To be truthful I don't know why it's called the Sedalia Bluegrass Festival other than it is held on the grounds of The Sedalia Center for Performing Arts which at one time was the Sedalia School.  Hey that's enough about that stuff; let's get down to the Bluegrass. Right? 

I'm not gonna give you a blow by blow story here, but rather I'll list who'll be there each day.  On Thursday you'll hear Black Bear Express, a local band, followed by Footbridge and Ted Jones & The Tarheel Boys.  Black Bear Express is back on Friday followed by Against The Grain and Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice.  Saturday gets underway with the band Plain & Simple followed by Carolina Sunshine; Kenny Rorrer The New NC Ramblers; Kody Norris & The Watuga Mountain Boys and Big Country Bluegrass.

As much as I enjoy the togetherness and comradery of the Sedalia Bluegrass Festival I will most likely miss it this year to drive out the the River Of Music Party (ROMP) in Owensboro, Kentucky which is held that same weekend.  As an old retired guy I now can travel farther and stay longer.  I used to have this device called an alarm clock.  Oh, I hated it.  It's gone now and Bluegrass (Something I love!) has taken it's place.

Now, tomorrow I'm off to Franklinton, NC to enjoy a full weekend of Bluegrass at Rodney Preddy's PreddyFest Bluegrass Festival.  So, I guess for now  this is..............

"NUFF SAID!"

Preddyfest - Franklintom, N.C. - June 10th, 11th & 12th, 2010

Yes!  Look at those dates!  Preddyfest is upon us.  Starting on Thursday June 10th Preddyfest will be in full swing.  Performing on Thursday is the Sourwood Mountain Band.  This band is from Franklinton, NC and they have a new Gospel CD available.  Click on their link above to find out more about the Sourwood Mountain Band and this new project.  The next band up on Thursday is GrassStreet.  Here is a quote from their web site;"GrassStreet, based in central North Carolina, has entertained fans of all ages for over 6 years. Their mixture of original material and bluegrass standards along with their unique ability to cover musical styles ranging from rock to blues to jazz set them apart from the average bluegrass band. They pride themselves on an entertaining and high energy stage show full of the right balance of musical precision and humor. With influences ranging from the traditional sounds of Flatt & Scruggs to the progressive sounds of Seldom Scene and Tony Rice and with members with backgrounds in bluegrass, country, jazz, rock, and R&B there's always something for every listener at a GrassStreet show."  GrassStreet also has a new Gospel project out. 

Here is a quote from their web site about this new project: "We are excited to announce the release of our first all-gospel studio recording project, Grandma's Hymnbook. This new CD is a collection of several old hymns that we all grew up with along with some new original songs."  Last up on Thursday is the very popular Marty Rabon & Full Circle.  Please check out Marty's web site for more information about him and his efforts toward helping with the enormous problems after the terrible floods in Nashville.

Friday gets started with some of the best traditional Bluegrass you're likely to hear, who else but Al Batten & Bluegrass Reunion. 

Check out Al's latest CD "34 Years and Counting" and other stuff at his web site by clicking on the link above.  Simply trust me, if you like your Bluegrass traditional then Al Batten & Bluegrass Reunion is the band for you.  Next up on Friday is Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road.  Lorraine also has a new project called "Carolina Hurricane"

Lorraine asked me when I saw her at the Amelia Bluegrass Festival to tell you that the      Cherokee Bluegrass Festival will be presented as originally advertised.  Adams Entertainment dropped this festival, but it was picked up by Milton Harkey.  Check out Lorraine's web site for more details.  Those at Preddyfest on Friday will also be treated to the Josh Williams Band.  Josh has a lot of things going on so be sure to click on his band name above for all the details.  Wrapping up the day on Friday will be the great band The Grascals.  These guys got their start as a Bluegrass band by backing Dolly Partin on her very first Bluegrass CD.  They all were seasoned Nashville studio musicians, but had so much fun doing the back up for Dolly they decided to become a touring band.  As they say, the rest is history.

Saturday is another great day of Bluegrass at Preddyfest.  Things get started with a great regional band, Constant Change.  They also have a new project called "Hills of Home."  Here is a quote about the band from the web site: "Constant Change was formed in January of 2002 by a group of North Carolina musicians in their twenties with a passion for bluegrass music. For the first several years the band lived up to its name, as various hot young pickers came and went. But once Brian Aldridge (banjo) and his brother Daniel (mandolin) stepped in to join founder Clifton Preddy (fiddle), the nucleus of a special band was in place. When singer/guitarist Dan Wells came aboard in 2004, the group zoomed into focus on the radar screen of "bands to watch." The last piece of the puzzle fell into place with the addition of bass player Gary Baird in early 2006."  Also on Saturday is a great band that just recently changed it's name.  Once known as Williams & Clark Expedition, they are now called simply The Expedition Show.  They are headed up by Blake Williams who once was a "Bluegrass Boy" playing Banjo for Bill Monroe.  Blake has a dry sense of humor and will have you laughing out loud.  Also appearing at Preddyfest on Saturday is The Bluegrass Experience.  This North Carolina band has this to say on their web site; "The Bluegrass Experience has been a vital force in the North Carolina/Southeastern Bluegrass scene for over 30 years.Since being named the Worlds Champion Bluegrass Band in 1972, the group has performed professionally throughout the eastern half of the United States and has appeared on many major festivals, done numerous college concerts, recorded 3 albums and appeared at The Finnish National Folk Festival. Members have worked or recorded with some of the greats of the genre including: Bill Monroe, Chubby Wise, Bobby Hicks, Jimmy Mills, Roland White, Wilma Lee Cooper, Gene Wooten and many others."   The James King Band will mount the stage at Preddyfest.  James has long been a favorite in the NC/VA area and is known for his forthright and soulful lead vocals.  Last up, but certainly not least, is the Bluegrass schoolmaster himself, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.  The only thing I can add to the many praises already heaped upon Doyle is that he is a perfectionist.  His music will always be the very best it can be, because if it isn't there'll likely be a new face in the band the next time you see Doyle.

I'm on my way out of the door to the "Graves Mountain Festival of Music" tomorrow, but I wanted to let you know all about Preddyfest before I left.  When I return I'll be giving you details on the "Grottoes Family Bluegrass Festival" and the "Sedalia Bluegrass Festival."  Until then. . . . .

"NUFF SAID!"

"Whatcha Gonna Do" by Claire Lynch - a review

Rounder #11661-0606-2 The Claire Lynch Band "Whatcha Gonna Do"

Folks I've got to tell you that I am not qualified to review this wonderful new Claire Lynch Band project "Whatcha Gonna Do."  I sorta feel guilty trying to elevate myself to a level lofty enough to do this review, however,  I will try to do it justice.

First, there is Claire.  That should be enough to say, but unfortunately there are folks who really don't know who Claire Lynch is.  It is their loss.  If you are among those lost souls who have not heard the voice of an angel, then it is time you have.  Her voice is ageless and has a clarity that defies description.  Allow me to quote from guitarist, Jim Hurst, "My first experience hearing Claire's voice was in 1986............Her voice is elegant and pure, unlike anyone I had heard until that moment."  Jim's description is valid, but words simply cannot describe Claire's voice.  You simply must hear it.  Period!

I guess from what you've read so far you're pretty sure this will be a completely positive review.  You're right, except for one complaint.   The CD is over much too quickly!  I must include one more quote from Jim Hurst before moving on to the content of the project.  Jim said, "She has a way with words that allows the listener to absorb the story right along with the performance."  It can't be said any clearer.  While Claire's voice is soothing to listen to, it also so clear that it impossible to not hear the words and thereby the story.

The first track starts with the sounds of Mark Shatz' bass playing a catchy line of notes, joined by Jim Hurst's guitar and then by the wonderful voice of Claire Lynch as she sings songwriter Dana Cooper's "Great Day in The Mornin.'"  This is a super way to open the project; a bouncy and happy greeting.  Irene Kelley and Claire joined forces to write "Highway" a beautiful song of reminiscing along the highway of life.  Claire's voice is never better than here on "Highway."  Claire states in her liner notes about "The Mockingbird's Voice," that it is; "The first cheatin' song I've ever cut..."  Pat Alger and Kent Agee may have intended "The Mockingbird's Voice" to be a cheatin' song when they wrote it, but Claire sings of lost love in the most warm and wonderful way; really more of a love song than a cheatin' one.   Claire opens "Face to Face" and Jim Hurst picks a repeat line of each phrase in a call-response way.  Later Jim and Mark along with mandolinist Jason Thomas playfully interact with each other in this light hearted song of faith.  Of course it is the amazing voice of Claire that makes this such an uplifting song.  The only track on this project that has a voice other than Claire's is "That's What Makes You Strong."  That voice is the author of the song, Jesse Winchester.   It is a fine love song.  Track six is the project's title song, "Whatcha Gonna Do?"  It starts with a gorgeously haunting opening of guitar, bass and fiddle joined by Claire as she sings of life's crossroads and the choice, "Whatcha Gonna Do?"  Mark Shatz gets "Crazy Train" started with a jazzy bass line as Claire hops on board the "Crazy Train" singing playfully about what to do about her 'ride.'  Of "A Canary's Song" Claire states, "What beautiful language from Buddy (Mondlock) and Garth (Brooks) in expressing a miner's mindset of hope and destiny."  While Buddy Mondlock and Garth Brooks may have, indeed, written a beautiful song, it is Claire's interpretation that makes it great.  When I contacted Claire about the possibility of doing this review she replied with this, and I quote,   "  I might warn you that only one of the songs is really bluegrassy!  The rest is a little different... but I hope you do like it."  That song is Bill Monroe's "My Florida Sunshine."  True, it's bluegrassy, but I cannot  say it is my favorite one simply based on my being a self proclaimed "Bluegrass Nut!"  Claire's voice transcends Bluegrass or any classification.  Oh yeah, I do like the rest of it Claire.  It is simply Claire Lynch.  "Widow's Weeds" (Jennifer Kimball & Claire Lynch) opens with the old timey clawhammer banjo picking of Mark Shatz, followed by the the haunting words from Claire as she describes a widows life.  "Barbed Wire Boys" describes those men who chose the life of ranching or farming (Two very diverse occupations that have similar life experiences.) and their influence on the writer of the song, Susan Werner.  Claire expresses the words with great conviction and sincerity.   The last track on "Whatcha Gonna Do" is entitled "The Woods of Sipsey." Claire is the writer of this song and I'll quote her to describe it; "Clara Phillips ('Granny' as we called her) had lived the city life, but preferred her beloved home in the backwoods of central Alabama.  There she lived and died with no qualms whatsoever." Claire sings "The Woods of Sipsey" with a feeling of joy and loss all blended together into a melancholy but beautiful song.

Sometimes when I look back over a review I have written I find a lot of the words a bit stiff and completely unnecessary.  Some of that may be true here, but I want you to leave this review with a warm feeling toward Claire Lynch's "Whatcha Gonna Do."  It rivals anything she has done in the past and in many ways surpasses them.  Only thing is, how can Claire outshine Claire?  Impossible!  I highly recommend this CD to any lover of music whether it be Bluegrass or simply great singing.

"NUFF SAID!"

Graves Mountain Festival of Music - June 3rd, 4th & 5th, 2010 - Special Rural Rhythm Recording Event on Friday June 4th!

The spring festival season is in full swing and no spring in Virginia would be complete for any Bluegrass fan without attending Virginia's largest Bluegrass event, The Graves Mountain Festival of Music on June 3rd, 4th & 5th, 2010.  The very first piece of business you need to attend to is to be sure you order your weekend tickets by May 24th!  Why? Well, there's money to be saved, that's why!  After midnight May 24th tickets will be $90, but if you hurry you can save $10 per ticket, and that is nothing to sneeze at!  Call Graves Mountain Lodge at 1-540-923-4231 right now to reserve your tickets.  Do it now!

Did you order your ticket?  If so, continue with me as I try to tell you a little about the special live recording that will take place on Friday, June 4th.  Rural Rhythm Records has a long history of preserving Bluegrass music.  Most of you aren't old enough to remember Uncle Jim O' Neal.  He was the founder of Rural Rhythm out in California.  His specialty was to record and pack as many songs as he could onto one LP.  Some of those LPs had as many as 24 songs.  They way he managed to do it was to have the bands shorten the songs by reducing verses and instrumental breaks and by lowering the quality of the records themselves (smaller grooves, less sound).  It was an inexpensive way to have a lot of great music all on one LP.  Today, Rural Rhythm has been re-born and produces very well recorded and annotated CDs.  Rural Rhythm has signed many artists to exclusive contracts and many of those artists will be part of this very special recorded event at Graves Mountain.  Artists that will be included are: Russell Moore, Lou Reid, Carrie Hassler, Audie Blaylock, Sammy Shelor, Wayne Benson, Mike Hartgrove and Mike Anglin along with Carl Jackson and Mark Newton (As performer and producer!).  Wow !  What a grouping of talent on one project!    Among the songs to be recorded as part of this live event will be "Graves Mountain Memories;" a special song written by Carl Jackson about the history of Graves Mountain (Did you know that Jimmy Graves is the 12th generation of Graves on the mountain?).  I am looking forward with great anticipation to this event.  The CD should be released by the fall of this year.  If my guess is correct this will be a strong contender for recorded project of the year at IBMA this fall.  I will include the official press release below:

April 19, 2010

Rural Rhythm Records and Graves Mountain Festival of Music
Upcoming Commemorative Live Recording Album

Rural Rhythm Records and Graves Mountain Festival of Music are finalizing plans for this year’s “Rural Rhythm’s 55 Year Celebration at Graves Mountain” - a commemorative Live Recording taking place Friday, June 4, 2010 during the festival’s three day event (June 3-5, 2010) in Syria, Virginia. The upcoming live album will be released on Rural Rhythm Records in October 2010.
Kyle Cantrell of Sirius-XM Radio’s popular “Bluegrass Junction” will serve as Master of Ceremonies for this all-star recorded event held on June 4, 2010 with performances by:  The Lonesome River Band, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Carrie Hassler, Audie Blaylock & Redline, Lou Reid and Carolina, and The Crowe Brothers. Mark Newton is producing the event with Gene Daniel Sound overseeing the sound.  Highlights will be broadcast on Sirius-XM “Bluegrass Junction” soon after the festival.

During last October's International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) World of Bluegrass, Rural Rhythm Records hosted a VIP Showcase that included a special preview of the upcoming Graves Mountain event. Carl Jackson, Mark Newton, Russell Moore, Lou Reid, Audie Blaylock, Carrie Hassler, Wayne Benson, Sammy Shelor, Mike Anglin, and Mike Hartgrove performed Carl Jackson's original song, “Graves Mountain Memories.”  The group will perform the song during the Rural Rhythm recorded event next June along with these other special shows:

• Crowe Brothers with Russell Moore, and Sammy Shelor

• Carrie Hassler and Brandon Rickman

• Audie Blaylock & Redline with Carrie Hassler, Russell Moore, and Lou Reid

• Graves Mountain Jam: Lou Reid and Carolina, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Lonesome River Band, Carrie Hassler, Audie Blaylock & Redline, and The Crowe Brothers.

• "My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains” – Brandon Rickman, Crowe Brothers, Audie Blaylock, Mike Hartgrove, Wayne Benson, Steve Dilling, Edgar Loudermilk

************************************

I hope I haven't provided you with information overload, but I felt this event was so special I had to tell you everything I could about it.

Now, I want to tell about who will be at Graves on Thursday.  First up will be a group consisting of twin sisters (Yes, they are twins!) The Church Sisters.   There has been much written about sibling harmony.  The Church Sisters do nothing to cancel any of those arguments.   Next up on Thursday is Lonesome Highway.  I have no photos of this band, but I assure you they are very good.  The United States Navy Band "Country Current" is scheduled to play on Thursday, but be aware duty sometimes calls them away from scheduled performances.  Many of you will remember Darren Beachley from his stellar performances with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.  Since those days he has re-organized his band and will perform at Graves as Darren Beachley & Legends of The Potomac.  Last up will be a Graves Mountain favorite The Seldom Scene. In the past the "Scene" has been a Saturday night closer and those are days I remember well.  To hear the mountains echo with "Wait a Minute" and "Muddy Waters" always seemed a fitting close for a great festival.  This year, however, they will close out Thursday.  Should be just as good AND there'll still be two more days of Bluegrass to follow!

Now, Friday is that big day when the special recording project by Rural Rhythm will occur.  Besides that there are a number of groups that will have regular performances.  The Crowe Brothers will get things started off on Friday.  These guys got their start accompanying Raymond Fairchild back in the early 1980s. You will enjoy them, believe me.   Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain will perform Friday.  When I first met Carrie at the IBMA World of Bluegrass a few years ago she was still searching for her sound.  Well, trust me she has found it!  This music is as hard driving and solid as any Bluegrass you will hear anywhere.  Another favorite of Bluegrass fans everywhere is Lou Reid & Carolina.  Lou currently has the #1 song on the Bluegrass Unlimited chart, entitled "Amanda Lynn."  Don't miss his show!  The Lonesome River Band will be at Graves on Friday.  Sammy Shelor heads up LRB and has kept a fine band together through the years.  Thanks, Sammy.  Last up, but certainly not least will be Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out.  There's not much I can add to the many laurels that have been bestowed upon this group other than to add my agreement to all that has been said.

Mark Templeton & Pocket Change will get Saturday at Graves off to a good start.  Mark has been a mainstay at Virginia festivals over the last few years and always entertains.  The all girl (or mostly all girl) band The Wells Family consists of a mother and her three daughters.  These attractive women sing and perform Bluegrass with that family style harmony.  Mark Newton is up next with a new band name; Mark Newton & The Stringtones.  Mark is your host band for the Graves Mountain Festival of Music.  Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice also performs on Saturday at Graves.  If you like a good traditional sound to your Bluegrass then Junior is your choice.  Next up on Saturday is Cherryholmes.  I want to try to tell you that Cherryholmes is a family band, but I was roundly corrected by Sandy Cherryholmes back in 2008.  She explained that they were a Bluegrass band that just happened to be in the same family.  Duh!  Anyway, these folks are some of the best in the business.  Always great music from Cherryholmes.  Rhonda Vincent & The Rage will be at Graves on Saturday as will her brother and part of the great band Dailey & Vincent.  These two great groups don't need a lot of boosting from me.  If you've heard Bluegrass in the last 5 years you have heard these great groups.  I do want to share a rare photo.  This picture was taken at the IBMA Awards Show in 2003 in   Louisville, Kentucky.  At this time Darrin was a member of Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder.  There aren't many who have a picture such as this.  I was proud to be on hand to snap this photo.

If you're still reading now, I'm flattered that you care enough to read it all.  I guess for now there has been. . . .

"NUFF SAID!"