Gosh, I really don't know where to start. One thing I've got to do is apologize for being so late with this entry on the blog. Time seems to be going faster and faster since I've retired. I guess I better start by telling you again that Virginia's largest Bluegrass event, "The Graves Mountain Festival of Music" will be held the weekend of June 2nd, 3rd & 4th, 2011. All you really need to do to enjoy the Graves Mountain festival is to simply show up with a lawn chair. There is plenty of great food, shade, facilities and some of the best Bluegrass music you're likely to hear anywhere. Only rough camping is available and it is free with the purchase of a 3 day ticket. Free camping has been the Graves Mountain promise from the very first festival. Remember it is free with a 3 day ticket and only a 3 day ticket. Show up on Saturday with your RV; you'll only camp with the purchase of a 3 day ticket. It's quite clear and simple.
Now, about the food at Graves. The dinner Special on Thursday evening is BBQ Pork Ribs with all the trimmings. On Friday the dinner special is Fried Rainbow Trout and on Saturday it's Grilled Rib Eye Steak. Also available each day are hamburgers, hot dogs with French Fries and ice cream to top everything off. Breakfast is served on Friday and Saturday mornings. So, really, all you have to do is show up with that lawn chair.
There is a chair policy at Graves that leans toward the most dedicated and earnest Graves Mountain attendee. The gate to the camping area opens on Friday May 27th. As campers file in they will be given a "chair ticket" entitling them to place 2 chairs (for each 3 day ticket) at the stage area on Wednesday, June 1st starting at 1:00PM. Numbers will be called, usually in groups of 10, in-order beginning with "chair ticket" #1, etc. Some folks think this is 'unfair', but this is a clearly stated policy, so if you really want to be near the front, you'll make the extra effort to be there early on May 27th. It is not necessary to arrive with your camper that day or to even be a camper, but you must get in line to get your chair ticket and you must have with you or purchase your 3 day ticket at that time.
Now, let's get down to the music. Every day at Graves is big and Thursday is no exception. First up is Donna Ulisse & The Poor Mountain Boys. Donna is a Virginia native from the Hampton Roads area. She now lives in Nashville, pursuing a career in song-writing and performing. At a concert last year Donna informed me that I was the very first person to book her (It was at my "Night Owl Concerts" at IBMA). Check out a video of Donna's music by clicking here. [For those of you that can't make the trip to Graves, Donna will be performing on Friday June 3rd in Victoria, VA at the Uptown Coffee Cafe.] Next up is another Virginia native, James King and The James King Band. James has one of the best natural lead voices in Bluegrass music today. His songs are memorable as he weaves his stories into his music. I guess Thursday is the day for folks hailing from Virginia, because the next band up is The Larry Stephenson Band. Larry comes from the Fredericksburg area, but now makes his home in White House ,TN near Nashville. I first saw Larry perform when he was about 15/16 years old as he was part of a big package show traveling around the country after the success of the first "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" album. In each city local bands were hired to fill out the day of music and Larry's band was one the chosen. Next up on Thursday is Goldwing Express. Read about Goldwing Express in this excerpt from their web page: "Dedicated to their Native American heritage, the Goldwing Express rides in with an incredible mix of hard-driving acoustics and heart-felt melodies - bringing the music of America to life for crowds across the country! From classic Southern Gospel and contemporary country favorites, to the historic blue-grass roots that started it all, Goldwing Express delivers a mix of the lonesome cowboy and the hard-riding brave - all wrapped in song, comedy and tears! Coupled with some of best instrumentalists on any stage, this award-winning father and 3 sons live and breathe this musical heritage - and every time they hit the stage - it's plain to see!" Closing out the day on Thursday; who else, The Seldom Scene. I don't know what I can add to the accolades that have been heaped upon this well deserved groups of musicians, except you are not likely to be more entertained by any other group of guys more than you will be by The Seldom Scene. For a sample of the 'fun' of being at a live concert listen by clicking here. Also, don't forget these concerts are all on Thursday and that means BBQ Ribs. Get yourself some!
After a night of jamming and visiting, dawn arrives and Friday begins at Graves with Lonesome Highway being first band up. Here's a note from Lonesome Highway's web page: "COULD IT BE....???Actor/comedian Steve Martin names Lonesome Highway as one of the bands he enjoys listening to!!! The legendary entertainer says he listens to a variety of bluegrass music these days, including Frank Solivan, Mike Munford on banjo, the Seldom Scene, Lonesome Highway, Blue Moon Rising, Del McCoury, and Grascals and Hot Rize." The next band up is a Central Virginia favorite, Mark Templeton & Pocket Change. Now, if you like your Bluegrass more from the traditional side of things then you'll be happy to hear Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice will be at Graves on Friday. Junior is a humble person and not one to brag, but when it's the truth, he will tell you. Here's a note from his web page: "(Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice) Is celebrating "Train Without A Track" achieving the #1 song spot on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass Survey Chart for the month of April!! "Workin' Hard Ain't Hardly Workin' Anymore" continues to move up and is the #13 song this month. The Album, 'Heartaches and Dreams', held the #1 Album spot on the BU National Bluegrass Survey Chart for four consecutive months! We are honored and thrilled with this recognition and want to send out a heartfelt "thank you" to all of the fans, promoters and broadcasters who have supported us and contributed to the success of this album." Next up on Friday is Balsam Range. This blurb from their web page best describes their music: "From deep in the Appalachians where the Great Smoky Mountains meet the Blue Ridge comes the Balsam Range band, creatively blending Bluegrass, Folk, Gospel and Jazz into a new American acoustic music experience." Last up on Friday is the one and only Lonesome River Band, featuring the unmistakable Banjo work of Virginia's own Sammy Shelor. I want to tell you something special about Sammy and the Lonesome River Band. Every year for the past seventeen years LRB has performed in Richmond, VA at Saint Joseph's Villa (A charitable organization dedicated to helping the poor and homeless, especially children). I do not know the particulars of the financial reward to LRB for this show, but my guess it is very little to possibly nothing at all. Sammy's reward is the good feeling he gets for helping this very worthwhile organization. I am hesitant to tell you that Cherryholmes is listed as performing at Graves on Friday. My understanding was that Cherryholmes had dissolved the band and had their last performance a month ago. From their web site: "We want to let you all know that "Cherryholmes" (the group) is officially disbanding. Our final performances will be on May 6 at the Doyle Lawson Bluegrass Festival in Denton, NC and May 7 at Houstonfest in Galax, VA."If this is not true and you're a big fan of their music, be sure to attend this performance as this may well be their last. Hey, don't forget that Fried Rainbow Trout dinner!
I know you're tired from, yet another late night of jamming, but you gotta get up on Saturday to hear the U. S. Navy Band "Country Current." Started over 30 years ago by Bill Emerson, Country Current still survives with top notch musicians and more awards than I can tell you. As always, Country Current works for the U. S. Navy and can be called away at any moment to perform at a government function, so just be aware of this fact. Up next is one of the clearest and most distinguishable voices in Bluegrass, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out. Now, it happens that not all of the music heard at Graves is strictly Bluegrass and the next band up, The Quebe Sisters Band is a prime example. Hailing from Texas, these beautiful sisters play good ole' Texas swing music with a mixture of other genres. They play very good acoustic music and are great musicians, so don't walk away from their show. You'll miss some really fine music if you do. Up next are The Boxcars and they'll drag you right back out of Texas to the center of Kentucky with their great Bluegrass music. With Ron Stewart on Banjo/Fiddle and Adam Steffey on Mandolin, you know you're in for a great set of music. Don't miss them! The Rye Holler Boys are up next on Saturday. These young musicians are so accomplished that one might expect to see a bunch of much older guys on stage. The Rye Holler Boys are an exuberant group and will entertain you from start to finish. There will be two of the Vincent family at Graves on Saturday. First up will be Rhonda Vincent & The Rage with two performances (she'll close out the festival). There's not a lot I need to say about Rhonda. Her show is top notch, professional and entertaining throughout. In a special "one show only" 90 minute program, Dailey & Vincent will perform at 4:50 in the afternoon. Please keep this in mind and don't expect two shows as this will be the one and only performance by Dailey & Vincent. Well, that about wraps up Saturday at Graves, but don't forget to get that Rib Eye Steak for supper.
Please take the time to look at the web sites of the various bands. They are high-lighted in purple. They will appreciate it and you will come away with a more knowledge about the bands. I'll be heading up to Graves on Wednesday June 1st. I am looking forward to seeing all of you there.
"NUFF SAID!"
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