Two Great Bluegrass Festivals - Coming Soon!

Yes, that's right there are two great Bluegrass Festivals coming just around the corner.  The first one is "Mr. B's Blowout" coming up over the weekend of August 25th, 26th & 27th, 2011. Followed a couple weeks later by "The Grottoes Bluegrass Festival."  So, there are big times ahead and  I better get started:

08/15/2011:  Before reading about these two great festivals I have news to share about the Beachley & Scott Band.  Barry Scott has decided to leave the band to pursue a solo career in Gospel music.  Rather than proceed as simply "Beachley," Darren and the band decided to  change the name to HeartTown.  HeartTown will fill the remainder of the Beachley & Scott tour dates.  With this name change a new member has come on board.  Greg Luck will be joining HeartTown on fiddle.

Mr.B's "Bluegrass Blowout"  August  25th, 26th &27th, 2011 - Mr, B's Bluegrass Park - Ladysmith, VA

 

For those of you who have never been to Mr. B's Park, I would like to tell you a little about it.  First of all, Mr. B has been a huge supporter of Bluegrass most of his life.  Before hosting Bluegrass festivals he operated a restaurant near Fredericksburg, VA called, you guessed it, "Mr. B's."  I've attended a few shows at Mr. B's over the years and never failed to have a most pleasant evening of Bluegrass music.  His restaurant was a huge structure that seated I would guess 300 plus people.  If any of you have been to 'The Birchmere" up in Alexandria, VA then you know how the seating works and Mr. B's.  It's first come first served and your table is not exclusively your own.  It's a great way to meet new people who share your common interest, Bluegrass.  But, I'm drifting here.  As with his restaurant, Mr. B had in mind the way he wanted his park to be arranged and since he owned the land and it was completely forested all he needed to do was draw the layout and let the bulldozers loose!..The park is laid out beautifully and has grown into a very nice park as it has matured.  The stage is situated within a nice grove of hardwood trees with bleacher-like covered seating available toward the rear of the seating area.  Otherwise, bring your lawn chair and get ready to enjoy a great weekend of Bluegrass.  And speaking of that I guess I had better tell you who's gonna be there and when.

Things get kicked off on Thursday with four bands each playing two sets apiece.  Bands playing on Thursday are : The Honakers, Milford Station, Dark Hollow and The Carolina Road Band. 

For Friday there is another big day of Bluegrass with: Code Blue, Kody Norris & The Watuga Mountain Boys, Katie Penn, Mark Templeton & Pocket Change, Special Consensus and IIIrd Tyme Out.

The Bluegrass keeps rolling along on Saturday beginning with: Leon Morris, Jay Armsworthy, Special Consensus, Beachley & Scott, Larry Gillis  and Darrell Webb.

Folks I gotta tell you that is a great line up of bands with Bluegrass to satisfy most anyone's taste.  Get off I-95 at the Ladysmith exit and turn toward U.S. Route 1.  Head north on Route 1 for about a mile and look for the Mr. B's Bluegrass Park sign to your left and you're almost there.  A three day ticket at the gate is $80, but if you just don't feel like camping why not call 804-449-6350 and ask about the package deal; motel room and 3 day pass for just $325.

"Bluegrass In The Park" The Grottoes Music Festival - September 8th, 9th & 10th, 2011. Grand Caverns Park - Grottoes, VA

I hope you get plenty of rest after attending Mr. B's because in just two short weeks there is another wonderful Bluegrass event held at the beautiful Grand Caverns Park in Grottoes, VA.  "Bluegrass In The Park" is hosted by the Shenandoah Valley Shriners, with all proceeds going to the Shriners Children's Hospital.  I've attended this festival many times and I believe I may have attended the very first one 26 years ago.  Grand Caverns Park is an amazing place. Nestled among the rolling hills of the Shenandoah Valley is this perfectly flat spot.  The tri county parks department keeps the place immaculate and it is a joy to be there for a great weekend of Bluegrass music.  Let's get a little business out of the way first.  I'm too late to tell you about the advanced ticket, so, not to worry, the festival is still a great bargain at $70 for a three day ticket.  Camping is rough only and there is a $20 fee.

Now, on to the music!  Thursday is action packed with these great bands:  Dixie Pride, Page County Ramblers, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, Ralph Stanley II and The Little Roy & Lizzy Show.

Have fun jamming Thursday night, but don't jam all night because these great bands will be performing on Friday: Carroll County Ramblers, Buck & Company, Wildwood Valley Boys, Special Consensus Bluegrass Band and Darren Beachley & The Legends of Potomac (A note from Gary;  My understanding is that Darren Beachley has disbanded the Legends of The Potomac and is now teamed with his fellow Quicksilver band mate Barry Scott.)

There's a big line-up for Saturday as well.  Just take a look at who'll be performing: Kody Norris & The Watuga Mountain Boys, Paul Williams & The Victory Trio (Some of the finest and most sincere Bluegrass Gospel you are likely to hear anywhere!), Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie, Solid Rock and Bill Yates & The Country Gentlemen Revue.

I usually take I-64 to Waynesboro and take the Route 340 north 0 exit.  Follow Route 340 through town and drive north about 15 to 20 miles and you'll see signs directing you to Grand Caverns Park along the way.  Here's something you might find amusing.  It is one of the many many great memories I have accumulated attending Bluegrass festivals all around Virginia.   Years ago there was a Bluegrass festival held just a few miles north of Waynesboro.  The park was called, Orange Blossom Park (Named after a central figure in the Shenandoah Valley Bluegrass scene, the late, Mr. Jim Orange, who hosted this festival).  Everyone knew how to get to the park.  How!?!?  Easy, we knew to turn right at the "Purple Cow Head."  Take a look as you're heading north on Route 340 out of Waynesboro and see if you notice the Purple Cow Head!

Well, that about covers these two wonderful festivals.  I hope you'll mark your calendar and make the decision to attend these two shows.  Until next time....

"NUFF SAID!"

Bluegrass Benefit show for Peggy Woodall - September 24th, 2011 - Amelia Family Campground

Those of us who know Peggy Woodall are, indeed, fortunate.  I have described her to many as "The Hostess With the Mostest!"  Peggy is tireless when it comes to making her friends feel comfortable whenever they visit her campsite and I'm sure it's that way at home, too.  She is a whirlwind around the campsite and will not rest until everyone has been offered what ever she has.

Peggy is a most sincere Bluegrass music fan.  If there's no jamming going on at her campsite she will range far and wide to gather pickers and singers back to her camp.   She and her husband, Jack, share this love of the music.  Jack is an instrument buyer and trader and Peggy is right there by his side offering advice and help.  They are a team and she is Jack's right hand woman!  Those of us close to Peggy all love her.  But, alas, Peggy has suffered some medical complications in her life and the expenses have been great.  She needs our help!

Therefore, there will be a special Bluegrass Benefit Show for Peggy this coming September 24th, 2011, at the Amelia Family Campground.  The show will start at 2PM and run until 9PM, but if I know Peggy and her friends, there'll be jamming on late into the night.  Home made bean soup and hot dogs will be available for a donation.  There'll be a 50/50 drawing and everyone is asked to bring home made desserts such as cakes and pies.  Bring whatever your specialty is and it will be offered for auction to help raise cash for Peggy. 

Don't forget to bring your lawn chairs and your instruments, too;you never know! ;~}).  Besides the items to be auctioned, please bring a side dish to go along with the soup and hot dogs.  We're family, so let's all pitch in and help.  Hey!  There's gonna be bands playing the entire afternoon and evening.  Bands who have donated their time are: Donnie Mason & In The Tradition;  Billie Sue & Mill Run; Eddie Gill & The Grassmasters, The Willis River Band, plus Code Blue. 

The Hutchinson Family welcomes campers by offering hook-ups at $15 per night.  Special thanks are offered to George Thomas for providing sound for the event and to the J. B. Hutchinson Family for allowing the use of the pavilion and the campground for this very special benefit.

If more information is needed please call Mary or Charlie Morgan at; 804-598-5262 or J. B. Hutchinson at: 804-561-3011.  Don't forget to bring lots of cash with you to the benefit and let's have fun supporting one of the finest ladies anyone is ever likely to meet, Peggy Woodall.  I would like to offer one more note of thanks; Donna Trent has acted as the voice for Peggy & Jack throughout this very trying time in their lives and we all owe her a special thanks for being there for us, too.  Thank you, Donna!

And, may I ask one more thing of you?  Please keep Peggy and Jack in your prayers.

"NUFF SAID!"