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!"