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!"