25TH ANNIVERSARY - BLUEGRASS FIRST CLASS

Each February since we've moved to Western North Carolina, we've enjoyed attending the annual Bluegrass First Class indoor festival. There's non-stop music from mid-morning on Friday-Sunday noon in the showroom, a stage in the hotel, and incredible pickers gathered in hallways, hotel rooms, meeting rooms, & the parking lot.....it's a bluegrass lovers paradise.

 Doyle Lawson has been a staple in this industry for years.....he often dresses more like a spangled country-western performer than one playing bluegrass.  This year a fan brought him a present.....shiny purple shoes.  The promoter of this event brought the gift on the stage and gave it to Doyle who was clearly stunned, but being a good sport....he did put them on.  

AND being a the supreme performer......he had his group immediately launch into this song....

 My all time forever favorite group, "The Seldom Scene"  never disappoints.  They've been around as a group since 1971.....click on the link to learn more about the meaning of their name and their history.

For years, Daily and Vincent has closed the show.....always a huge crowd pleaser.  This year Rickey Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder was the closing act.  He was a terrifically talented bluegrass musician from a very early age, from there he moved onto gospel and some country.  Recently he came back to bluegrass...we haven't seen him in years.  Being less than kind here......clearly his stint promoting one of the weight loss programs didn't work and though the color of his silver hair is beautiful.....he needs a stylist...honestly it was hard to watch someone who looked like a 60 year old pregnant woman.  Sorry....  The music was toe tapping and some of the harmony was really good....the fiddle & and guitar players were very talented.  

We are already looking forward to next year!!

EVENING WITH THE ART OF MUSIC

The final evening at the 4th annual Balsam Range - Art of Music was magical.  Click here to learn more details about the various presenters.

 We've enjoyed the music of two members of this group at other events playing with different groups.  I believe they've found a perfect home with this new group, Sister Sadie, the IBMA 2019 Vocal Group of the Year and Grammy nominated Album Sister Sadie II. 

 John Driskell Hopkins dazzled the crowd as he performed along with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra.  He's best known for his role as a founding member, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter for the Grammy Award Winning group Zac Brown Band.

The show ended with a fabulous medley of Christmas and traditional bluegrass songs by Balsam Range and the Atlanta Pops Orchestra.  It's hard to imagine unless you've had the rare opportunity to experience this combination of musical talent...the concept of a Pops Orchestra and a Bluegrass band is unique and outstanding.

THE ART OF MUSIC FESTIVAL

Enjoying two nights of Bluegrass Music as the Art of Music Festival - 4th annual event hosted by one of our favorite Bluegrass groups; Balsam Range. All members live right in our back yard.....in Haywood County, NC and the venue is 18 mins. from our house. What could be better than that??

 BALSAM RANGE:  Bluegrass music's reigning Entertainers of the Year, Balsam Range, consist of five original members who all hail from Western NC. 

The Tim O'Brien Band was one of the guest groups. He's well known for his participation in bands such as Hot Rize and The Earls of Leicester. He's strayed beyond his bluegrass roots (too far for my taste) but the musical talent of the entire group was very entertaining.

A BLUEGRASS EVENING

One of our favorite bluegrass bands happens to be a local one.  Carolina Blue is hitting it big, but as is so often the case, what appears to be an overnight success is actually one of long years of hard work and dedication to crafting one's skills.

 We attended a simply wonderful early evening outdoor concert at the Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, NC.  The weather was perfect, as was the setting and the music was fabulous.  I love the group for their traditional bluegrass approach.  They write a lot of their own music but it's steeped in the basics of the likes of Bill Monroe.

Each month during the summer the college hosts a music event and we are so delighted that Carolina Blue was featured for all their local fans to enjoy.

BLUEGRASS FUN

We look forward to the annual Bluegrass First Class Festival held in Asheville, NC every February.  We've been attending ever since we moved to the mountains in 2006 and have worked our way up to reserved first row seating.  A true treat for anyone attending any live music event.

 A mixture of new groups and ones that have played this venue every year come to entertain.  Besides not having to travel far for us to attend, the small showroom makes this long weekend intimate and so enjoyable.  The only negative that continues from year to year is the unpredictable February weather which impacts us since we travel back and forth from home.

However, it's totally worth the tense travel time on I40 getting to see my all time favorite group....The Seldom Scene which has been going strong since 1971.

One of the newcomers to Bluegrass is Carolina Blue.....and they are a local group from Bevard, NC.  We saw them several years ago and oh my...they took the house down this time.  New groups can take awhile to find their voice.....and they sure have!

Besides loving their music, I'm totally enamored with their new album cover....wondering if any of you followers recognize what it's portraying??  Shout out if you do.....I noticed it immediately.

 This is an event like no other since it's held indoors...most bluegrass festivals are outdoors.  Everywhere and I mean everywhere in this large hotel complex you'll find pickin' and singing.  There's even a small stage set up just off the hotel's lobby.

 Doors to hotel rooms are often left open for folks to jump in with their instruments for impromptu playing.  In fact the hallways are often so crowded with folks standing to peer into these rooms, it can be difficult to pass through.  All good!!!

I love how the organizers help perpetuate new generations of Bluegrass musicians....they invited this 6 year old boy on stage during one of the short breaks to play his fiddle.  Heartwarming!!

Next year will be the 25th anniversary of this festival......we can't wait.

BLUEGRASS FIRST CLASS PART 2

Unfortunately, my music report from day two of Bluegrass First Class is quite abbreviated.  We had to leave early because "The husband", after over 3 long months, is still recuperating from cervical surgery.  We were both terribly disappointed but he was simply in too much pain to stay.

 We did get to see Town Mountain, another new local Asheville, NC group (new to us that is). Their style didn't appeal to me.....despite having the 5 main elements of any bluegrass band; a fiddle, mandolin, upright base, guitar, banjo, it was too booey wooey pretending to be bluegrass for my taste. Their harmony was nicely done but sadly, the main vocalists when singing solo impossible to understand.  Like the day before, this venue is a great opportunity for less established groups to perfect their performances.

 We've been fans of Darin & Brooke Aldrige since we first saw them at Bluegrsss First Class a number of years ago.  They've now teamed up with John Cowan. John's fame came from playing with the New Grass Revival, from the mid 70's when he was only 22 years old until the group disbanded in 1990.  He went on to play in many genres, from country, jazz, rock-n-roll, to soul. Their performance was quite a departure with the inclusion of John than when Darin & Brooke were on their own.  

 This is one of the three groups I personally came to see.  Flatt Lonesome....love, love, love their music.....based very much in traditional bluegrass but with their own twist.  3 members are siblings.....thus their absolutely and unforgettable harmony.  They've already won tons of awards and not one of them has yet to reach the age of 30!

The Seldom Scene is my all time favorite Bluegrass group.  The name (selected way back in 1971 when they formed) can be explained by this Wikipedia notation:  Each of the band members had a job during the week; Duffey repaired musical instruments, Eldridge was a mathematician, Starling a physician,^[1] Auldridge a graphic artist, and Gray a cartographer with National Geographic.^[2] They agreed to play one night a week at local clubs, perform occasionally at concerts and festivals on weekends, and make records. The band's first home scene was the Red Fox Inn in Bethesda, Maryland, where they spent six years before starting weekly performances at The Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria, Virginia.

The last founding band member, Ben Eldridge retired in 2016....yet the majority have now been with the group since mid 1990's. Ben played the banjo on the tune linked below.

Sitting here writing this post.....I've been listening to another one of their famous hits, "Old Train"....written by Herb Pederson who I blogged about yesterday.  I NEVER tire of this group.  

So until next year, we will have to be satisfied with recorded songs from many of these artists.....but will jump at any chance to attend live shows when possible.

BLUE GRASS FIRST CLASS

We moved from Wisconsin to NC in 2006.....one of many reasons we chose this area was the abundance of great bluegrass music.  Every February the best of the best come to Asheville, NC to play at Blue Grass First Class.

Many of the same acts appear almost every year.....but since they are top notch bands....we are always as excited as our very first time at this event 11 years ago.  The following is a short overview of the first day of the festival.  The days' events run from noon to midnight for two days.....a bluegrass lovers dream come true.....all in indoor comfort.

Each year new or up and coming bands kick off the event.  Blue Mafia, yes you read that right, was introduced.  Their album is titled "Hanging Tree"....and yes you read that right too.  Despite their enthusiasm and obvious thrill to be included in this event, they have a long way to go before I would consider them polished performers.  Everyone needs a start and perhaps this experience will help guide them.

 The Grascals haven't appeared for several years....always excellent, well prepared.....with fantastic musicians and incredible harmony. Unlike County Music....women band members are rare in Bluegrass.  Their banjo player is none other than 4 time IBMA Banjo Player of the Year Award Winner Kirstin Scott Benson.

A newly formed California based group,  John Jorgenson Blue Grass Band made their first appearance at Blue Grass First Class. John (center) played for many years with the Desert Rose Band and has a list of accomplishments pages long. He plays just about any string instrument and really excells at the mandolin.....fabulous!  The other icon in the group is Herb Pederson (right) who knows everyone and has played with everyone.....from Rock, to Country, to Jazz, to Bluegrass for probably 50+ years.

Herb BLEW the whole room away when he sang two very, very well known tunes he wrote, made famous by my long time favorite group The Seldom Scene.  He shared how this song, Wait a Minute" came to be written. I couldn't get my recording to upload but found one recorded with Chris Hillman (an original member of the Byrds back in 1965) on YouTube that you can safely click here to experience.

 He'd been on the road in Europe for an extended period of time...home only a day or two before getting a call to play on another tour.  He shared this news with his 'then' wife who tersely said "wait a minute"!  As he said, this was the beginning of the end.....she KNEW who he was and what he did for a living before they married.  

Day two coming up shortly.......

BLUE GRASS IN THE MOUNTAINS

Long time readers of this blog know how much I enjoy Bluegrass music.  Luckily, there are lots of opportunties to enjoy live Bluegrass right here in our mountains.  

 'The husband' and I have seen Darin and Brooke Aldridge numerous times and they never fail to entertain with his fabulous instrumental talents and their blended harmony.  She has such a strong voice, you'll often see her stepping back from the microphone to prevent it from shattering as she belts out the lyrics.

 Waynesville, NC, has a population of about 10,000 and sits at 2,750 feet elevation.  It's our nearest town with a charming downtown featuring galleries/gift shops and restaurants, approximately 25 mins. from our house. 

 A young couple recently purchased the old movie theater on Main Street and are slowly bringing it back to life with live music and evening movies.  The Strand was built in 1945 and was said to have around 400 seats.  Now it's a tiny venue with 75 seats, padded armless chairs situated right next to each other which makes for a very intimate setting!

Bluegrass groups generally consist of a guitar, mandolin, banjo, upright base, and fiddle.  Occasionally, groups will also highlight the dobro, a personal favorite of mine. Country music quite will often feature a pedal steel guitar (as seen here).  The sound is similar to the dobro....but twangier.  We were lucky to get front row seats, seriously no less than 5 feet from the stage and dab smack in front of this musician (who also played the banjo and guitar.....sigh....what talent!)

My toes are still tapping this morning......