7 posts tagged “bluegrass”
Attendants at the Bluemont Vineyard tent
19 September 2009: at Bluemont, Virginia
OK, surprise me. That's always been my attitude in life. It's early fall here near the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills and time for numerous Fall Festivals throughout Northern Virginia and the Chesapeake Region. Our region is not just politicians or who's on top of the National Capital pecking order. Besides, that ilk wouldn't know a Dobro if they tried to go to bed with one (as noticed at the wine festival after Dirty River got done with their set. A rather well-dressed local horsey-person female came up to Michael Barton and inquired about the unusual instrument he was playing. I have to hand it to you, Mike, I wouldn't have had the patience!). So the afternoon wore on as the locally produced wine flowed. I don't drink, so the whole experience of sitting in the middle of horsey-people getting crocked on a beautiful afternoon was a total trip for me. I came for the music - what else is there in life? - and as I've mentioned so many times before, we live in the heart of what traditional, hard-core, Bluegrass Music is all about. I'm constantly amazed at the local talent we have, and the local talent Northern Virginia has launched into the Big Time.
I have to admit I went to the annual Bluemont Event once, a long time ago. Back when there were only two-lane country roads up to Bluemont, Purcellville, and all those little villes past Leesburg, heading toward the West Virginia border. Gary Cole, bass-player for Dirty River Band, said to me some weeks ago, "Hey. Come up and catch our act at Bluemont!" God couldn't have picked a more beautiful weekend. The weather and scenery on the way up were spectacular. The old horse farms along the way are still there and so are the low rock walls that separate some of the farms. I'm shocked that local rat-bags haven't stolen the walls, like they do so frequently now up in New England. The old two-lane country roads are still there too, but you have to go beyond Aldie now to experience their beauty.
I got up to Bluemont early and I'm glad I did. The Chamber of Commerce and the local police shut down the whole town for the two-day event. After I parked, floods of vehicles started pouring in. The Fair and Wine Festival covers the whole expanse of the town and there were thousands of people. With traffic shut down on the main drag it was easy to walk the whole event. Someone yelled my name and I was surprised to run into Marc Leepson, author, noted art critic, and one of the national editors for Vietman Veterans of America. We chatted a while as I perused my town map and tried to figure out the location of Plaster's Field. There were different music venues everywhere. I listened to some of it and wasn't much impressed, but I have to admit that the Fair organizers and the good folks in Bluemont really out-do themselves when it comes to throwing a communal gathering.
I finally figured out my destination and headed toward the other end of town where all the wine vendors were located. There was a small grove of trees, hay bales, some old farm equipment, and a few bulls and cows watching the whole scene behind a barbed-wire fence. In the distance were the foothills of the Blue Ridge. The wine-tasters had already started imbibing and so had a husband and wife musical duo. Butch and Michelle Nielson, local Bluemont musicians, were mellowing out the growing audience with old country and western numbers and classic rock and roll. I like it when people stop gabbing and drinking and begin to listen - and it was obvious Butch and Michelle were winning over the crowd. The music, the banter, was perfect for the setting. A grove of trees, a light breeze, dappled sunlight on an early fall afternoon. It got even better when Evan Sands and Gary Cole of the Dirty River Band joined them for some impromptu jamming on some old Johnny Cash and Beatles numbers. Gary's group took over at the appointed time. Main Street (Snickersville Road) became a log-jam of foot traffic and people trying to enter the Fair. It was nice that the Wine Festival portion of the Fair was off the beaten track. Dirty River went through the entirety of their newly released CD plus a few old bluegrass chestnuts. "Banks of the Ohio" never sounded better. These guys excel on the instrumental side, and will get better with time on the vocal side. Of particular note are Evan Sands on Banjo and Michael Barton on Dobro. These guys are top-notch and Barton plays some of the best Dobro I've heard in the area. It should also be noted that these guys were playing in the hardest possible conditions - no sound equipment, no frills, in a grove of trees, and before a crowd that definitely didn't come to hear the music. But Hey - support your local Virginia Vintner - I think I read somewhere that Virginia wine production is Number Two or Three in the U.S.
Dirty River Band will be opening for Audie Blaylock and Redline at the Old Lucketts Schoolhouse on Saturday, December 5th, 2009. Contact them at www.dirtyriverdc.com
Butch and Michelle Nielson, Bluemont musicians
The Dirty River Band at Bluemont
Marc Leepson at Bluemont - one of Virginia's best historical authors and a nationally recognized art critic. And yes, Virginia, he's also a Vietnam Veteran.
7 December 2008: Lucketts, Virginia:
I'm posting this on Pearl Harbor Day - and no one cares. Not a word in the Papers, nothing on the internet about the famous "Day of Infamy." Have we reached this point in forgetting history? Are Christmas shopping and white sales more important? There are certain aspects of life and living that remain true to form - take the Bluegrass Brothers for instance. As I experienced their performance on Saturday night the word conviction kept running through my brain-housing group. These guys are all business, all the time. No crap - no lies - no fancy packaging. You either deeply appreciate the proffered music or walk away from it. When Victor Dowdy (on bass) starts 'growling' out the songs, you have to sit up in your seat and listen closely. This is music that comes out of a deep appalachian-Virginia-Shenandoan tradition. You either love it or hate it, or at its most appreciated value, you dig back into it every once in a while to try and figure out how today's packaged-to-the-max "Country Music" got so boring and stupid! Saturday night was not only a great performance by this group from the Salem/Roanoke area, but it was also an academic seminar on how Bluegrass evolved originally from purist mountain music.
The Greats come from family traditions. The core of this group is the Dowdy Family. Victor, Robert, Steve, and Donald are all Dowdys. Billy Hurt on fiddle is the exception - and an exceptional fiddler. Donald on mandolin played the perfect sweet baritone foil to Victor's low-down, growling tenor. Donald opened the show with two vocal pieces. As the night went on, the group members switched off on different vocal positions and different instruments to show-case their individual versatility. I counted 27 songs with one encore - the highlights were a mixture of old standards and some songs written by the Dowdys. I noted more than a few of my old favorites and was surprised when Steve Dowdy lit into the (original Seldom Scene) song, "Wait a Minute." We don't hear that old Seldom Scene chestnut enough. Memories of John Duffy . . . . . .what a loss to those who appreciate talent and true genius. But the Dowdys are keeping it all alive for the good of the order.
For more information and CD's: www.thebluegrassbrothers.com
Can a guy from Rutland, Vermont really do Bluegrass? Buy this album and find out. Also go to NPR Radio interviews for an interesting session with Dan Tyminski. This music is pure liquid gold!
28 July 2008 - A post from Floyd, Virginia.
Yes, Virginia, there really is a place called Floyd, Virginia, and it's not a joke off the old "Hee Haw" television series from years back. Visitors are pleasantly shocked upon first driving into the town. It's a pretty little place tucked back into the hills east of Christiansburg by about 21 miles of scenic two-lane highway. I had been here about 10 years ago under some rather odd circumstances: The Memorial Day Writers' project ( a bunch of Veterans who also write) had been invited by the Pastor of a local country church to read poetry and perform some music. We stayed in a friend's cabin in the hills above Floyd and drove to Christiansburg to the church. Not knowing what to expect when we got to the church, we were greeted with a harp-player, an outstanding soprano - a professional from Virginia Tech - and a gospel group called the Bolt Brothers. The Bolt Brothers showed up in one of those gargantuan luxury tour buses you'd expect B.B. King to jump out of. Needless to say, this city boy was impressed. Years later, I still frequently listen to the CD I bought from the Bolt Brothers (Saved by the Blood). But what really made the visit were the humble people we met at the church and the quality time spent conversing with them over a big meal of barbequed pork and home-made pies. It was one of those perfect autumn weekends that are a constant chain-jerk to remind you that there really is a nice world out beyond the Washington Beltway. But I digress too much . . .
With that same attitude in mind Connie and I decided we would spend four days traveling down the Shenandoah Valley and return to some of those places we hadn't been in a while. We started at the top in Winchester and ended up in Floyd - stopped when we wanted to stop - and made every day impromptu, except for our motel reservations each evening. It's so easy to forget that we live in such a beautiful state that has it all: mountains, seashore, big and little towns, history, broad rivers, beautiful forests, and best of all, nice people. We had a couple goals in mind - the relatively new National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, and spending quality time in Staunton. While in Staunton we hadn't planned it, but we took advantage of visiting all the places dedicated to Woodrow Wilson: The Woodrow Wilson Home, The Woodrow Wilson Library and Museum, etc. I highly recommend it all, if you're travelling through Staunton. We saved Floyd for our final day before we had to return north, and home.
There is a bit of myth and folklore connected to Floyd's history and it goes like this: in the 60's and 70's a bunch of hippies found Floyd and moved in to establish a couple of communes. They made their money through the usual venues: painting, pottery, arts and crafts, and handicrafts. Some were very successful, some weren't. Bluegrass music became an important element in Floyd's growth. The artsy-craftsy element remains in the number of existing galleries and slick cafes and coffee shops. I had heard this myth/folklore story the first time I visited Floyd. I heard it again when we returned. Who cares? I was on a mission to visit "County Sales." Artsy Fartsy villages are a dime a dozen all across our great nation.
County Sales is tucked down an alleyway off the main drag in Floyd. I couldn't quite understand the first set of directions that were given to me to get to it. I had been to the County Sales website and had hours of fun going through its immense catalogues of old time music, folk music, and what they're known best for, which is Bluegrass. While I was there I heard one of the clerks get three phone calls from Rebel Records. That told me something about the place. Crammed into an old basement warehouse is the biggest collection of music I've ever seen. Sales people scurry about in every direction filling internet, fax, and phone orders for the best in Bluegrass, and also the most profound and obscure in old time music. I could have spent days there just going through the shelves, and every once in a while I'd stumble over boxes of teeshirts and concert posters. This is a Great Place! I'd found nirvana. But it was time to start thinking about going back to the drudge of civilization around the Beltway. And it's nice to realize that total access to all of it is just a few clicks away on my computer.
Keep your eyes and ears on this guy. He's a master. Mark Johnson's style of banjo-picking is so innovative and refreshing, he trademarked it and gave it a name. The voice is not bad either. This is an artist who knows he's got a gift to share with an appreciative audience - Good Luck to you Mark, from Ed Henry.
For more information go to:
www.clawgrass.com (and buy his records!)
For me, the Bluegrass Scene is always a surprise. It's usually pretty pleasant and worth the wait. Sometimes there's a little disappointment, but rarely. Let's take the musical aspect of what we're talking about. There are only a few basic chords and only a few harmony arrangements a person could either really blend into the most beautiful thing you've ever heard, or royally screw it up to the point where you wished the performer would get off the stage. The song has to tell a story too, that's an important part of the equation. Sometimes you keep hearing the same song over and over again, but that's OK - as long as you've perfected your presentation of it in a new and unique way (think Claire Lynch on "Wabash Cannonball"). So with a lot of anticipation of what I'd find out at the Lucketts Fair this past weekend, I was rewarded greatly.
I'd never been to the Lucketts Fair - had heard a lot about it, - stupid me that I'd missed it all these past 35 years. I drove out on Saturday dodging the traffic through Tyson's Corner, Sterling, Dranesville, Dulles Center, Landsdowne, and the rest of those featureless strip malls that have made a mockery of the northern Virginia landscape. Stop and Go. Stop and Go. and finally reached Route 15. I could calm down a bit from white-knuckling my steering wheel after thirty miles of playing dodge-'em cars with Land Rovers, Lexus and Cadillac SUV's, and mongol hordes of Soccer Mom 4-cylinder vans.(I thought there was a gas crisis?) Getting into the Fair and parking was easy due to the numerous parking volunteers and County Police on hand - God Bless Them - they did a great job handling the huge crowd that shows up for this biggest of annual events on Route 15.
The center piece of the event is the Lucketts Community Center (better known as the Old Lucketts School) and you can't miss it. The pre-1900's white, wooden, elementary school sits directly on Route 15. The most important factor in its continuing existence is Bluegrass music. There is so much going on around the school that for this particular weekend of the year the music moves outside to "The Gazebo." The performers start playing each day (Saturday and Sunday) at 10:00 a.m. and don't stop until 4:00 p.m. or a little later. A few big tents and plenty of chairs are provided so the ample audience can stay out of the sun. I have to admit that the audience is pretty much on the senior side of life, but conversations with them soon lets you know that these oldtimers are experts on the subject of 'Mountain Music' and they've come to enjoy a whole day of Mountain Music immersion. I had some amazing conversations with some real characters. These are hardcore fans who know their music and know the history of it.
Back to the pleasant surprise part - a total of eight groups played 16 sets for the weekend - admission price: $8 per day for some of the best bluegrass music you'll hear in this part of Virginia - and you get the rest of the Fair along with the basic admission price. The bands were amazing. The Scott Brannon Band ruled the day on Saturday, and wowed the crowd with his almost, laid-back way of getting into an old-time song and emotionally wringing it for all it's worth. Right behind Scott Brannon was Springfield Exit. The surprise here is the vocalizing of Linda Lay - she has one of the best voices in Bluegrass. "When I was little I listened to a lot of Dolly Parton, and I wanted to be just like Dolly," she said during one of the interludes. No you don't Linda, we're happy to listen to the voice of Linda Lay - and hope it stays that way.
I went back out on Sunday. It was hotter with less of a breeze, but thank God the humidity was low. There were even more people than Saturday, thousands of them, spread out over acres of craft stalls, activities for the kids, food tents, and a great bake sale going on in the Old School House. After Patent Pending, Flint Hollow, and Iron Ridge, Ernie Bradley and Grassy Ridge took control of the day. They're from Hagerstown. This is high-energy, gut-level, old string band stuff, with songs about coal mines, hard luck, and what we've come to expect out of a true Appalachian musical group. Ernie and his band were tight, straight up, and consistently had the audience in the palms of their hands. They did a highly unusual version of "Orange Blossom Special" that brought down the house. Also memorable was the song "Miners' Prayer." This group needs a record label - somebody needs to sign 'em up right now. Fortunately, they'll be back at Lucketts for the winter concert series.
Also on the Bill: The Patuxent Partners, The Company Store.
It's been a busy summer; one of the best I can remember as far as the weather is concerned, especially after the terrible drought of 2007. My vegetable garden is supplying big baskets of tomatoes and if the squirrels don't totally destroy my pumpkin patch, I'll have some beauties to carve up for Halloween. It's also time for the Lucketts Fair August 23rd and 24th. Lucketts is about Bluegrass Music, or as I like to call it, real "Mountain Music." No Shania Twain or any of those poseurs in the American 'country' music genre. This is real stuff, dished up by real musicians. Then closely following, the Lucketts Community Center performances will start up again October 4th, 2008. That's every Saturday night starting at 7:00 p.m. There is a $13 admission fee for the Saturday night performances, and always raffle tickets for the give-away baked goods. (Last year we won the Hummingbird Cake - it was a winner!). Get to the Saturday performances early - the venue has a room-full of CD's to buy and it's a chance to meet that night's performers. Each evening there are two acts and two full sets of music. For $13 - Such a Deal!
Lucketts Fair and Bluegrass Gazebo performances - 23 and 24 August - 10:00 to 5:00 each day. (For more info go to www.Luckettsfair.com
Saturday Night Bluegrass at the Lucketts Community Center - The Old Schoolhouse - begins 4 October and runs every Saturday night till Christmas. (for complete schedule go to www.luckettscommunitycenter.org)
Looking for the obscure, rare, or best of the latest Mountain Music Artists? I found the Holy Grail in Floyd, Virginia. There really is a town called Floyd. More on that later. Go to www.countysales.com (Photo courtesy of County Sales, Inc., Floyd, Virginia)
