On Tuesday, May 20, 2014 11:41:34 AM UTC-7, John H. wrote:
A few pictures with a bit of narrative to show what a Bluegrass Festival is all about. First things
first - getting the trailer ready to go and showing the rear end to the neighbors:
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...1/P1010113.jpg
Upon arrival, one must set up the trailer in the campsite. Granite Hill Campgrounds has plenty of
sites, but not all have sewer, electric, and water. Ours did, but we reserve it a year in advance.
We've been in this same site for the past several trips:
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...1/P1010124.jpg
The music is what it's all about. Everyone brings their own lawn chairs. The big tent is for rainy
weather, or just getting out of the sun. There's always a scramble for the best places to set up a
chair, but once it's there it's left alone. This pic gives an idea of the number of attendees:
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...1/P1010136.jpg
The rain tent:
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...1/P1010118.jpg
Who could be drawing such a crowd at night when the temp was in the mid-forties?
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...1/P1010154.jpg
Ricky Scaggs, who else?
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...1/P1010149.jpg
My favorite group, the Grascals. The cute gal on the end with the banjo is Kristen Scott Benson, a
spectacular banjo picker!
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...1/P1010142.jpg
The Seldom Scene has been around a long time, and they put on a New Year's Eve show here at the
Birchmere.
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...1/P1010132.jpg
Another favorite, the Dry Branch Fire Squad, does a great job pickin' and singin', and the lead, Ron
Tomason on the right tells some great stories. He's also very, very opinionated, conservatively
speaking of course!
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...1/P1010130.jpg
Not one of my favorites, but a great act anyway, is Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. She gets around
quite a bit.
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...1/P1010121.jpg
Of course, one shouldn't end a picture story without a kind word for what made it
possible..."Thanks, Truck!"
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ng1/BowTie.jpg
Wow. Great report, John. I'm glad y'all had a great time. There's bluegrass fests all through the mid-western state parks through the summer, and one thing I always liked is in the various campsites, there's always groups of people gathering around one place or another with their instruments singing and playing. A lot of great talent among the crowd alone. Strangers become friends really quickly.
I've never gone away from a blue grass concert or camp disappointed. There's too much fun to be had.