Well I probably don't know much about Bluegrass, but I know that it started with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys and he was doing OK until he added Earl Flatt and Lester Scruggs (or was that...? ) and then things really started to skyrocket. I'm pretty sure that Allison Krauss is mainstream bluegrass still and that Robert Plant guy must be too 'cause they sing together. That guitar that hangs horizontally on a strap is a Dobro unless it has pedals and then it ain't.
And if I was not already soo knowledgeable, attending a really Great Bluegrass festival like the "Out Among The Stars" Festival in Benton Pennsylvania would polish up my bona fides. Yeah, I KNOW "Out Among The Stars" is a Waylon Jennings song -- I AM from Alabama --but the OATS folks know that he's country and don't hold it against him. (Just don't say "Folk" around this bunch unless it has "kin" in front. )
We found our way here by the good graces of Mandolin Dave, an Airsteamer who answered my request on the Airforums Webpage. We had a week to cross Pennsylvania prior to the Birthday Bash Rally on the Fourth and asked
for suggestions. Pave pointed us to the OATS webpage and we are very thankful.
Dave is a "Grillbillie", "that infamous group of bluegrass musicians and fans from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, Rhode Island, Virginia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and the rest of the nearby galaxy." They play and listen, attend festivals together, camping out and Grilling.
The Grillbillies are the force behind this great festival and the bands they support and play in turn out for a reunion with the family. There are bands with big buses and multiple CD's for sale and talented local bands with great pickers and a sound we rookies think is just as stellar. The fans and the pickers mix freely and greet each other warmly. There are informal Jam sessions going on all night and day and workshops for every instrument.
So there we were, settled into the shade of a large tent, breeze relieving the 90+ heat, cool drinks nearby (and deep fried Oreos, if ya'll are so inclined.) The sound was great and we were between sets. The announcer, a likable and real knowledgeable guy, interrupts himself to hail a old guy crossing in front of the stage.
"There's Bill Monroe. Glad to see you here again sir."
The gentleman in jeans and a white shirt, wavy grey hair and flip-up sunglasses waved and crossed to the area where the last band were assembling to greet fans and sell stuff. They too greeted "Bill" warmly and they talked a while before he crossed back to our tent and sat in the first row, just a few feet in front of us.
"BILL MONROE. I"M SITTING TEN FEET FROM BILL MONROE!!"
"Isn't he.......???"she says?
"I COULD REACH OUT AND TOUCH BILL MONROE!!!"
"But wouldn't he be about the same age as your dad -- nearly 100 ?", my ever realistic spouse inquires.
Well of course it wasn't Bill. A namesake, we find by delicate inquiry, but it was clear that Bill's spirit was all around here and if he were here, he would be out among these fans warmly and generously greeting . They are family and it shows in everything they do to make even rookies like me welcome. My Bluegrass education continues....
There are no pictures here because mine won't compare to those on the web page AND that page has links to videos of the bands we saw -- well worth some of your time.
Well I probably don't know much about Bluegrass, but I know that it started with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys and he was doing OK until he added Earl Flatt and Lester Scruggs (or was that...? ) and then things really started to skyrocket. I'm pretty sure that Allison Krauss is mainstream bluegrass still and that Robert Plant guy must be too 'cause they sing together. That guitar that hangs horizontally on a strap is a Dobro unless it has pedals and then it ain't.
And if I was not already soo knowledgeable, attending a really Great Bluegrass festival like the "Out Among The Stars" Festival in Benton Pennsylvania would polish up my bona fides. Yeah, I KNOW "Out Among The Stars" is a Waylon Jennings song -- I AM from Alabama --but the OATS folks know that he's country and don't hold it against him. (Just don't say "Folk" around this bunch unless it has "kin" in front. )
We found our way here by the good graces of Mandolin Dave, an Airsteamer who answered my request on the Airforums Webpage. We had a week to cross Pennsylvania prior to the Birthday Bash Rally on the Fourth and asked
for suggestions. Pave pointed us to the OATS webpage and we are very thankful.
Dave is a "Grillbillie", "that infamous group of bluegrass musicians and fans from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, Rhode Island, Virginia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and the rest of the nearby galaxy." They play and listen, attend festivals together, camping out and Grilling.
The Grillbillies are the force behind this great festival and the bands they support and play in turn out for a reunion with the family. There are bands with big buses and multiple CD's for sale and talented local bands with great pickers and a sound we rookies think is just as stellar. The fans and the pickers mix freely and greet each other warmly. There are informal Jam sessions going on all night and day and workshops for every instrument.
So there we were, settled into the shade of a large tent, breeze relieving the 90+ heat, cool drinks nearby (and deep fried Oreos, if ya'll are so inclined.) The sound was great and we were between sets. The announcer, a likable and real knowledgeable guy, interrupts himself to hail a old guy crossing in front of the stage.
"There's Bill Monroe. Glad to see you here again sir."
The gentleman in jeans and a white shirt, wavy grey hair and flip-up sunglasses waved and crossed to the area where the last band were assembling to greet fans and sell stuff. They too greeted "Bill" warmly and they talked a while before he crossed back to our tent and sat in the first row, just a few feet in front of us.
"BILL MONROE. I"M SITTING TEN FEET FROM BILL MONROE!!"
"Isn't he.......???"she says?
"I COULD REACH OUT AND TOUCH BILL MONROE!!!"
"But wouldn't he be about the same age as your dad -- nearly 100 ?", my ever realistic spouse inquires.
Well of course it wasn't Bill. A namesake, we find by delicate inquiry, but it was clear that Bill's spirit was all around here and if he were here, he would be out among these fans warmly and generously greeting . They are family and it shows in everything they do to make even rookies like me welcome. My Bluegrass education continues....
There are no pictures here because mine won't compare to those on the web page AND that page has links to videos of the bands we saw -- well worth some of your time.
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