Bean Blossom 2015 – Day 2

Daniel Mullins will be reporting from the 2015 Bean Blossom Festival all week, as Internet service in the campground allows. Check back each day for his reports and photos.

Bonnie Balos with The Balos Family at the 2015 Bean Blossom festival - photo by Daniel MullinsThe second day of Bean Blossom 2015 was great one, but ended with a whopper of a rainstorm that cut the evening’s scheduled music a little short.

Sunday morning began with the music and ministry of Rev. John Bowman. A bluegrass veteran, John has since dedicated himself to full time evangelism, and delivered great music and a powerful message from the book of Matthew to begin the day. Many of the day’s bands featured sacred music in their set, including the Gospel band, The Balos Family.

Jeannette & Johnny Williams brought their brand of traditional bluegrass music to Bean Blossom, and hall of famer, Eddie Adcock and his lovely wife, Martha, shared songs and stories with the attentive audience, including the time he first heard Bringing Mary Home on a jukebox. Becky Buller and her bubbly personality hit the stage like a breath of fresh air, as she sang/picked/danced all over the Bean Blossom stage. If there is an end to Becky’s talent, I don’t think anyone is close to finding it yet. A Sunny Mountain alum, Audie Blaylock & Redline played a great mix of new hits and old favorites, and even slyly mixed in a few Jimmy Martin leg kicks along the way!

Feller & Hill proved a crowd favorite; real showmen, their energetic style of bluegrass is Reno & Smiley meets Don Gibson, and they sure know how to entertain a crowd. Even a friendly neighborhood spider (not Peter Parker) wanted to get in on the fun, though Chris Hill would have none of that!

Volume Five hit the stage like a jolt of lightning, and their modern style of bluegrass was felt by fans both young and old. Playing many songs from their hit album, Voices, these guys were wonderfully exciting and featured something for everyone. The Crowe Brothers and their take on brother-style bluegrass is always fun, and they did not disappoint on Sunday. Joined by top-notch pickers Brian Blaylock and Scott Napier, their mix of hot picking and tight sibling harmony is among the best in the biz.

Junior Sisk showed the audience why he is still one of the strongest voices in traditional bluegrass. His band, Ramblers Choice, currently features some of the top young pickers in the county, and it was exciting to see such wonderful young talent together in one band. Unfortuantely, both Junior and Larry Cordle’s evening sets were abbreviated, due to rain, though both were true professionals and “rolled with the punches.”

Larry Cordle remains the “King of Cool.” He and Lonesome Standard Time gave their all to a crowd which had dwindled to dozens due to a combination of the late hour and the pouring rain. That didn’t phase “The Mighty Cord”; he and LST played to the faithful fans who were not bothered by the inclimate weather. The set was accentuated by a tear-jerking solo performance of Cordle’s Navy Man, which he dedicated to his father, who just passed away last week.

The rain did not deter a little late night jamming, as fans were found picking late into the night as soon as the rain subsided.

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About the Author

Daniel Mullins

Daniel Mullins is an IBMA award-winning journalist and broadcaster from southwestern Ohio, with an American Studies degree from Cedarville University. He hosts the Walls of Time: Bluegrass Podcast and his daily radio program, The Daniel Mullins Midday Music Spectacular, on the Real Roots Radio network. He also serves as the station’s music director, programming country, bluegrass, and Americana music.