Author: Andy Garrigue

Andy Garrigue is a long time music critic from central Virginia who loves bluegrass in many forms. A professional photographer, he strives to capture images that share the joy, intensity and beauty of the music, and the flavor of the events that present the music. Andy is Sales and Marketing Manager for Cedar Creek Custom Case Shoppe and TKL World-Class Cases.

Wayne Henderson Festival 2013

This report and photo gallery from the Wayne Henderson Festival in Mouth of Wilson, VA comes from Andy Garrigue. The festival is part stage show and part guitar competition, with the winner receiving a custom Wayne Henderson guitar. Proceeds from the one-day event go towards scholarships for young musicians. $17,000 in grants were awarded this year.

After a great day of fine music in a beautiful southwest Virginia setting, Waynefest 2013 marched towards its most exciting aspect – the awarding of the winner of the annual guitar competition, who receives a brand new Henderson guitar, straight from Wayne’s workbench. Allen Shadd of Lake Wylie, SC earned first prize amongst 20 entrants, with dazzling renditions of Sweet Georgia Brown and Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Almost as exciting was the picking of the raffle winner, who for a $50 entry won a priceless Henderson guitar. Cedar Creek Custom Case Shoppe donated four custom “Henderson” cases to the festival, to hold the Henderson guitars presented to Cash, the Quebes, the contest winner, and the raffle winner.

When Wayne Henderson took the stage as the last act to perform, he was joined by a “band of geezers” as he called them – including Robin Kessinger, Ben Cockman, Gerald Anderson, Steve Lewis, and others. True to Wayne’s spirit, he also called up a half dozen or more talented young musicians, each of whom has been awarded study grants from his scholarship fund. Brandy Miller, Daniel Greeson, Lucas White, Zeb Snyder, and others impressed mightily, and showed the future of the region is in good musical hands. Two sisters from Texas were even brought out by Wayne, and wowed the crowd with their gypsy jazz stylings on guitar and fiddle.

The after party may have been as impressive as Waynefest itself. Once the festival concludes, Henderson welcomes all comers to his house for a church supper of barbeque and homemade desserts, and spontaneous jam sessions spring up all over his property, with the sound of fingerpicking lasting until the wee hours of the night.

On this day and night in Rugby, Virginia, it truly is “Wayne’s World,” and what a wonderful world it is.






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Avett Brothers close MerleFest 2013

One last MerleFest 2013 gallery from Andy Garrigue, who also shared these comments.

Heavy numbers poured in Sunday to see The Avett Brothers close down Merlefest 2013, despite the calls for rain throughout the day, and their late afternoon set was alternately passionately energetic, to the point of raising the ire of some traditionalists, and sensitively quiet, with gorgeous harmonies, and beautiful cello moments that left some in the crowd in near rapture. A telling moment came when Seth related how his father, Jim Avett, had taken them to Doc Watson’s house when Seth was 13. Seth said he made up his mind then and there that he would pursue a life steeped in, and dedicated to, the roots music that Doc Watson so cherished, and exquisitely played. It was as if Doc had shone a light down the path of Seth’s future… Seth and Scott then led a round of applause for Doc Watson, saying simply, “Thanks Doc!”

And just as Doc Watson has inspired so many, so, too, will the Avett Brothers inspire a new generation of players and songwriters. As one of the pictures shows, two seats were reserved at the side of the stage, for Doc and Rosa Lee Watson, a really nice touch by the Merlefest organizers, who did a masterful job throughout the festival.

Our conclusion: The Circle Will Indeed Remain Unbroken.






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Andy also shared this recording he made of The Moore Brothers jamming on David Grisman’s E.M.D. at the Fender booth.

 

The Moore Brothers are a young group, aged 10, 15 and 17 that played a spot at the Midnight Jam, performing the classic rock nugget Magic Carpet Ride. The shots above show them playing impromptu in the music instruments vendor tent on Saturday evening.  These were instruments just hanging in the booth, not their own. They are VERY talented, and I was extremely impressed. In a short set, they were doing Gospel, Django Reinhardt style jazz, a blues shuffle, and Stevie Wonder’s Superstition.

Houstonfest 2013 photos

Houstonfest is a small but growing festival now in its third year, dedicated to the memory and example of banjo prodigy Houston Caldwell, who died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 18. Caldwell dedicated his life to song and service, and that’s what Houstonfest is all about.

The three stages offer a blend of oldtime and bluegrass acts, with talent both young and old. Friday highlights for me were young trio Dogwood & Holly, who flat knocked me out, especially with their cranked up version of Wayfaring Stranger, the Snyder Family Band who are getting better by leaps and bounds each time I see them, and the exemplary musicianship, statesmanship and harmonies of Russell Moore and IIIrd Time Out.

Also a delight to witness: the amazing dancing of Martha Spencer from the White Top Mountaineers, who conveys so much joy whenever she’s on stage, especially when she’s kicking up her heels, but also when she’s singing songs like Ruby.






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Yet more MerleFest 2013 images

Here’s another gallery of Andy Garrigue’s photos from MerleFest 2013, this time focusing on The Avett Brothers and their flamboyant cellist, Joe Kwon. Andy shared these few words about their show.

“While the attention is often focused on Scott and Seth Avett when The Avett Brothers take the stage, integral member cellist Joe Kwon is also a captivating performer — giving himself to the music, and fully liberated from the usual static stance of the staid cellist. With bands like Crooked Still and others leading cello slowly but surely into the hallowed halls of bluegrass, and Joe Kwon doing his part, it’s a brave new world for the cello, and a sweet, fluid, expressive low end for the music. A good friend tells me Kwon’s beloved cello is named Chloe. You can tell he loves her. And that, when lost in the music, they are one.”




 

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