Chris Smith, Author at Bluegrass Today

Against all odds – SamJam 2020
September 14, 2020 | by Chris Smith
2020 has been a devastating year for bluegrass festivals, entertainers, and promoters, just to mention a few in the industry. With COVID-19 taking its toll on our great music, deep in southern Ohio, on the edge of Appalachia, Pike County
Read More
2020 CamFest at Mandolin Farms goes on as scheduled
August 12, 2020 | by Chris Smith
We had a bluegrass festival! Since March of this year, and the invasion of COVID-19, bluegrass events and festivals have been all but silenced. Some are having private events and small gatherings, but the places many of us call home for
Read More
30th Annual Keith Whitley Memorial Ride – Happy Birthday Keith
July 1, 2020 | by Chris Smith
The 30th Annual Keith Whitley Memorial Ride was held this past weekend in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. The tradition started in 1990, one year after Keith's passing, when a group of Keith's friends and fans decided to ride their motorcycles from Keith's
Read More
Bluegrass in the Bluegrass… and Red Slipper Lounge J.D. Crowe follow up
March 6, 2020 | by Chris Smith
What a memorable weekend in Lexington! The first annual Bluegrass in the Bluegrass, held at the Clarion Hotel and hosted by SamJam and Rudyfest, left everyone who attended in complete shock. Sammy Karr, Rick Greene, Leroy Walker, Vic Adams, Rudy
Read More
The life, legacy, and untimely death of Roy Lee Centers
January 28, 2020 | by Chris Smith
In late January, my wife and I made our way to Jackson, Kentucky. I wanted to get to the bottom of what really happened the morning of May 2, 1974, and dispel what I knew were mistruths in a 2003
Read More
30th annual Bluegrass in Superclass
January 14, 2020 | by Chris Smith
The 30th annual Bluegrass in Super Class saw its first year at a new location. Previously held at the French Quarter Holiday Inn, in Perrysburg, Ohio, it was moved this year to the beautiful Maumee Bay Lodge State Park due
Read More
Bluegrass returns to the Red Slipper Lounge in Lexington
December 6, 2019 | by Chris Smith
February 28-29, 2020 will see the return of bluegrass to the former home of The Red Slipper Lounge in Lexington, Kentucky. A weekend of bluegrass in the bluegrass. The name Red Slipper Lounge may not strike a ring with some folks,
Read More
SamJam 2019 report
September 9, 2019 | by Chris Smith
Sideline with Styx Hicks after their set at SamJam 2019 - photo by Mike Sullivan The SamJam 2019 bluegrass festival was one for the record books! The energy at this festival is something rarely seen at bluegrass events these days. Sammy Karr
Read More
2019 Mandolin Farms report
August 19, 2019 | by Chris Smith
Two weeks ago, my wife Missy and I made our way to beautiful Flemingsburg, Kentucky for the Mandolin Farms C.A.M. Fest, presented by our good friend Vic Adams and his family. The name C.A.M comes from young family member, Colt
Read More
30th Anniversary celebration for Keith Whitley
May 14, 2019 | by Chris Smith
Keith Whitley is a name that needs no introduction in bluegrass, country, or any form of popular music for that matter. Last Thursday May 9, 2019 marked 30 years since the passing of one of the greatest singers to ever
Read More

[gravityform id=11 title=false description=false]

<div class='gf_browser_unknown gform_wrapper' id='gform_wrapper_11' ><form method='post' enctype='multipart/form-data' id='gform_11' action='/author/chrissmith/'> <div class='gform_body'><ul id='gform_fields_11' class='gform_fields top_label form_sublabel_below description_below'><li id='field_11_10' class='gfield hide-label field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_visible' ><label class='gfield_label' for='input_11_10' ></label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_10' id='input_11_10' type='text' value='' class='medium' placeholder='First Name' aria-invalid="false" /></div></li><li id='field_11_1' class='gfield hide-label gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_visible' ><label class='gfield_label' for='input_11_1' ><span class='gfield_required'>*</span></label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_email'> <input name='input_1' id='input_11_1' type='text' value='' class='large' placeholder='Email Address' aria-required="true" aria-invalid="false" /> </div></li><li id='field_11_5' class='gfield gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_visible' ><label class='gfield_label' >Email List :<span class='gfield_required'>*</span></label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_checkbox'><ul class='gfield_checkbox' id='input_11_5'><li class='gchoice_11_5_1'> <input name='input_5.1' type='checkbox' value='buzz' id='choice_11_5_1' /> <label for='choice_11_5_1' id='label_11_5_1'>Bluegrass Buzz Newsletter</label> </li></ul></div></li><li id='field_11_11' class='gfield gform_validation_container field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_visible' ><label class='gfield_label' for='input_11_11' >Comments</label><div class='ginput_container'><input name='input_11' id='input_11_11' type='text' value='' /></div><div class='gfield_description' id='gfield_description__11'>This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.</div></li> </ul></div> <div class='gform_footer top_label'> <input type='submit' id='gform_submit_button_11' class='gform_button button' value='Sign Up' onclick='if(window["gf_submitting_11"]){return false;} window["gf_submitting_11"]=true; ' onkeypress='if( event.keyCode == 13 ){ if(window["gf_submitting_11"]){return false;} window["gf_submitting_11"]=true; jQuery("#gform_11").trigger("submit",[true]); }' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='is_submit_11' value='1' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_submit' value='11' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_unique_id' value='' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='state_11' value='WyJbXSIsIjdiZWFhNzdhMjZmM2E0NjI4MWQ1ZDY5NDIxY2FiZGVlIl0=' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_target_page_number_11' id='gform_target_page_number_11' value='0' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_source_page_number_11' id='gform_source_page_number_11' value='1' /> <input type='hidden' name='gform_field_values' value='' /> </div> </form> </div><script type='text/javascript'> jQuery(document).bind('gform_post_render', function(event, formId, currentPage){if(formId == 11) {if(typeof Placeholders != 'undefined'){ Placeholders.enable(); }} } );jQuery(document).bind('gform_post_conditional_logic', function(event, formId, fields, isInit){} );</script><script type='text/javascript'> jQuery(document).ready(function(){jQuery(document).trigger('gform_post_render', [11, 1]) } ); </script>

[gravityform id=11 title=false description=false]

<div class='gf_browser_unknown gform_wrapper' id='gform_wrapper_11' ><form method='post' enctype='multipart/form-data' id='gform_11' action='/author/chrissmith/'> <div class='gform_body'><ul id='gform_fields_11' class='gform_fields top_label form_sublabel_below description_below'><li id='field_11_10' class='gfield hide-label field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_visible' ><label class='gfield_label' for='input_11_10' ></label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_10' id='input_11_10' type='text' value='' class='medium' placeholder='First Name' aria-invalid="false" /></div></li><li id='field_11_1' class='gfield hide-label gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_visible' ><label class='gfield_label' for='input_11_1' ><span class='gfield_required'>*</span></label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_email'> <input name='input_1' id='input_11_1' type='text' value='' class='large' placeholder='Email Address' aria-required="true" aria-invalid="false" /> </div></li><li id='field_11_5' class='gfield gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_visible' ><label class='gfield_label' >Email List :<span class='gfield_required'>*</span></label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_checkbox'><ul class='gfield_checkbox' id='input_11_5'><li class='gchoice_11_5_1'> <input name='input_5.1' type='checkbox' value='buzz' id='choice_11_5_1' /> <label for='choice_11_5_1' id='label_11_5_1'>Bluegrass Buzz Newsletter</label> </li></ul></div></li><li id='field_11_11' class='gfield gform_validation_container field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_visible' ><label class='gfield_label' for='input_11_11' >Name</label><div class='ginput_container'><input name='input_11' id='input_11_11' type='text' value='' /></div><div class='gfield_description' id='gfield_description__11'>This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.</div></li> </ul></div> <div class='gform_footer top_label'> <input type='submit' id='gform_submit_button_11' class='gform_button button' value='Sign Up' onclick='if(window["gf_submitting_11"]){return false;} window["gf_submitting_11"]=true; ' onkeypress='if( event.keyCode == 13 ){ if(window["gf_submitting_11"]){return false;} window["gf_submitting_11"]=true; jQuery("#gform_11").trigger("submit",[true]); }' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='is_submit_11' value='1' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_submit' value='11' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_unique_id' value='' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='state_11' value='WyJbXSIsIjdiZWFhNzdhMjZmM2E0NjI4MWQ1ZDY5NDIxY2FiZGVlIl0=' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_target_page_number_11' id='gform_target_page_number_11' value='0' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_source_page_number_11' id='gform_source_page_number_11' value='1' /> <input type='hidden' name='gform_field_values' value='' /> </div> </form> </div><script type='text/javascript'> jQuery(document).bind('gform_post_render', function(event, formId, currentPage){if(formId == 11) {if(typeof Placeholders != 'undefined'){ Placeholders.enable(); }} } );jQuery(document).bind('gform_post_conditional_logic', function(event, formId, fields, isInit){} );</script><script type='text/javascript'> jQuery(document).ready(function(){jQuery(document).trigger('gform_post_render', [11, 1]) } ); </script>