Here’s a day 4 report on Merlefest 2011 from Georgia Lowrance, delayed by poor connectivity on Sunday. She provided us daily updates, with photos, from her position on the ground in Wilkesboro last weekend. The bulk of the photos in this post were taken by Jim Gavenus.
Those attending the Midnight Jam (artist & patrons) are working on very little sleep on Sunday morning but that is not gonna stop us from getting up and enjoying the last day of Merlefest. After 3 days of running around trying to catch as many performances as possible, Sunday is usually the more the day for laying back and relaxing. At this point, I’m running on fumes, but the music will get me through the day.
The Spirit of Sunday with Doc Watson and The Nashville Bluegrass band started my morning off over on the Creekside stage. Afterwards, The Infamous Stringdusters, the 2011 Grammy-nominated progressive bluegrass band, took to the Watson Stage. They’ve won three awards at the International Bluegrass Music Association awards ceremony: Emerging Artist of the Year; Album of the Year; and Song of the Year.
Over on the Hillside stage, it was Crooked Still. After 5 years of touring and establishing themselves, flamboyant cellist Rushad Eggleston announced his departure from the group in 2007. This could have been the end for many bands, but they regrouped, are Still Crooked, and remain a popular alternative folk/bluegrass band on the concert and festival circuit.
One of the acts that I somehow did not manage to catch was a band named Blind Boy Chocolate and the Milk Sheiks. As well as trying to cover the festival, I had on my Massage Therapist hat and worked on anyone, and what seemed like everyone at the festival. I can’t tell you how many of them got on the table and talked about how great Blind Boy Chocolate and the Milk Sheiks were.
Sunday was my last chance to catch them and though I tried, I never made it to their show. I had heard through the grapevine that they sold out of all their merch in a hour after playing the dance tent on Friday night. Guess I’m gonna have to keep an eye out for them the next time.
Even though I did miss the Blind Boy Chocolate and the Milk Sheiks, all was not a loss. I caught Tim O’Brien on the Watson stage. Rumor has it that he will be reuniting with Hot Rize next year to play for Merlefest’s 25th Anniversary.
Legendary musician Robert Plant’s new Grammy-nominated project, Robert Plant and the Band of Joy closed out Merlefest 2011. The Band of Joy consist of Marco Giovino, Patty Griffin, Byron House, Buddy Miller, Darrell Scott and of course Robert Plant. As requested by the artist, all media (with the exception of one photographer) were not allowed to cover the performance. Even though that was a bummer, it did not take away from the outstanding performance.
I had seen them play in a small venue a few months back and it blew my mind. This performance was a little different and in a much larger venue than the one I saw previously but my review, “WOW!” It was incredible with a set including songs from the band’s recent Band of Joy album and vast array of other songs picked from each of the individual band members’ catalog. And yes… there were some renditions of some Led Zeppelin songs
The last 4 days have been a blast. Tons of music with very, very little sleep… but who needs sleep when there is soooo much wonderful music to be heard? All during the festival, I kept repeating, “Who needs sleep? I’ll sleep when it’s over.”
It’s over now, so off to sleep I go.
See y’all at the festival next year. Since 2012 is the silver anniversary, I’m sure the line up of artist will top even this one.
A very special thanks to John Lawless from Bluegrass Today for allowing me to cover Merlefest 2011.
Joe Walsh, mandolinist with The Gibson Brothers, has a new solo project, Sweet Loam, on his own Skinny Elephant label. It’s the second under his name, which offers him a chance to stretch out a bit stylistically on mandolin, and as a vocalist.
Accompanying him on the album are his bandmates in The Gibson Brothers, a sampling of the young string wizards in the Boston area where Joe went to school, and the one and only Darol Anger who also produces. Anger has long had a reputation for nurturing young string players and, now that he is living in New England, east coasters are getting their chance to shine under his tutelage.
The songs and tunes encompass a wide swath of mando-centric music. There’s some bluegrass, tracked with his erstwhile employers, some old timey, some Celtic-influenced original material, and even a dose of ’60s folk. Throughout, Walsh shows himself to be a fine mandolinist, playing with admirable dexterity, and making appropriate choices across this wide spectrum of genres.
But it’s the voice that is most distinctive about our young Mr. Walsh. The sound is a bit hard to characterize, showing little influence from the bluegrass world in which he has been immersed over the past ten years. There’s a bit of grit, but with a vulnerable quality well suited for the music on Sweet Loam.
Here’s a taste on the album’s opening track, written by Greg Brown and E. Bailey, from which the CD’s title is derived.
Ain’t No One Like You: [http://traffic.libsyn.com/thegrasscast/aint_no_one.mp3]
You can hear the entire album at Joe’s bandcamp site, where you can also purchase tracks or the entire album for download.
From October 1, 2010 through to the end of September 2011, we will, each day, celebrate the life of Bill Monroe by sharing information about him and those people who are associated with his life and music career. This information will include births and deaths; recording sessions; single, LP and CD release dates; and other interesting tidbits. Richard F. Thompson is responsible for the research and compilation of this information. We invite readers to share any tidbits, photos or memories you would like us to include.
May 3, 1952 The first Bean Blossom show under Bill Monroe’s stewardship took place.
May 3, 1962 Recording session – During a day-time session at the Columbia Recording Studio Bill Monroe recorded Blue Ridge Mountain Blues, How Will I Explain about You? and Foggy River for Decca. Accompanying Monroe were Frank Buchanan [guitar], Tony Ellis [banjo] and Bessie Lee Mauldin [bass], and Benny Williams and Red Stanley [fiddles]. The producer was Harry Silverstein and the leader was Owen Bradley. *
May 3, 1963 Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys led a contingent of bluegrass bands at the first UCLA Folk Festival in Los Angeles, California.
May 3, 1965 EP released – Going Home / On the Jericho Road / Farther Along / Master Builder (Decca ED 2792)
May 3, 1971 Single released – Going Up Caney / Tallahassee (Decca 32827, 45rpm).
May 3, 1987 Merle ‘Red’ Taylor died of cancer after a long bout with the illness, aged 59. **
May 3, 1999 Joel Price died, aged 88, from a heart attack. ***
* Blue Ridge Mountain Blues, How Will I Explain about You? and Foggy River were included on the LP Bluegrass Special (Decca DL 4382), which was released on June 17, 1963.
** Merle ‘Red’ Taylor played fiddle for Bill Monroe for three stints during the 1950s.
He learned to play the fiddle as a child, learning old-fashioned hoedowns. When he was just 15 he got his own show on WELO in Tupelo. From there he moved to Blytheville, Arkansas as part of the Tommy ‘Butterball’ Paige troupe.
Later, he moved to Nashville where he worked as part of Cousin Wilbur’s show. Taylor worked with Little Jimmy Dickens and Hank Williams also. He recorded for Decca in the mid 1950s and in 1975 he recorded an album showcasing his soulful fiddle work; Taylor Made (Hi HIC 24001). In the 1980s he had two albums on the Old Homestead label, one of which was with Josh Graves.
*** Joel Price first played bass for Bill Monroe in February 1947. He was also noted for his slapstick and comedy songs.
Price got his start in 1937 playing and doing his first recordings with Tommy Scott’s medicine show. He continued in that role until he was hired by Bill Monroe.
After he left the Blue Grass Boys the first time Price spent a year playing in Grand Ole Opry star George Morgan’s band. On the second occasion he left to join ‘Little’ Jimmy Dickens, playing bass on two Dickens’ classics We Could and Take Me as I Am or Let Me Go.
Price is reputedly the first musician to play an electric bass on the Grand Ole Opry.
We have news of the passing of another notable figure, Jim Dickson, a west coast music producer who worked with a great many acoustic and bluegrass acts in Los Angeles.
Dickson had produced the first four records for Country Gazette, which included Alan Munde on banjo, Byron Berline on fiddle, Kenny Wirtz on guitar and Roger Bush on bass. He also worked with The Dillards, Clarence White, The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Chris Hillman and others.
Legend has it that Jim was the impetus for The Byrds having recorded Bob Dylan’s Mr. Tambourine Man, a song for which they were said to have little enthusiasm, and eventually went to #1 in both the US and the UK as their debut single.
Rebel Records has two new digital reissues which were released last week.
We have on many occasions tipped our cap to the Rebel folks for their ongoing efforts to digitize and re-release their rich back catalog of classic bluegrass, generally at the rate of two per month. These two late April offerings capture a pair of legendary performers, Bill Harrell and Larry Sparks, with snapshots of their music in the early 1980s.
Lonesome Guitar is a cherished classic for fans of Larry Sparks’ lead guitar playing. Long celebrated for his distinctive, soulful singing, Larry is also a fine guitarist, noted for his gritty, somewhat-funky solos and driving rhythm.
Sparks is supported on this all-instrumental album by his son Larry D. Sparks on bass, John Masters on banjo, Josh Graves on dobro, and a young Stuart Duncan on mandolin and fiddle, in his only recording with The Lonesome Ramblers.
The 12 tracks consists of a number of traditional fiddle tunes, and one Sparks original.
Also new in digital audio is I Can Hear Virginia Calling Me from Bill Harrell & The Virginians. Originally released on LP in 1980, the record include the iconic vocalist with Carl Nelson on fiddle, Darrell Sanders on banjo, Ed Ferris on bass, Mike Auldridge on dobro, and Larry Stephenson on mandolin.
This first Harrell project for Rebel features 12 tracks with his strong, traditional bluegrass band.
Green Rolling Hills
Let Me Make You Smile Again
Amy
Martinsburg March
Time Clock Of Life
I Can Hear Virginia Calling Me
Lonesome With Heartaches
Something In The Wind
A Visit to Mother’s Grave
I Can Get The Blues When It Rains
When The Saints Go Marching In
I Want To Go Back To The Mountains
Audio samples for I Can Hear Virginia Calling Me are also available in iTunes.
We just got an update from Mike Drudge at Class Act Entertainment on JD’s rehab progress after suffering multiple fractures in his left arm back in February. Crowe slipped getting off the bus on 2/18, and broke both his elbow and humerus.
JD says that he is doing much better, and his phyisical therapy has been cut back to two sessions each week. Though his arm is still quite sore, he says that he has been playing some at home, and it’s feeling better all the time.
“The main thing I have to do now is build up the calluses on my fingers!”
Current plans are for Crowe to rejoin the band for their May 14 show at the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival. Depending on how he feels, he will play all, or part of the his sets there that day.
Sounds like big fun’s a-brewin’ this afternoon on WSM.
At 3:00 p.m. (EDT), Jim VanCleve and Josh Shilling of Mountain Heart will welcome Sam Bush into the legendary WSM studio for this month’s edition of That Just Happened with Mountain Heart. Jim tells us that the plan is to both have a nice chat with Sam about his lengthy career as a bluegrass and acoustic music innovator, and to jam on some tunes live in studio.
It sounds like it may be something of an ambush interview, as the Mountain Heart boys have been soliciting questions to ask Sam on Facebook. Jim says that they will be accepting suggestions right up until air time, and will be taking requests online during the show. Watch out Sambro!
The show will air on WSM AM 650, and online at wsmonline.com.
And no one will fault Jim and Josh if they bring up the 4 star review they got from Country Weekly Magazine for their latest recording, That Just Happened. But they are far too gracious to note that Alison Krauss got only three stars for her brilliant new album in that same issue.
We have learned of the recent death of another prominent bluegrass personality, Les McIntyre, who passed away on April 28 from a massive heart attack. He was 69 years old.
Les was a fixture at WAMU in Washington, DC where he did on-air work for the station’s Bluegrass Overnight shows in the 1980s. He has contributed record reviews to Bluegrass Unlimited for many years, and was active up until his death, including being a participant in the 2002 Leadership Bluegrass Class in Nashville.
Like so many folks who work in non-performing sectors of the bluegrass business, Les was a musician as well. He played guitar with the DC-based None Of The Above, where he also sang lead, and is well-remembered by many folks in the DC bluegrass scene.
As we understand it, services will be delayed until May 21, and will be held at the Valley Funeral Home in Erwin, TN.
McIntyre’s is a name that will be familiar to many people in the bluegrass community, even though they never met. He is remembered by his family and friends, to whom we express our condolences.
UPDATE 5/2 – Longtime friend Bill Foster posted a lovely tribute to Les on the DC Bluegrass Union web site. An excerpt…
Les had a deep appreciation for Bluegrass and Classic Country music and was walking encyclopedia of the artists and their careers. He was a often-sought source of such details for album liner notes and trivia contests. His knowledge of the music is surpassed only by such folks as Pete Kuykendall of Bluegrass Unlimited and WSM Host Eddie Stubbs.
I first met Les back in 1974 at an Indian Springs Bluegrass Festival in Maryland, where I was introduced to him by Katy Daley. I was aware of Les and the music as he would occasionally sit in for the hosts on the weekly 10PM to Midnight Bluegrass programs on WAMU Radio. Les and I hit it off and became fast friends, a friendship which lasted until his recent passing. I was a fledgling mandolin picker and Les was playing with the local DC group, None of the Above. Les was a avid record collector and he got me interested and we would often spend weekends scouring the record stores and flea markets from Maryland to West Virginia in search of good finds. Les and I also attended many of the local jams, concerts and festivals. One of our favorite spots was the local bluegrass music club in Virginia called The Birchmere.
From October 1, 2010 through to the end of September 2011, we will, each day, celebrate the life of Bill Monroe by sharing information about him and those people who are associated with his life and music career. This information will include births and deaths; recording sessions; single, LP and CD release dates; and other interesting tidbits. Richard F. Thompson is responsible for the research and compilation of this information. We invite readers to share any tidbits, photos or memories you would like us to include.
May 2, 1949 Single released – Remember the Cross / Old Cross Road (Columbia 20576)
May 2, 1985 Recording session – During an afternoon session at the Sound Stage Studio Bill Monroe and the Osborne Brothers recorded I Hear a Sweet Voice Calling. Bobby Osborne sang lead and played mandolin, and Sonny Osborne sang baritone and played banjo. Other participating musicians were Wayne Lewis [guitar], Blake Williams [banjo], Tater Tate [bass], Glen Duncan [fiddle]. The producer was Emory Gordy, Jr. *
May 2, 2005 CD released – I Saw the Light (Universal IMS B0004618-02) **
* I Hear a Sweet Voice Calling was included on the LP Bill Monroe & Stars of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame (MCA-5625), released on August 19, 1985. Later that same day at the same studio, Bill Monroe and Carl Story recorded True Life Blues.
Story sang the lead part while Monroe sang tenor. The Blue Grass Boys were Wayne Lewis [guitar], Blake Williams [banjo], Tater Tate [bass], Glen Duncan [fiddle]. The track was included on the album Bill Monroe & Stars of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame also.
** I Saw the Light , 10 tracks
Track listing – Precious Memories, House Of Gold, Life’s Railway To Heaven, Lord Lead Me On, I’ve Found A Hiding Place, Jesus Hold My Hand, I Saw The Light, I’ll Meet You In The Morning, Just A Little Talk With Jesus and Angels Rock Me To Sleep.
Here’s a day 3 report on Merlefest 2011 from Georgia Lowrance, delayed by poor connectivity on Sunday. She has promised us daily updates, with photos, from her position on the ground in Wilkesboro.
So many stages… so many artists… so little time! With over 90 artists playing on 14 stages, how can one possibly see it all?
Saturday at Merlefest is typically the ‘biggest’ and the longest day. This year it included The MerleFest Midnight Jam, held annually in the Walker Center with a 900-person limit – never nearly enough for those wanting to attend. This is the event that everyone wants to see but only the die hard and lucky ticket holders get a seat. The Midnight Jam was hosted this year by Casey Driessen, the 32-year old violin wizard.
It was hard to leave the Watson stage for any other today. Donna The Buffalo started things off, and did a wonderful job getting the blood moving and the feet dancing. What a great way to wake everyone up and get us started for the long, fun filled day of music. Their distinctive style of traditional mountain music infused with a twist of zydeco, folk rock, country rock, reggae and bluegrass had ‘The Herd’ groovin’ right from the start.
Later that day, one of the greatest innovators in acoustic flat-picked guitar, Tony Rice, took to the main stage joined by Josh Williams. The perfect follow up to that set was a tribute to John Hartford featuring the John Hartford String Band, Alison Brown, Sam Bush, Tim O’Brien, Peter Rowan, Tut Taylor and a few other special guests. Next up, the award-winning Michael Cleavland & Flamekeeper, who gave the audience exactly what you would expect from a five-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Fiddle Player of the Year Award.
Later in the evening was Docabilly with Doc Watson, Sam Bush, T. Michael Coleman, Buddy Greene Mitch, Bob Hill and Jeff Little. Now what more could you ask for in a day? How about throwing in the ‘King of Newgrass,’ Sam Bush. He plays the mandolin, fiddle and guitar and has played with so many including Doc Watson, Steve Earl, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett – not to mention his time leading the seminal New Grass Revival. His talents have earned him numerous honors including 3 Grammy Awards and a 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Music Awards.
And for the icing on the cake for Saturday night, four-time Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Lyle Lovett brought his fusion of country, Texas swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues to Merlefest for the first time.
It was almost midnight, and the crowds were all leaving except for the lucky attendees who secured a golden ticket to the sold out show. Driessen hosted this blissful collaboration of artists including Zac Brown, Scythian, Jeb Puryear (Donna The Buffalo), Andy Hall (The Infamous Stringdusters), Levi Lowrey, Sarah Jarosz, Chris Sharp, Bill Nershi (The String Cheese Incident/Emmitt-Nershi Band), Jim Lauderdale, Robert Greer and Town Mountain.
The Midnight Jam wrapped up somewhere around 3:00 a.m. Goodnight for now. More music in a few hours.
