Tag: Blissfield Bluegrass on the River

Twelve years ago the Old Hippie, Jerry Eicher, and restaurateur, the late Randy Beckey, had an idea. Blissfield Bluegrass on the River was born from that idea. August 13^th marked the 11^th edition of the festival in Blissfield, Michigan, a village in the southeast area of the state and near the Ohio/Michigan line. Bachmayer Park is a village gem on the bank of the River Raisin. The park is the home of BBoR, co presented by the Southeast Michigan Bluegrass Music Association and the Blissfield Rotary. It is a free show that is supported by area business sponsorship. The festival has been and continues to be a showcase for local bands and talent.

Past Rotary President, Russell Quinton, always gives a few words of welcome to the attendees. Jerry Eicher has been the MC from the outset.

Kimberley Leach opened the festival with a stirring rendition of the national anthem.

The local bands performing on the main and side stages were: The Gailbraith Clan, The Red White and Bluegrass Band, Bridge County, JT and Thunderhill, The New Memphis Express, The Jesse Manns Bluegrass Band, Kimberley Leach, Patsy Anne and Bobby Hutch, Wolf Creek Risin’, Genevieve Rose, Tom Silvious, and Bruce Fogelsong. 91 year old Bobby Hutch, after 75+ years as a professional musician, chose the festival to showcase his final professional show. Have a great retirement!!

This year’s kids corner featured the SMBMA Instrument Petting Zoo for kids of all ages to get the feel of a bluegrass instrument. Visitors were also treated to a drawstring backpack of goodies including a canjo. They also signed up for raffle for a nice mid-sized guitar that was given away later in the afternoon.

Association member, Bill Rozier, once again conducted the pie auction to the high spirited crowd. A big thank you to Tom Silvious for providing the pies.

The festival highlight is the induction of new members into the SMBMA Hall of Honor. The class of 2022 includes Brad Campbell, Wayne Holcombe, the late Terry Nisley, Dan Taylor, and Larry Taylor. All have been and continue to be contributors to bluegrass in our area. Michelle Nisley accepted on her late husband’s behalf.

The festival was able to bring in Donna Ulisse and the Poor Mountain Boys as the feature act. Donna presented two great sets of music. She also conducted a songwriter’s workshop to a big audience. PMB banjo player, Greg Davis, gave a banjo workshop and was assisted by Nate Burie.

On a personal note – a great big THANK YOU to all of the volunteers that make the festival possible. A couple of special thanks yous to the Blissfield Cheer Squad for helping with the parking, and the young men from the Maurice Spear School for the setup and teardown help.

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The tenth Blissfield Bluegrass on the River took place on Saturday, August 14. A wonderful crowd enjoyed fantastic weather and even better music. The festival takes place in Blissfield, Michigan at the Bachmeyer Park on the banks of the River Raisin. It is hosted by the Southeast Michigan Bluegrass Music Association, the Blissfield Rotary, and the Village of Blissfield. Two stages keep entertainment going all day.

The main stage features local bluegrass bands. The side stage showcases individual and new entertainers.

Rotary representative Russ Quinton kicked off the festival by giving a little history of the local club and of their involvement with the festival. He and Association member Sami O’Brien lead the audience in singing The Star Spangled Banner.

Hand Hewn, led by Ol’ Hippie Jerry Eicher, led off on the main stage. The band does old time and original music.

Fiddlin’ Dixie and Jesse Riley kicked off the second stage. Dixie has been a mainstay from the beginning of the festival.

J.T. and Thunderhill made their first appearance. J.T. (Julie Theroux) is a well know folk and bluegrass singer.

Association Member Ron Benton spent the day coordinating the jam pavilion. Musicians spent the day with jamming, jamming, and more jamming.

Bobby and Patsy Anne Hutch were next on the side stage. Bobby recently turned 90 years of age and is celebrating his 74^th year as a musician and songwriter.

Bridge County followed on the main stage. They also have performed at BBoR a number of times.

Genevieve Rose has the distinction of having played the side stage at the first festival and the tenth.

Out of the Blue was the headliner for the festival. They are a Michigan band that plays top notch bluegrass.

Fiddlin’ Dixie and Li’l Friends passed out thirty “Gig-To-Go” bags to youngsters at the Kid’s Corner. One happy young man won a guitar.

Association president Bill Warren presided over Hall of Honor inductions. Two of the inductees were unable to be at the ceremony. Sandy and the late Dick Neff were honored earlier. They are wonderful bluegrass fans and volunteers. Randy Beckey, Owner of Beckey’s Kountry Kitchen was also unable to attend. Randy is the reason that there is a festival. He is the driving force behind the original show.

Accepting on behalf of the late Farrell Clark was his daughter Polly. He led the bluegrass gospel group F.M. Clark and the Faith Singers for many years.

The Miller Bothers were also inducted. Accepting was Charlie Miller. He accepted on behalf of himself and late brothers Earl and James. They played in the Detroit area in the 1970s.

Large numbers of both the Clark and Miller families were on hand for the inductions.

Association member Bill Luzier auctioned pies and a Costco membership raising over $250.

Red, White, and Bluegrass hit the stage with traditional bluegrass music. Band leader Sam Costelli is also a festival sponsor.

The Galbraith Clan was next on the side stage. They play old time, country, and bluegrass music.

Huron Ridge is a newly formed band fronted by Willie Carter and Chris Dawson. They do primarily original music.

Tom Silveous played classic country music from the side stage. He also provided the pies for the auction.

The Jesse Manns Bluegrass Band was next on the main stage. Jesse follows in the footsteps of his late father, Mitch Manns. He is rapidly becoming an in-demand musician.

Kimberly Leach closed out the side stage. She has performed several times at the festival.

Out of the Blue closed out the festival with the audience calling for more.

Workshops were presented throughout the day. Beginning Jam, Beginning Harmonica (harmonicas were given to the participants), and Common Fiddle Tunes were given by Mike and Mary Ross. History of the 5 string banjo was presented by Jesse Riley.

Next year’s Blissfield Bluegrass on the River is tentatively scheduled for August 13, 2022.

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Blissfield Bluegrass on the River is a small, community sponsored, free one day event that has been held for the past nine years. The Southeast Michigan Bluegrass Music Association has organized and presented the festival for the past three years. It is a showcase of local talent and bands that are nearly all members of the Association. Blissfield is a small village located in southeast Michigan that provides its city park each year for the festival.

The day kicked off with an Association member Sami O’Brien providing a stirring rendition of the National Anthem. The Blissfield Rotary is the presenting co-sponsor of the event. President Russ Quinton welcomed everyone to the show. MC Jerry Eicher from the Ol’ Hippie Bluegrass Radio Show always sets a fun tone for the days activities. He has a wheelchair bound friend the he always helps to get out and dance. Food and craft vendors keep the crowd well fed and shopped out!

The Waynewood Boys opened the entertainment. They are long-term members of the Association. They bring a unique style to the stage. They have written and produced their version of a bluegrass opera that they have performed throughout the area.

The side stage was up next with Fiddlin’ Dixie and Travelin’ Light. Dixie and her kids program have been a fixture at BBoR. Dixie does a guitar give away at the end of her program. This year’s winner was Junior Bussle. The Blissfield Martial Arts Studio always steps up to sponsor the kid’s program.

The RFD Boys are celebrating their 50^th year performing bluegrass music. They provide a wonderful blend of the old and new. They were inducted into the Southeast Michigan Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor at the end of their first set. Hall of Honor chair Ron Benton made the presentations. Area music pioneer George Kilbreath was also inducted.  George is in his middle 80s. He joined the RFD Boys for a song. Duane Estep was the final inductee. Duane currently plays in his family band, New County Grass and Kim Robins and 40 Years Late. Duane goes back many years to The Livingston County Grass, and made a truly heartfelt statement: “I can honestly say that all I have ever wanted to do is play music.” Congratulations to all of the inductees.

The Galbraith Clan then played a few tunes from the side stage.

Kim Robins and 40 Years Late then hit the main stage. You will hear a lot about this band in the future. Her new single, I’ll Always Be A Gambler, debuted at number 11 on the charts.

JT and Thunder Hill is a new band in the Michigan/Ohio area. They played the side stage this year. They will become a force in the area.

Red, White, and Bluegrass under the direction of Sam Costelli has become one of the greatest bands supporting bluegrass in the area. Sam provides support to a number of bluegrass festivals including BBoR. The band is always a welcome addition to festival lineups.

Bobby and Patsy Anne Hutch were next on the side stage. Bobby is one of the area pioneers that continues his musical legacy. He has promoted shows, booked bands, and fronted Grand Ol’ Country for many years, and is a member of the Association Hall of Honor.

Calabogie Road is a band based in West Michigan who cut their musical teeth as members of the West Michigan Bluegrass Music Association. They provide top flight local music.

The back section of Bachmayer Park has a large section set aside for jamming. They put together a band that plays the side stage each year. The jamming is pretty much non-stop from noon until the end of the day at 8:00 p.m.

The Band of Brothers was put together by Marvin Webb and Tim Ellis, along with bassist Tom Arbore, and are great supporters of bluegrass music in the area.

Area songwriter/singer Willie Carter is a favorite on The BBoR side stage. He has been working on some projects that will make him a household name soon.

The RFD Boys and Kim Robins closed out the day with Kimberly Leach in between on the side stage.

I have to thank some people for the pictures. My wife, Pam Warren, Ol’ Hippie Jerry Eicher, and Fiddlin’ Dixie Andres took pictures while I spent the day on a golf cart with a bum leg. Thank you for keeping things going.

The tentative date for next year’s 10^th BBOR is August 15^th.

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