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Seth Mulder & Midnight Run at the 2024 Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival – photo © Laci Mack
Ace photographer Laci Mack is at the 24th annual Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival in Kodak, TN. She shared these photos from Wednesday’s stage shows, and will be there on site all weekend.
Hope to see Laci at World of Bluegrass next week in Raleigh.
Seth Mulder & Midnight Run at the 2023 Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival – photo © Bill Warren
The 23rd Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival is in the books leaving many, many great memories. Joe And Mitzi Soward are to be congratulated on another well run, excellent show in Kodak, TN. Joe brought most, if not all, of his volunteer crew on stage Saturday evening for everyone to express their appreciation to them.
The weather was nearly perfect for the whole weekend. A brief shower on Saturday afternoon did not dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm.
Friday kicked off with Seth Mulder & Midnight Run and closed with the Malpass Brothers. In between were Volume Five, Darren Nicholson with Audie Blaylock, Marc Pruett, and Reed Jones, and Authentic Unlimited. Now that’s a whole bunch of top shelf entertainment!
Saturday was started by one of the younger bands, The Tennessee Bluegrass Band, and closed by one of the most seasoned bands, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out. They sandwiched The Little Roy and Lizzy Show, Deeper Shade of Blue, and Wildfire.
There were some special moments throughout the weekend. MC Freddie Smith caught the “Chicken” and rode it. Wayne Benson and then Hunter Berry joined Wildfire for a couple tunes. Joe and Mitzi’s 12 year old granddaughter sang with Little Roy and Lizzy. Joe joined them on stage and was the beaming grandpa! Joe also sang a tune with Darren Nicholson.
Joe and Mitzi have already started planning for next year’s festival. Keep an eye out for the dates and join in on the fun.
The Candidpix.info cameras have landed in Buena Vista, Virginia for the Nothin’ Fancy Festival. Join us for a fun week of Nothin’ Fancy shenanigans!
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Appalachian Road Show at the 2023 Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival – photo © Bill Warren
The 23rd Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival kicked off Thursday afternoon in Kodak, TN. Joe and Mitzi Soward host the festival on their farm where they operate a farm campground year round.
There are a couple of fixtures at the festival. Freddy Smith has MC’d every show. Jimbo Whaley and Greenbrier are a local band that are essentially the house band. Jimbo has played all 23 shows.
The Carley Arrowood Band kicked off the stage show on Thursday. Carley and her husband, Daniel Thrailkill, founded the group in the past couple years to support her recorded music. This is one of the strong young bands that will grace the circuit for a long time.
The Kody Norris show may well be one of the hottest acts in bluegrass. Stunning outfits (designed by Mary Rachel), high energy, showmanship, and first class talent combine to make a must see show.
Billy Droze brought Kentucky Blue in from the Nashville area. Billy is a top notch songwriter. He also has his own record company and recording studio. He combines the best of traditional country music and bluegrass in his shows.
Appalachian Road Show is just what the name implies. It is a show that tells the stories and hardships of life in the Appalachian Mountains. Their music can bring a smile to your face and then tug at your heartstrings, a show that needs to be seen.
The remaining days of the festival bring a lot of talent to the stage. Seth Mulder & Midnight Run, Volume Five, Darren Nicholson & Friends, Authentic Unlimited, and the Malpass Brothers are featured on Friday.
The Tennessee Bluegrass Band, Little Roy & Lizzy, Deeper Shade of Blue, Wildfire, and Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out round out the final day.
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