Best of the Welcome Columns


Best of the Welcome Columns

Author: Alston, Ed
Bluegrass Festival Magic ? Find It, Share It!

Those who read CBA?s Daily Column probably need little prodding to attend bluegrass festivals. Having offered that stunning insight, I?m going to urge our dear readers to take an extra step: Bring a friend ? preferably one who?s musically open-minded ? to any of a flurry of California festivals being held over the next six weeks. It?s one thing to introduce a friend to bluegrass with recordings heard on a c.d. player. But we all know how much more engaging it is to hear the high lonesome sound performed live at most any venue. And among live venues, nothing matches the magic invariably pervading bluegrass festivals. I?d wager that every Daily Column reader could readily ? nay, eagerly ? testify to that magic. How else can one explain why s/he would drive several hours and spend hundreds of dollars on gas, food, lodging, tickets, just to hear a couple dozen hours of music like that available for listening in his/her own c.d. collection? Personally, I can recall early 2005, when I headed to Blythe for the first time. About half-way through that mind-numbing 400-mile drive I suddenly wondered if all the time and money expended to attend that festival would seem worthwhile. About 30 seconds into the opening set my doubts dissipated. I?d never heard of John Reischman and The Jaybirds, but their sweet sounds instantly captivated me. Since then I?ve never questioned whether I was wasting time or money in attending a distant festival. It was on that first Blythe trip, moreover, that I initially used a festival to introduce a friend to bluegrass. I did so quite timidly. That?s because I knew that my crusty old college pal, Gary, was raised in a Los Angeles suburb, far from the reach of country and bluegrass music. Like myself, he had grown up an inveterate fan of vintage rock?n?roll. But I was most doubtful about whether the bluegrass bug would bite Gary like it did me when I first attended a festival. I shuddered to think about whether he would be critical of my recommendation when we finally met up at Blythe. Not to fear, the fix was in. Gary immediately took to The Jaybirds. He recognized that their musical abilities compared quite favorably to those of his treasured old-time rock?n?roll performers. By the year?s end, Gary had attended three more bluegrass festivals, including Parkfield, for which he designed a very well received festival t-shirt. Gratified as I felt about my success in bringing Gary into the bluegrass fold, I casted about for other, more likely potential initiates. I eventually found a couple dozen among relatives and long-time friends. Not all wound up ?hooked,? to be sure. But many have come to attend multiple festivals. And several have become CBA members. Hence, I?ve urging YOU, dear readers, to take stock of your relatives and acquaintances. Pick out one or two or more who you believe might enjoy listening to bluegrass music at its best. [One helpful hint, especially if your prospects are in their 50s or 60s: Ask whether they enjoyed the Everly Brothers? music ? if so, focus on them, for the EB?s bluegrass-tinged harmonies may well have planted within them a latent seed that?s ready to sprout.] Just so you know, in our wonderfully bluegrass-favored state, several great three-day festivals will be held over the next six weeks?.after which there?s a 100-day fallow period before Blythe kicks off the 2010 festival season. Consider these marvelous options to wrap up 2009: Aug. 21-23, Summergrass, at Vista Sep. 11-13, Brown Barn, at San Martin Sep. 18-20, Bluegrassin? in the Foothills, at Plymouth Sep. 25-27, Hobbs Grove, at Sanger And don?t overlook three notable camp-outs: Aug. 21-23, the Golden Old-Time Camp-Out, Aug. 21-23, at Booneville Aug. 24-31, Bluegrass Camp-Out (Lighthouse Resort & Marina), at Isleton Oct. 15-18, CBA Fall Camp-Out, at Colusa. More info on these fabulous events ? and on other great concerts, gigs and jams ? can be found on CBA?s website. Be sure to check out Larry Corbin?s thrice-weekly column for an outstanding overview of the best in California?s upcoming bluegrass events. So do yourself a favor and plan to attend some of them. Better yet, do yourself the ultimate favor, and bring a friend. Verily, is there any joy more sublime than sharing our beloved music? Looking forward to seeing you and your friends at one or more of the above-listed events,

Posted: 8/20/2009