Best of the Welcome Columns


Best of the Welcome Columns

Author: Alston, Ed
Parkfield (May 6 – 9) Kicks Off Outdoor Festival Season

Today's column from Ed Alston Thursday, April 15, 2010 Next month marks the opening of our statewide outdoor festival season. From May until early October, California offers a major outdoor bluegrass event every other weekend, on average. The first such event is the 4-day Parkfield Bluegrass Festival, held Thurs.-Sun. each Mother’s Day weekend. So every year about this time the uninitiated will ask, where (or what) is Parkfield? Answer: This picturesque hamlet -- boasting just two dozen year-round residents -- lies in a secluded coast-ranges valley of southern Monterey County, situated roughly 25 miles NE from Paso Robles. The closest major highway is about 15 miles away. The town’s core facility is V-6 Grill and Lodge (formerly known as the Parkfield Café & Inn) -- that famed café’s patrons routinely include tour bus loads, and highway patrol officers on meal breaks 15 miles off their beats. Parkfield hosts the earlier of California’s two 4-day bluegrass festivals. This annual Mother’s Day weekend gala features more than a dozen terrific national, regional and local bands -- plus, musical workshops, kids programs, and ‘round-the-clock jamming. Varied food and craft vendors surround the shaded lawn where audience members place their chairs. Vast acreages of level, grassy swards with clusters of towering valley oaks provide ideal campsites for festival tenters and Rvers -- hot showers available (free), limited electrical hook-ups reservable ($45 pre-paid). Next question invariably is, what’s so special about this year’s festival? That’s easy…just one or two names in the line-up should suffice. Try these: Don Rigsby & Midnight Call [from West Virginia]…The Rarely Herd [from Ohio]…The Old Pals [all-star aggregation from California, including Larry Cohea, Matt Dudman, Paul Shelasky, Butch Waller, and Craig Wilson]…The Brombies. Wait, there’s more: Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys…LeRoy Mack & Bluegrass Gospel Band…Dalton Mountain Gang…Kitchen Help. And still more: Black Crown Stringband…Snap Jackson & Knock On Wood Players…Whiskey Chimp…Virtual Strangers…Salt Martians…Fine Line. Whew! What a stunning line-up. And on top of that, sound by Paul Knight! And great as those stage performances will be, Parkfield’s entertainment won’t end there. After the stage closes on Fri. night, the café will remain open until 1 AM for snacks and beverages and jamming….and will feature an 11 PM show by Snap Jackson’s group (the gifted, edgy quartet that garnered so many fans at last October’s CBA camp-out). Similarly, on Sat. night, the café again will be open extended hours, with Whiskey Chimp -- that zany septet whose late-night cafe show last year made them instant Parkfield cult legends -- once more doing honors at 11 PM. As one might gather from the above descriptions, Parkfield is exceptionally unique among this state’s bluegrass festivals. With its bucolic beauty and secluded setting, this venue seems perfectly suited for the high lonesome sound. Most folks who attend will tell you there’s no other festival they enjoy more. That’s not speculation. I’ve heard such opinions repeatedly from attendees who’ve spoken with me in my role as a Parkfield volunteer over the past five years. Truly, the best way to size up a festival is to speak with someone who previously has attended. If you’ve never been to Parkfield, do just that -- as a cbaontheweb reader you probably know someone who’s been there. Chances are, you’ll find that past attendees have liked most everything about this quaint event, to include venue, performer line-up, host staff, and unique mix of amiable festival attendees from up and down the state. Sublime an experience as Parkfield has been over the past several years, indeed, there’s one thing that will make it more enjoyable this year: having you -- yes, YOU! -- attend. Take it from one who only relatively recently stumbled across Parkfield’s singular charms: you’ll always be glad you made it to the 12th annual Mother’s Day weekend bluegrass fest. Looking forward to seeing you there, --Ed Alston (exalted festival director) NOTE: For info, tickets, etc. see www.parkfieldbluegrass.com, or call (805) 725-3060. IMPORTANT TRAVEL ADVISORIES: Completely paved access to Parkfield is available only from either the west [through San Miguel, off of Hwy 101], or the south [near Cholame, just west of Hwy 46/41 intersection, aka James Dean Memorial Junction]. Parkfield has no fueling or dumping facilities.

Posted: 4/15/2010