Best of the Welcome Columns


Best of the Welcome Columns

Author: Alston, Ed
Membership Dwindles, While Youth Bands Proliferate

From time to time the welcome column and message board have viewed the future of bluegrass music. I’ve found those observations most interesting. The writers all seem to have keen, informative insights. As one who wants bluegrass to forever flourish, I’m always intrigued by trends reflecting on the future of our beloved high lonesome sound…and always hoping for encouraging news. Today I have two related items to share. First, a discouraging trend, one that’s no secret: The slow, continuing decline in CBA memberships. Our membership VP, Carolyn Faubel, periodically posts those numbers. Her latest membership tally is a bit under 2800. That’s the lowest count I’ve seen during six yearsof website viewing. It’s probably not my place to urge everyone to reach out to potential new members…nor (ahem) to remind lapsed members to promptly renew. But I’ll do so anyway. If you don’t recall paying membership dues within the past year, check your status. The address label on your Bluegrass Breakdown clearly indicates your membership expiration date. If your Bluegrass Breakdown no longer is delivered (and you didn’t opt for the on-line version), then you’re probably a lapsed member. If your membership status is current, go the extra mile: Check with your bandmates and jam partners. Encourage them to join or renew. Share your Bluegrass Breakdown with non-members -- who doubtless would appreciate monthly receipt of our award-winning publication -- and direct them to the membership application form prominently posted at page 3. Wear your festival t-shirts and CBA hats whenever and wherever might be appropriate. You’d be surprised how often a closeted bluegrass lover will note such distinctive attire and ask whether you actually share his/her musical taste. These suggestions are hardly exhaustive. Important thing is for us all to keep in mind (a) how important it is for CBA to maintain a healthy membership count, and (b) how effective every member’s word-of-mouth promotion can be. My earnest hope is to see the membership declined reversed, so we can concentrate on more encouraging trends, those that bode well for the future of bluegrass. One such trend has seemed to gain momentum over the past year. It’s the proliferation of talented youthful bands up and down the state. Some might refer to them as “kid bands” -- I favor “youth bands”. Whatever the label, we know they well represent the future of bluegrass in California. How to define youth bands may be fairly debated. For myself, any bluegrass band with a majority of its members under age 20 qualifies as a youth band. Ones that I’ve heard at festivals up and down the state are listed below. Note that the first three bands are based in Northern California; and the latter three bands, in Southern California. OMGG…all-youths quartet (ages 13-17) www.OMGGband.com Anderson Family…quintet (3 youths, ages 9-16) www.andersonfamilybluegrass.com Oak Grove…family quintet (3 youths, ages 6-15) www.oakgrovebluegrass.com Wimberley Family…quartet (all youths, ages 12-17) www.facebook.com/pages/wimberley-bluegrass-band/127319239120 Eric Uglum & Sons…family trio (two youths, ages 17-19) www.ericuglum.com Next Generation (formerly Born Ready)….all-youths quintet (ages 13-18) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-HN-tLUQpk By sharing this list I hope event producers will consider some youth band(s) to feature in future line-ups. [Apologies for any omissions, misspellings or info that may be inaccurate -- any additions or corrections to this list will be most welcome -- please advise if contact info is needed for any band.] For myself, as one who helps stage the annual Parkfield Mother’s Day Weekend Bluegrass Festival, I can say we’ll almost certainly feature at least one of these bands next year. Having so many up-and-coming youth bands strikes me as one of the more promising trends in bluegrass. This infusion of fresh, young talent can only help improve event attendance, and revitalize CBA membership endeavors. May the bluegrass world be blessed with more and more of these rising stars.

Posted: 9/16/2010