One-Two Punch

  Back to back experiences like the two I just had make me very proud and glad to be here in Richmond...perfect weather, world-class outdoor venues, nationally known bands and record crowds were exciting combinations to behold.  Last night saw hundreds turned away at the Lakeside gate as Lewis Ginter's Groovin' In The Garden reached capacity before Old Crow Medicine Show took the elegant new stage.  They followed an engaging solo set from Shenandoah Valley native son Scott Miller.  Then there was tonight's huge gathering on Brown's Island for Friday Cheers with hot country shooting star Zac Brown.  Those who should know say it's the biggest crowd the island's ever seen...ever!  Educated guess is 16,000.  And all for a breakout down home artist playing solid country tunes, many co-written by Richmond's own Wyatt Durrette. No, not his dad, the former delegate and GOP gubernatorial hopeful...Wyatt III, who's surely picking up some nice royalty checks these days now that Zac's arrived big time.  He also co-wrote "Chicken Fried," Mr. Brown's signature hit.  My hat's off to Tom Beals of Haymaker Productions and Stephen Lecky of Venture Richmond for having the vision and savvy to snag these two acts that one might've expected to be "out of our range" and raising the bar on our town's summer musical offerings.  I urge you to check the coming lineups for Groovin' and Friday Cheers.  Along with the Folk Festival, they're signs that Richmond's come a long way. Now if they could figure out how to shorten those endless beer lines and lines for the places where you deposit the beer, once it's been internally processed.  Much patience and strong sphincters required.

After giving you guys a few days to get back to me with your guesses, I'm happy to announce the two winners of a pair of tickets each to the June 11th Music For Massey concert at the Science Museum with the Sam Bush Band and the Waybacks.  I did an eyes-closed drawing from among the right answers and pulled out Maggie Rainwater-Budd and Barry Lawson.  Oh, and Sam's eight string pride and joy is a 1937 Gibson F5 lovingly referred to as "Hoss"...one of the most recognizable sounds in all of string music.  The rest of you will just have to pony up to hear Sam jamming with guitar marvel James Nash of the Waybacks on the tracks.  Will that ever be worth the price of admission...whew!

Hope to see a bunch of you at Graves...but first, have a meaningful Memorial Day, the holiday we don't celebrate, we commemorate.  God bless our defenders of freedom.  TT

 

(I hope the cartoonist who did this, whose name I can't make out, won't mind my sharing it.)

And thanks to Erika Gay of Venture Richmond for the Friday Cheers photos.