Deep Graves

The rich experience that comes from sharing music with old friends in a setting like this four-centuries-old travelers' mecca up against the Blue Ridge along the Rose River is a profound one.  This was number 17 for the Graves Mountain Festival of Music and as the years get shorter, these occasions get sweeter.  Sharing Pete's House with the Hughes, Lux and Ward families made for a four-day full house filled with afternoons of reminiscing and very long nights of homemade music.  And then there's the compelling lineup of folks who do this for a living up on the stage.  Like James King who sings a story like no other.  "She Took His Breath Away," dedicated to his new bride, took mine too.  And hearing the result of Sammy Shelor's dedication,  tenacity and hard work in crafting his beloved Lonesome River Band into one of the strongest configurations ever was a thrill.  Keeping a band on top (their latest album No Turning Back has spent two months at #1 on the BU charts) through personnel changes and growing competition is no small feat, but Sam's done it and I know it feels good.  It should.  You should buy that record. Back in the day, the 4-time IBMA banjo player of the year rode with the Heights of Grass who put on a much-anticipated and lovingly received reunion set Friday before suppertime.  He joined them for a couple of numbers and so did Mark Newton but the core band, Don Grubb, Vernon Hughes, Billy Lux, Sonny Mead and Richard Ward made it clear they could still cut it.  Maybe even better than back then.  It was a festival highlight for so many of us who followed them back in 80's.  There were other great performances from favorites like IIIrd Tyme Out, Larry Cordle, Carl Jackson, and the Seldom Scene and new sensations the SteelDrivers.  And there were heartwarming surprises from prodigious pickers like Dobro whiz kid Gavin Largent from Winchester who drove Rhonda Vincent's adoring fans wild.  12-years-old and definitely one to watch.

Our little cabin home on the hill was again the setting for late-night music making, single-malt sampling, and general chewing of the fat.  Friday night/Saturday morning was particularly enticing thanks to Tommy "Big Tree" Reynolds, Dave Giegerich, Russell Bonavitch, Richard Ward, Billy Lux, Gary Ferguson and Tara Lindhart, who held the packed living room enthralled for over four hours straight.  There were so many others over the course of the weekend but that night was magic.  Thanks to you all...my gratitude runs deep.  Especially you Tiny Johnson.

Coming up...Jerry Douglas this Friday on Brown's Island for free and Old School Freight Train the following Friday.  Same deal.  And don't forget at the old Broad Street train station (now the Science Museum) the Sam Bush Band and the Waybacks hold forth on June 11.  Not free but worth the price of admission for sure.  Tickets online right here.  See you there.

TT