The hills are alive…

I couldn’t resist bridging last week and the week ahead with the opening line from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic “Sound of Music.”  Especially since the foothills of the Blue Ridge at Graves Mountain will soon be alive with musicians and those whose hearts will be blessed by their presence. More on that shortly but first, we took in Theatre IV’s outstanding production at the Empire Friday night, ostensibly to catch the latest stop in young Cooper Timberline’s (left above) budding career, and found ourselves completely caught up in the nostalgic story of the von Trapp family so lovingly and professionally presented by director  Chase Kniffen and his wonderful cast.  Cooper’s Kurt and his six siblings were amazingly well-rehearsed in both the   songs and their blocking and Stacey Cabaj as Maria     was every bit as sweet and spunky as Julie Andrews who defined the role all those years ago.  Brian Barker’s sets were stunning in their simplicity, brought to life by Lynne Hartmann’s sensitive lighting and Sarah Grady’s perfect costumes.  This time-honored musical deserves another look if it’s been a while for you and your family.  It runs through the 4th of July.  It will be time well spent…and you’ll sing once more.  (Theatre IV photo by Aaron Sutten)

And those hallowed hills along the western end of the Old Blue Ridge Turnpike will be alive with the sound of the music they’ve spawned as Jimmy & Rachel Graves and their growing family host the 18th edition of the festival that bears their name.  I’ve attended and helped host every single one of these pre-summer rituals and the unbroken circle becomes stronger and more anticipated as each seemingly shorter year passes.  As compelling as the on stage lineup is, especially with this year’s live CD/DVD recording on Friday featuring the venerable Rural Rhythm stable of artists, what makes the Graves Mountain experience so special is the continuity of camaraderie after hours that is at once reunion, sharing tunes old and new, and staying up most of the night counting our blessings that we have this bond of homemade music to bring us together in such an inviting place.  And then there are the apple butter sauced spare ribs and the fresh fried rainbow trout.  Bliss.

If Graves isn’t in your crystal ball this year, there are at least a couple of pretty potent consolation prizes for those staying home…like the Travelin’ McCourys making a quick return to the National this Thursday and this time the boys will be on the bus with their dad Del instead of Dierks Bentley.   And one of today’s most searing and covered singer/songwriters Patty Griffin plays Groovin’ In The Garden with the incomparable Buddy Miller on guitar and backing vocals.  That’s also this Thursday night as  the series returns to  its home base at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.  Plans are in the works for a delayed broadcast/web stream of the concert on WCVE-FM.  Thank goodness for that.  Stay tuned for details on how it’s all gonna work. 

We’re hoping Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish make it back to Graves for some late night singing in the shadows.  Together they’re the Honey Dewdrops who’ve charmed audiences at Prairie Home Companion and Mountain Stage and who will preview their forthcoming CD These Old Roots at Ashland Coffee and Tea on June 12th.  Later in the month, the timeless Shawn Colvin plays the National on June 18th and North Carolina’s soulful siren Tift Merritt, another past Chris Austin Songwriting winner at MerleFest, will work the tracks @ AC&T on the 22nd.  So many talented women in summer’s first month.  Coincidence?

The next day, it’s off to Owensboro, Kentucky where I’m really looking forward to my first emcee gig at the International Bluegrass Music Museum’s annual R.O.M.P festival on the banks of the Ohio and just down the road from Rosine and Jerusalem Ridge where Bill Monroe and bluegrass spent their formative years.  R.O.M.P. stands for River Of Music Party and the performers include Doc & Richard Watson with David Holt, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Dailey & Vincent, Josh Williams, the Isaacs, Danny Paisley and Claire Lynch.  And a host of former Blue Grass Boys and other pioneers. The museum has grown considerably since I was last there during the IBMA years in Owensboro.  It should be a heady experience.

In my next post, a look at 2009’s IBMA Bluegrass Event of the Year and subject of the wonderful documentary Bluegrass Journey…it’s the Grey Fox festival in New York’s verdant Catskills and it’s a worthy destination in mid-July with a richly varied lineup including youthful phenom Sarah Jarosz, among so many others.  Stay tuned.

I’ll leave you with a link to an exciting piece we just happened to catch this morning on Fred Child’s terrific program Performance Today on WCVE-FM.  It’s a Rob Moose composition called “New Old River Music” and it’s performed by the Punch Brothers and clarinetist David Shifrin.  Click on the 2nd hour and it’s about 12:33 in.  The Portland, OR crowd ate it up as did we.

Hope we meet on the mountain…TT

(Tift Merritt photo from her Website.  Bill Monroe photo courtesy GAC-TV)