Sounds of summer...

John Jackson's "Whimsical Metal Sculpture"/Jefferson, NY

Another confession of procrastination in creating this post as I've had so many intense musical experiences since my last one that trying to do justice to the great performances we've heard is truly daunting. I'll make this one mostly visual, since I've got some pretty cool shots and frankly it's faster than lots of verbiage. We'll start with a Monday night run to the predictably perfect Birchmere in Alexandria for a triple header on Eminor's 22nd birthday to hear Chatham County Line, The Infamous Stringdusters and Crooked Still. I've waxed glowingly about the virtues of the second group listed but let me say how much I enjoyed my first taste of the opening band from Raleigh and their folky hybrid that to me fell somewhere between Railroad Earth and the old King Wilkie. If you like either of those, you should seek out the Line. And the more we get to hear the sweet voice of Aoife (that's Ee-fah) O'Donovan, the more we're convinced that the linchpin of Crooked Still is every bit as talented and compelling a vocalist as Alison Krauss...only different. Less fragile. Fabulous. And Tristan Clarridge's cello makes the rest of the difference for this string band for the new millenium. I'm excited that they'll also be on the schedule at FloydFest this weekend up on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hope we'll see you there...Railroad Earth closes the main stage on Friday and Cadillac Sky plays on Sunday...life is good.

After three days of delightful decompression in the Catskills with good friends, Em and I made our way east to Oak Hill, NY to the new home of the venerable Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival (formerly Winterhawk) which found out in December they had to find a new home after years at Rothvoss Farm in Ancramdale. I had to see how Mary Tyler Doub and her dedicated staff and volunteers were able to not only find a new place for the festival but make all the political, logistical and practical arrangements to basically build a small town in the middle of farmer's hay field. Fortunately, the farmer was John Walsh and he had a big family up for a big adventure and it all fell together in an amazing way. The language of good music and good people gathering to enjoy it doesn't need translation. Grey Fox is and has always been a lot more open and unregimented than most other festivals we're used to like MerleFest and Graves Mountain which don't sell alcohol or allow it in the open. There's virtually no checking of what you bring in your coolers, little or no wristband inspection and I don't think I saw a uniformed officer of the law all weekend long. But it was amazing how well behaved everyone was...very family-friendly and safe feeling. It was gratifying to see that grownups could behave and respect their neighbors without being forced to. So hats off to those who made this whole thing happen. Here are a few things you missed if you weren't there:

Seventeen-year-old sensation Sarah Jarosz with Stringduster's fiddler Jeremy Garrett


Two young masters-in-the-making working on "Soldier's Joy"

Adrienne Young & Little Sadie holding forth in one of 3 Dance Pavilion sets

The g'earls of Uncle Earl setting feet in motion in the Dance Pavilion

Banjo masters Bill Keith, Bela Fleck, Peter Wernick and Chris Pandolfi bring rich perspective to the Workshop Stage

Bela, Abigail Washburn, Ben Sollee and Casey Driessen enjoy their Sparrow Quartet set

Whoo let the Dawgs out?

All in the family...Ronnie, Rob & Del McCoury

Great hearing the Eric & Leigh Gibson's brotherly harmony again

All the Stringdusters flanking Tim O'Brien in an inspired Friday night set


Travis Book, Tim O'Brien & Jeremy Garrett

Taking festival camping to a whole new level...

Bryan Sutton, Andy Falco & Chaz Justus in a serious six-string workshop

Sam Bush in silhouette in the Master's Tent

Nate Gawron, Ike Sheldon & Phil Wade of The Wilders

A 30th anniversary Hot Rize reunion with Bryan Sutton in Charles Sawtelle's shoes

Elmo & Waldo Otto, Suede, Red Knuckles and Wendell Mercantile...the Trailblazers ride again

Red and Wendell render a tender number

That's all for now folks. Thanks to Mary Burdette at Grey Fox for her hospitality and to Lesley & Hollace for the best accomodations anyone could ask for. Now it's on to fabulous Floydfest...hope to see you on the Parkway.

If you're home this weekend, be sure to tune in Page Wilson's Out O' The Blue Radio Revue for our premiere JAMinc/In Your Ear Studio A concert featuring John Cephas and Eliza Lynn. It airs Saturday from 8-10pm on 88.9 WCVE-FM
and streams at http://www.ideastations.org/.
Always great to have you here...please pass it on to whomever you think might care...TT

Get ready to ramble...

As we make a hasty retreat from the bombs bursting in air over the James River thanks to George Hoover and family last Friday, we hope you all had a fitting Fourth and are ready to muddle through the sultry shrinking summer with your ears well-placed to take in some of the many musical opportunities that lie ahead.

First a quick anecdotal underscore of how things are improving in this town for musicians and those who like to hear them live. D & I had just checked out Chris Tsui's hot (figuratively) and happening new restaurant Sushi O on Alverser Drive and rambled across the parking lot to Cafe Caturra for a cup of joe...a warm round of applause greeted us as we walked through the front door. We quickly realized the hand was for two musicians holding forth in the corner...the singer looked like a Cap One guy fresh off the golf course and his guitar player could've been his kid; but no...Brad Mauldin impressed us with his strong vocals and a varied set of folk/pop balladry and Jake Seward backed him well on his six-string Guild. They were terrific and usually travel with Jake's wife Kristen on keys...never heard of them but will be looking out for them now.

A couple of great options for Friday (tonight): John Patykula, who heads up the guitar program at VCU's music department also kicks off his Guitars & Other Strings series tonight in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall with The Whitetop Mountain Band. A big hit at the Richmond's first National Folk Festival a few years back, these energetic Virginia musicians promise an evening of authentic old-time and bluegrass of the highest order. Click here for more info. If you're up for something with a bit more twang and need a few brews to cap off your week, Shenanigans on the north side might be the spot as Brad Spivey and his superlative Honky Tonk Experience play one of their home gigs.

American mongrel Page Wilson follows in Brad's heels on Saturday night in the former Cock & Bull with the Reckless Abandon boys. And speaking of Page, we're very excited to announce that the first of JAMinc/In Your Ear's studio concerts will be featured on his Out O' The Blue Radio Revue on Saturday, July 26th from 6 to 8pm on WCVE-FM. We've been putting on these intimate shows at In Your Ear for the past few years featuring under-the-radar artists like Bruck Molsky, The Kruger Brothers, Rick Epping, Peter Ostrouschko and Phil Wiggins and now have a compelling collection of live recordings which will be a recurring part of Page's Saturday night soiree from the Chickahominy Swamp. The debut presentation will feature piedmont blues legend John Cephas with Asheville singer/songwriter and Cephas student Eliza Lynn. We're all very excited about this new partnership and urge you to tell a friend and tune in on the 26th and monthly thereafter.

On Sunday, an enduring Richmond tradition lives again at Dogwood Dell as the always-free Festival of Arts presents Larry Bland & The Volunteer Choir. I believe this is their 40th anniversary year and their energy and sincerity are sure to get the spirit moving. They'll also be featured at this year's debut of the Richmond Folk Festival October 10-12.

One more thing...Danny Knicely, an incredible mandolinist and old friend who lit things up on Pete's porch at Graves Mountain last month is set to perform with the Oretea Brothers as part of the Bluemont Concert Series in Ashland. Originally from Bolivia, Cesar and Jose studied Flamenco guitar and singing in Spain. Their soulful guitars and blood harmonies are powerful and moving. This landmark performance, in English and Spanish, will include Ralph Gordon on bass and music ranging from lively gypsy rhumbas to other melodies from Europe, Brazil, Bolivia, and Appalachia. This first of the series on the lawn at the Hanover Arts & Activities Center will later feature Laurie Lewis and John McCutcheon. More info here.

We're off to the Birchmere on Monday for Crooked Still, Chatham County Line and The Infamous Stringdusters, then to upstate NY for the Grey Fox festival in its new home. We'll keep you posted. There's lots of great music out there...go get some.

TT