Folkstrum
06-15-2008, 08:34 PM
Hope to get some pix up in a day or two. The Festival was incredible from Glen Derusha's first prize hand built lutz spruce topped ported dread, to stunning performances from the Ryan Holladay and his band, Sierra Hull and her band, combinations of both groups--personnel-wise; Jack Lawrence, Jon Garon, Audie Blaylock, Ron Block, Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen, Cory and Jarrod Walker (man, these "kids" are unbelievable virtuosos!)---well the list is long and aside from some rain yesterday a.m. (which cleared) perfect, sunny, breezy W. NY State temps (mid-70's) on Chautauqua Lake.
Helping out again as part-time "staff" was joyous--got to chat with practically all the performers, had Jack Lawrence take a look at some minor glitches with my guitar (man--does this guy know instruments!). Jon Garon is a RIOT (he has some great short parody tunes he throws in when he was with Jack). The Flatpickers (NYS Championship) were whittled down to an incredibly talented 3, as were the Mando champs; I attended a workshop with two of my buddies led by Jack and Jon on flatpicking/fingerpicking (Jon Garon would blow your socks off with his 4-finger bluegrass work :eek:). We had a super "all-bluegrass/all-star" 11:00 a.m. outdoor worship this morning.
It'll take me a lot of time to wind-down from this one. The most incredible thing? 10 solid hours of the best music on the planet for two days (and then groups fanning out to the local hotels and "establishments"--I left at 1:10 a.m.!!) for $20.00 for a two-day pass! Unreal. :D
Helping out again as part-time "staff" was joyous--got to chat with practically all the performers, had Jack Lawrence take a look at some minor glitches with my guitar (man--does this guy know instruments!). Jon Garon is a RIOT (he has some great short parody tunes he throws in when he was with Jack). The Flatpickers (NYS Championship) were whittled down to an incredibly talented 3, as were the Mando champs; I attended a workshop with two of my buddies led by Jack and Jon on flatpicking/fingerpicking (Jon Garon would blow your socks off with his 4-finger bluegrass work :eek:). We had a super "all-bluegrass/all-star" 11:00 a.m. outdoor worship this morning.
It'll take me a lot of time to wind-down from this one. The most incredible thing? 10 solid hours of the best music on the planet for two days (and then groups fanning out to the local hotels and "establishments"--I left at 1:10 a.m.!!) for $20.00 for a two-day pass! Unreal. :D