Mayviile Bluegrass Festival

[Folkstrum]

My traditional yearly "bump" for the terrific Mayville Bluegrass Festival (http://mayvillebluegrassfestival.com), which features the NY State "Flatpicking Contest," and always a bunch of great performers! Clay Hess, Sierra Hull and others will be back again this year. Here's a pic from last year with Sierra and Ron Block (from AKUS) performing.

Information and ticket prices (which are the bargain of the century) accommodations, etc. can be found by clicking the link. The dates this year will be Saturday to Sunday, 6/20-6/21 on beautiful Chautauqua Lake, SW NY State. A number of AGF-ers have met up there the past few years, and hopefully this year will be no exception. (I'd still like to get "Pistolero" up here ;)).
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa101/Folkstrum/DSCN0227.jpg

[3rd_harmonic]

I see it's on the 20th. I'm coming back from vacation on the 15th but will try to make it the following weekend. I'll let you know that week just so I can say Hi to a real AGF person.

Steve

[Folkstrum]

I see it's on the 20th. I'm coming back from vacation on the 15th but will try to make it the following weekend. I'll let you know that week just so I can say Hi to a real AGF person.

Steve
There will be a couple of us there--I know Tony Burns is a volunteer, and "Sprucetop" will also likely show up. If you or anyone knows they'll be coming, let me know and I'll let you know where we might meet up. :D

[Folkstrum]

Bump for Mayville...coming up soon! In addition to SUPER Bluegrass talent, the food concessions this year will feature a former classmate/friend of my oldest son, who is a County Sheriff, but ALSO, a fabulous "Ribs cooker." There was a big "cook-off contest" here this weekend, and "Bullfrogs Bar-B-Que" will be a first-time concessioner at the Festival, fresh from rave reviews at the "cook off!"

Grease up them fingers and make for a whole new definition of "coated strings!" :lol: :guitar:

[Folkstrum]

Anyone else besides me and Tony Burns (and possibly 3rd Harmonic) from HERE planning on going? We could set up a rendezvous (?).

[skiproberts]

I'll be there, let me know who's coming in.

Skip

[Pistolero]

Folkstrum, I spoke with Bill Ward a couple of weeks ago on the phone, and he informed me that the flatpicking contest has been canceled for this year. I think he said there were a few issues with sponsors so rather than do a so-so contest, they have decided to hold off and put effort into making next year better than ever. So maybe next year. I was leaning towards going this year pretty strong.

[Folkstrum]

Folkstrum, I spoke with Bill Ward a couple of weeks ago on the phone, and he informed me that the flatpicking contest has been canceled for this year. I think he said there were a few issues with sponsors so rather than do a so-so contest, they have decided to hold off and put effort into making next year better than ever. So maybe next year. I was leaning towards going this year pretty strong.
DANG! Well, that ain't good news! Wonder what that's all about? I know Glen DeRusha built a nice Lutz spruce/EIR dread that was presented to the winner last year. Glen is a member here. I got to play the beast-pretty darn impressive! Well, here's hoping it comes back soon.

[Folkstrum]

I'll be there, let me know who's coming in.

Skip
Skip--where in W.NY do you live? Really disappointed I won't FINALLY get to meet Allen ("Pistolero"). Still kinda mystified about what's happened, but hey-not my biz, as they say.

Anyway, IF anyone else is coming, I'll be one of the "volunteers" selling shirts and merch in the big Gazebo on the grounds from 1:00-4:00 Saturday, and maybe on "gate patrol" backstage starting at 4:00 P.M. That's what I signed up for anyway. Hope to see any AGF-ers who attend! :up: :up: :D

[3rd_harmonic]

Ahhh... looks like meeting you, Norm, and other AGF people will have wait till yet another time. :(

Just found out this weekend is Fathersday weekend. Gonna spend it with my daughter. :)

[Folkstrum]

Ahhh... looks like meeting you, Norm, and other AGF people will have wait till yet another time. :(

Just found out this weekend is Fathersday weekend. Gonna spend it with my daughter. :)
Yeah-The Festival is ALWAYS on "Father's Day Weekend." Bring your daughter! :lol:

[Folkstrum]

It was really a terrific Festival, although it rained almost all day Saturday, a raw wind blew massive droplets into the "Gazebo," where I had volunteered to sell T-shirts, sweatshirts, CD's from the artists (who would come by and drop them off, sign them if they weren't on stage, and chat a bit). Some of the volunteers didn't show up for their shifts for whatever reasons, so I ended up turning a 3-hour slot into 6.5 hours. My friend from AGF, Tony Burns, and his daughter, Holly, jumped in and we had a good time selling the merch, and taking raffle tix for a Martin DXK-2, and the basic Deering Goodtime Banjo that were donated as prizes.

Lots of really super players/pickers/singers. Clay Hess (who was Ricky Skagg's back-up guitar player/singer/writer) had a stellar set with "friends," including Sierra Hull and the Walker Bros. After the concerts, they all came down to Webb's Motel/Resort a coupla blocks down from the park, and literally played their hearts and hands out for well-over 90 minutes of non-stop music from 10:00 until almost midnight, featuring all of them in various vocal and instrumental prowess. The room they were in was attached to the main (and very classy) bar area, but sunken about a foot. A few of us snagged one of the front tables, which meant we were within about 2 feet of the ensemble. Talk about being "part of the band!" Ensconced by super music, good snacks and drinks and a lot of good humor, back and forth reparté with Clay, Sierra, Jarred & Cory Walker, etc.; taking requests, some good jokes, and like having a "house concert" with about 9 of your closest friends as the performers.

The weather FINALLY cleared just before dusk, and today was gorgeous: mid-70's, lakeside breezes, jamming by the lake, terrific vendors' food (the clear winner IMO was "Bulldog's BBQ" ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. Cooked SLOW (about 14 hours!) tender, moist and two choices of "secret recipe" sauces. *insert drool image here* :D Outstanding performances weekend-long by Chuck Pyle, Hard Ryde, Kate Lee and No Strings Attached, the Doerful Family (some amazing "progressive" rock/blues/inventive hybrid bluegrass), Josh Williams Band; the list goes on. "Sierra Hull & Friends" brought Clay Hess and the Walkers back to the stage for an early evening set. These young people are simply incredible, virtuoso players. Of course, Martin Guitars galore, some Gallagher, a Taylor or two, Mayes, and banjos and mandos that are literally heritage instruments.

All these performers are just super folks; down-to-earth, not all ego-consumed. No, it ain't "arena rock" with security out the whazzoo, and NO WAY you'd ever have any off-stage time with. Bluegrass Festivals are just "one big happy family," and Mayville's embodies the best of these qualities. I did a "roamer" volunteer stint today, plugging in where needed from backstage hospitality, some litter clean up, back to selling merch at the Gazebo, and eating waaaaay too much great food. My only "healthy choice" was likely the bottled water!

So, my feet and ankles are sore from all the standing, and waiting on folks, and trotting around in my winter shoe-boots to avoid drowning in the puddles! Given some of the stresses I've been under this year, it was simply, all-out good fun and relaxation. Congrats to Bill Ward and crew for making this a high-light event for all over W.NY and well-beyond! Got some great new CD's too.