Another season of the Festival of the Bluegrass in Lexington, Ky has come and gone but this year’s event was a great one. The festival featured some of its recurring favorites again this year such as:
- JD Crowe and the New South
- IIIrd Tyme Out
- Mountain Heart
- Dry Branch Fire Squad
- Seldom Scene
Friday night was featured not only JD and the New South but a lot of thunderstorms. While the crowd was down a bit at the venue, most were back at the camper listening on the radio. One of the highlights Friday night was when JD joined IIIrd Tyme Out on stage and played a few tunes with them while Steve Dilling stood back and enjoyed seeing one of his favorites play.
On Saturday the weather changed, the sun came out and so did the rag-heads. The venue was packed with lawn chairs and people of all sizes, shapes and sobriety. Saturday not only featured Mountain Heart and Seldom Scene (who always closes out the festival Saturday night) but also some new bands for the festival.
The Wilson Family featured Clint Wilson, 2006 Florida State Sr. Division Banjo Champion, and his family of very talented musicians and singers. One of their songs that was particularly well done was won written by Clint and a friend, called My Old Kentucky Home. While its not on their latest album its a good one.
Another new band for the festival is one that all of us have come to enjoy over the past few years, The Grascals. I particularly enjoyed the band’s energy and interaction with the audience. During their first set they said they’d been calling the Cornett’s to get on the stage at the Festival of the Bluegrass for the past seveal years (did he say 5?) but this year the Cornett’s called the Grascals. Why did it take so long to get this band on the stage in Lexington?
The guys from the Grascals stayed around their CD table until the last fan was gone. As I saw their bus preparing to leave, I saw Terry Eldredge still talking with friends and fans in the parking lot. These guys seemed to enjoy what they do and their fans.
A few bands were also missing from the line up this year. Blue Highway with Rob Ickes’ dobro were missed as well as Phil Leadbetter’s Grasstowne.
