Folks, there's one show I try to perform at every year. It’s the Florida Folk Festival, held each year for three days at the Stephen Foster State Park at White Springs, Florida. I haven't found anyplace else in the country where it's more fun to perform. And why is that? Partly, it's because the crowds… Continue reading White Springs Trip — Day 1, Thursday, May 21st
Month: May 2009
Misfit Jam
Big News from the jam tonight! Susan improvised a break to “Roll On Buddy”! And it was fine. I knew she had it in her, I just didn’t know when and where it was going to come out. I think its emergence tonight surprised her. To be sure, we’ve been working on improvising, and she… Continue reading Misfit Jam
Sample Clip from Beginning Banjo Volume 2
We put up a new sample clip today from our Beginning Banjo Volume 2 DVD. This is the tune "Old Joe Clark"---the first phrase of the A part, also known as the "Old Joe Clark lick":
Red and Murphy Playing Benefit on June 6
Just wanted to let you all know that Red and Chris and I will be playing at a benefit on June 6 at the Boyce, Virginia, Fire Hall. (Or “far” hall as we say up here.) The music starts at 4 p.m. and we’ll be doing our set about 7 p.m. If all goes well,… Continue reading Red and Murphy Playing Benefit on June 6
Station Inn Jam
First of all, sorry for the belatedness of this morning's post. I was really and truly going to blog last night, but I got distracted on account of my new iPhone. And then I resolved to get up early to blog, but through whatever combination of circumstances, sleep was not my friend last night. Luckily… Continue reading Station Inn Jam
Racing! (No Bluegrass Content!)
I’m sitting here in front of the TV as I write this blog on my laptop. Never done that before! I’m watching the Indianapolis 500. Never done that before either! But when I turned on the TV this morning with my second cuppa tea and they were interviewing Danica Patrick (currently running 11th in the… Continue reading Racing! (No Bluegrass Content!)
Girl Jams vs. Boy Jams
Last night our jam group At Least We're Hot got together and picked. Our jams have been somewhat more irregular than we'd like lately due to the occurance of big life events (marriage, birth, divorce, graduation) but now that those are past, for the most part, we hope to resume our weekly schedule. We gathered… Continue reading Girl Jams vs. Boy Jams
Misfit Jam
We were a little light at the jam tonight. Just two banjo players—Susan and Ray—with Bob Van on bass and me on guitar. One audient, Susan’s husband Bill, who played so much last week his hands were hurting and he decided to sit this one out! We started out with our regular warm-ups, Banjo in… Continue reading Misfit Jam
Banjo Camp North
A fabulous time was had by all at last weekend's Banjo Camp North. I had the pleasure of teaching there for the second year in a row, and, knowing in advance what to expect, I brought foam to put on the hard camp bed. That made everything better! Other instructors there for the weekend were… Continue reading Banjo Camp North
A 5-string mandolin, and a good one, too!
A photo just turned up which I'd like to share, since it was from a memorable occasion. This picture was taken at a party in Nashville in early 2002, and it features some remarkable mandolins. I've blogged about this event before, but I hadn't found this photo at the time. At left are (1) Randy… Continue reading A 5-string mandolin, and a good one, too!