Gettysburg BG Festival

[Michael Marceau]

Just got back from a great weekend here. The temps were in the mid
90s all four days, but I live 20 minutes away and was able to come home
each night to a shower and A/C!! My kind of BG fest!!
Thursday night started with the Patuxent Partners, a Maryland
band that does quite a bit of material that no one else does. Their sets
often include some Buzz Busby songs, and I really like that older music.
Tom Mindte and Bryan Deere are the two vocalists. Each is good by himself,
and together they really get the traditional sound down. (I used to play
with this band and still know all the members, but I would - and have -
paid to see and hear them). No newgrass songs from THESE guys!
Next was Ramblers Choice, with BGRASS-l's Junior Sisk on vocals
and guitar. This band also leans toward the traditional side of the BG
spectrum. Tim Massey (bass and vocals) was nusrsing a strep throat and
wasn't 100%, but they sounded good to me. They didn't have any CDs, but
one is coming out soon. Hope you're feeling better, Tim.
The Freight Hoppers were third in line, and they were terrific.
They certainly aren't BG, but do old-time music with a vengence. You've
seen the reports from Winterhawk - they kicked. I had seen them before,
and am a fan, so I knew what was in store. I heard NOTHING BUT GOOD
comments from those who saw them for the first time Thursday. I got
their new CD, and it is super. They are young, but they really know the
history of OT music. Their enthusiasm is a big part of what makes them so
good. They are also very nice. Check 'em out if you have the chance.
The closer was Jimmy Bowen and Santa Fe. I didn't get to hear
them, but lots of people did, and seemed to enjoy the show. Unfortunately,
this was their only show, so I can't say anything about them.
The Thursday shows were held in a smaller "workshop stage" and not
on the main stage. This worked well, and folks were able to get up close
to the bands. The Friday workshops also took place here. They included the
Freight Hoppers OT band workshop, and Doyle Lawson & QS harmony workshop;
both were very informal and informative. They also had banjo and song
writing workshops, but I didn't attend these.
Friday afternoon on the main stage Tim Graves & Cherokee began the
action with a nice solid set. Tim is Josh's nephew, so he knows what BG
music is! (I didn't take notes at the fest, and I'm doing this from memory
and a severe lack of sleep, so I don't recall exactly what was played).
Continental Divide was next, and again I can't provide specifics, but the
crowd enjoyed the show. DL & Q followed, and as usual the high point was
the harmony singing. Good stuff. 3TO was next, and were very entertaining.
The audience really gave them a nice hand. I wandered away from the stage
during Jim & Jesse's show, but they had their brother harmonies working
well as they sang some of their past crowd favorites. Front Range ended
the afternoon with a good set. I got their CD, but haven't heard it yet.
I returned from my dinner break as the Freight Hoppers played the
main stage for their first time at Gettysburg. They really woke up the
audience with their high-energy show. David Bass on fiddle (and dancing),
Frank Lee banjo & vocals, Cary Fridley guitar & vocals, and Jim O'Keefe
acoustic bass - I think they made a lot of fans that night. I overheard
Charlie Chase on Friday say that he had sold out of all the FH CDs they
had left with him. I hope Joe Cornett will try to have them back next
year in August; they will be in Europe in May.
Continental Divide followed with a good set, then DL & Q returned.
Doyle was in a great mood, and looked quite dapper in a black fedora and a
bright blue sport coat. He joked with the band and the audience between
songs. He seemed very relaxed, and was having fun on stage. I really
enjoyed the set. 3TO came next, and kept the good music going. They also
were in good spirits, and the crowd got into their performance. The vocals
were right on the money. The audience was NOT like the "Live at the MAC"
recording - you could actually HEAR the lyrics tonight!! Jim & Jesse were
on after that, and played many requests from the crowd. Luke McReynolds,
who is Jesse's grandson, plays mando just like granddad; he also did some
breakdancing to end the set! It was well-received by the audience. Front
Range closed the evening performances.
I was lucky enough to heare Kathy Chiavola & friends practicing
later that night. Tim Kruzic and Lisa Kay Howard summed it up very well in
their posts.
Saturday began with the Gary Ferguson Band and several songs that
Gary wrote with Civil War themes. Rather appropriate for a festival within
sight of the battlefields, I thought. Several others have done Gary's
songs; it was nice to see the man behind the music.
Next up was the Kathy Chiavola Band. They complained (jokingly)
about being up WAY too late, but we sure couldn't hear any ill effects
from the 3:00 AM practice. As Lisa Kay said, nice to finally put a face
with the name. DBFS followed and kept the crowd very entertained with
their thoughtful songs and humor. Peter Rowan and Jerry Douglas came next.
PR looked very relaxed, and JD was Mr. Smooth. They had a nice medley of
Panama Red/Freight Train/Wildwood Flower which took me back quite a few
years! First time I'd seen these folks; I was quite taken with them.
The Seldom Scene was next, then LRB, with Del closing the early
part of the day. All were super, doing requests from their fans along with
songs the bands wanted to do. All in all it was a great day of music.
I missed the evening shows because (shameless plug time): the band
I'm with - DeSoto - was playing in Virginia that night. I heard that all
the bands were terrific. I'll try to get the weekend off next time!!
I returned in time for the Sunday gospel set with DBFS. AS usual,
it was quite moving. One highlight was Suzanne reading the 21st century
version of the 23rd Psalm (recently posted here), with Ron "translating"
it into "regular" Biblical-ese. I'd seen it here and thought the bit was a
riot. Those who hadn't seen it were ROFLOL!! For the final song Ron asked
everyone to stand and sing along with the band (CRS time - I can't recall
the song). We sounded great, but it really wasn't my key <GBG>!
Gary Ferguson did another solid set, then the Lewis Family hit the
stage. As usual in G'burg, the crowd loved 'em. The Scene followed with a
pretty hot set in both musical and temperature terms. The highlight was a
great version of the old blues song "Rolling and Tumbling." Dudley begged
us: "Please don't tell Eddie Stubbs we did this!" It was a real high
energy way to end their part of the festivities.
I hadn't been to this fest since May of 1994, so it was quite a
treat to be there again. The workshop stage for the Thursday and Friday
sets worked very well. It was MC'ed by BGRASS-L's own Mike Henderson, with
help from his lovely wife Gay. Nice work, folks! The one (minor) problem
was that this stage had events/workshops going on during Friday and
Saturday afternoons when bands were playing on the main stage. The hard
part for me was deciding where I wanted to be! Tough situation - too much
bluegrass to choose from!! I wish we ALL had that problem!
I also got to meet some other listers - Judie from Bucks Co and
her hubby; Kathy Chiavola (Nice CD, Kathy!); Mike & Gay H: Suzanne Thomas,
who graciously signed her CD for me; Junior Sisk; and Mike Bub, who told
me at the fest that he has recently moved and is now computerless. If I
missed anyone, I apologize and plead severe lack of sleep and major CRS!!
Hope everyone there had as good a time (and spent as much money on
CDs) as I did. Looking forward to seeing you real soon.

Mike Marceau in Taneytown, Maryland

Q: Have you lived there all your life?
A: Not yet.