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By cousinlynn953 on January 23, 2026 |
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To celebrate the revival (after six years!) of The Joe Val Festival, we’ve got a special treat for Hillbilly at Harvard tomorrow: A live performance by Joe Val and the New England Bluegrass Boys on HAH, from April 9th, 1977. Yes, 1977!
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Thanks to Gerry Katz of the BBU for the tape. I’ve programed it to run in the second hour of the show tomorrow, at 10 AM. We have an older hour at 9.
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The New England Bluegrass Boys at the time, besides Joe, were Dave Dillon, guitar; Paul Silvius, banjo; and Eric Levinson, bass. Ol’ Sinc hosts—I’m on the board, behind the glass.
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I have some tapes from the ’70s, but they were recorded at 1 7/8 ips, and my Uher recorder needs repair before I can play them. So it is a great treat to get this 1977 tape from Gerry—I didn’t know it existed!
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The Festival is in Framingham at the old location, the Sheraton—now called the Rennaissance—Hotel, Presidents Day Weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, February 13, 14, 15. And, the BBU has added a new day, Thursday the 12th, for a preliminary day of master classes, and a performance by an All-Star Band.
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Remember, you can get all the information you need about the Festival at the Boston Bluegrass Union website (BBU.org). Get your tickets now! They have recommendations for alternative rooms at nearby hotels as well. Here’s the Schedule:
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Joe Val Bluegrass Festival Schedule Overview
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Here’s an overview of what the entire Joe Val weekend will look like:
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- 1 until 5 pm – Master Classes, Fast Track Classes, and Mid-Course Development Classes
- 7 until 10 pm – Jams, Workshops, Bluegrass Karaoke, and Joe Val All-Star Performance
- 10 am until 1 pm – Jams and Workshops with the Joe Val All-Stars and many more
- Starting at 1 pm – Gabe Hirshfeld’s Celebration of Life (everyone is welcome)
- 1 until 6 pm – Many rooms will be open for jamming on the Lower Level
- Starting at 6 pm – Main Stage, Showcase Stage, Vendor Room, Kids’ Academy, Workshops & Jams
- Joe Val continues with the Main Stage, Showcase Stage, Workshops & Jams, etc.
- 12:30 until 2 pm – History of Bluegrass in Boston Panel Discussion
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Panelists include Jim Rooney, Bill Nowlin, and Alex MacLeod, moderated by Taylor Ackley
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- 2:30 until 4 pm – Music of Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard Panel Discussion
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Panelists include Alice Gerrard, Ken Irwin, Dudley Connell, and Laura Orshaw, moderated by Jen Larson
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- Joe Val continues with Main Stage, Showcase Stage, Workshops & Jams, etc.
- Noon – Please come support the next generation in the Kids’ Academy performance
- 4 until 5:30 pm – Main Stage concludes with 10-time IBMA Entertainer of the Year: The Del McCoury Band
- 6:30 until 7 pm – Texas Two-Step Dance Lesson in the Showcase Stage room
- 7 until 9 pm – The Joe Val Wind-up Hoe-Down dance party with The Beantown Buckaroos
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| Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass, from an earlier Joe Val Festival—Back This Year! |
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