Palatka Bluegrass Festival - Preview

The Palatka Bluegrass Festival will open for its eighth annual show on Thursday, February 16 and run through Saturday, February 18th at the Rodeheaver Boys Ranch a few miles south of Palatka, FL. This festival, begun eight years ago as a fund raiser for the Ranch, which provides a home and framework for living to about fifty boys from difficult circumstances has become a must attend of the Florida winter season.  As one of the jewels in the Adams & Anderson series of bluegrass festivals carpeting the south, Palatka has proven itself to be a winner for fans, the ranch, and the promoters as thousands of people assemble here each year under the big tin-roofed shed to enjoy an all-star bluegrass festival.

New to Palatka this Year

Volume Five

This band from Alabama, fronted by veteran Glenn Harrell has been getting lots of air-play and recognition recently.  Several members of this band will be familiar to bluegrass fans who will remember having seen them playing with bands like David Davis & the Warrior River Boys, Randy Kohrs, Larry Stephenson, and others. This band should prove interesting to watch and hear as they develop during the next few years. They've already released several well-received recordings.

The Moron Brothers

The Moron Brothers are known for their topical and satirical country humor. Always good for a laugh, this duo, which comes from Kentucky, can be counted on for their humor and good clean fun.

Ernie Evans & the Florida State Bluegrass Band

Ernie Evans is a well-recognized fixture in the Florida bluegrass scene as a performer, promoter, and radio personality on local FM radio in the Jacksonville area as well as nationally and internationally on World Wide Bluegrass. His latest band features traditional bluegrass as well as grassed versions of more contemporary material.

The Rodeheaver Boys Ranch

Since 1950 the Rodeheaver Boys Ranch has provided  "a wholesome home environment with religious, educational, and vocational training for needy boys." Several years ago the ranch director decided to host an annual bluegrass festival as a major portion of its fund raising effort. A 500 site campground was built with water and electric hookups, a performance shed with stage erected, and a gift shop/snack bar built. The event quickly became a Florida bluegrass destination. The promotional duo of Norman Adams and Tony Williamson provide a stellar lineup while the Ranch staff, assisted by the boys after school and on Saturdays, and a committed group of volunteers provide the necessary support structure. Meals, including a hearty breakfast are served in the ranch dining room, a shuttle bus takes campers back to their rigs, while a full range of merchandise and food vendors supplement the ranch's offerings. The music shed provides reliable relief from possible rain and, when necessary, curtains are hung and heaters turned on to increase warmth in it. 

The Dining Hall

  

The Shed

The Campground

The Shuttle

2012 All-Star Lineup

A hallmark of Adams and Anderson festivals is the mixture of bluegrass legends with up-and-coming bands and major contemporary attractions. This year is no different as legendary pickers like Jesse McReynolds and Bobby Osborne are joined by more recent huge attractions such as Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver as well as Dailey & Vincent. 

Thursday - February 16

Tony Holt & the Wildwood Valley Boys

Audie Blaylock & Redline

Marty Raybon & Full Circle

Jesse McReynolds & the Virginia Boys

Chris Jones & the Night Drivers

 Dailey & Vincent (one 90 Minute Show)

Audie Blaylock

 Marty Raybon

Jesse McReynolds

Chris Jones & the Night Drivers

Dailey & Vincent

Friday - February 17

Volume Five

Darin & Brooke Aldridge

Goldwing Express

Danny Paisley & Southern Grass

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Darin & Brooke Aldridge w/Rachel J. Boyd

Goldwing Express

Danny Paisley & Southern Grass

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Saturday - February 18

Ernie Evans & the Florida State Bluegrass Band

The Little Roy & Lizzie Show

The Moron Brothers

The Larry Stephenson Band

Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top Express

Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out

Ernie Evans

Little Roy & Lizzy

The Larry Stephenson Band

Bobby Osborne & Rocky Top Express

Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out

A Wernick Style bluegrass jamming class will be presented by authorized Wernick instructor Gilbert Nelson from 10:00 until 12:00 noon each day during the festival. For more information look here.

There's no place other than a bluegrass festival where so much fine entertainment can be had for such a reasonable price. With tickets at a top price of $85.00 for three days plus a premium for reserved seating and the cost of camping with water and electricity, a bluegrass festival is an economic bargain filled with musical and social riches. The Palatka Bluegrass Festival adds the opportunity to support a worthy cause.

Placing seats has always been something of a hassle at Rodeheaver. The crush on Wednesday morning has, it is hoped, been alleviated by the addition of four sections of reserved seating having been set aside at premium prices. I assume that when owners' seats are vacant, they are fair game for anyone with a general admission ticket until the owner returns.  Further information about festival details can be found here.  Information about other Adams and Anderson festivals is here.

How to Get to Rodeheaver Boys Ranch

(Palatka Bluegrass Festival)

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Norman & Judy Adams

Peace River Seafood & Joshua Citrus

Serendipity often plays a huge part in providing wonderful new travel experiences as well as in finding good food. As soon as we get even a little bit away from the chain stores and boring sameness of the large food chains, we know we're taking a risk that can be rewarding or punishing. On Tuesday we had two marvelous rewards as we returned to Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring from our trip to Camping World in Ft. Myers. Because either the clerk gave me the wrong directions or I mis-understood them, we hopped on I-75 headed north and quickly found ourselves with no convenient exit to get off until we hit U.S. 17 headed for Arcadia.  At the exit, a sign said that a place called Peace River Seafood was up the road a piece, so we headed there, almost missing it on the other side of the road because of its rundown look and the tropical trees and shrubs surrounding it. We noticed, though, the parking lot was full.

Sarah

Sarah, the store manager, took our names and then quickly seated us at the end of a picnic table next to two women with huge bowls of crab in front of them. After spending a few minutes looking at the varied menu of crab, shrimp, and fish dishes, Irene ordered a crab, shrimp, clam, and scallop stew while I chose a shrimp and andouille sausage creole stew with rice. Both arrived after a bit of a wait in large bowls, looking wonderful, smelling delicious, and tasting even better.  We chatted with the two ladies sitting next to us, finding lots in common beyond the wonderful food. The menu contains lots of seafood choices, as well as enough hamburger, steak, and chicken to satisfy non-seafood eaters who might be in a party.  The Tuesday garlic crab special at $15.95 was a real bargain, while prices ranged from sandwiches in the $9.00 range to elaborate (or at least as elaborate as this informal restaurant provides) concoctions in the nearly thirty dollar range.  We were happy to be seated outdoors, but there's indoor seating, too.

Located at 5337 Duncan Road along U.S. 17 headed east from Punta Gorda, Peace River Seafood is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM until 8:00 PM. It also has a fish market. Don't miss this excellent fish house with its charming, informal atmosphere.

How to Get to Peace River Seafood

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Joshua Citrus

  

Joshua Citrus has been designated a Century Pioneer Family Farm by the Florida Department of Agriculture. On our way back to Sebring, we made sure to stop by this out-of-the-way grove store just east of Arcadia off highway 70.  I foolishly neglected to grab my camera as we got out of the truck, but I want to highlight this store for lovers of fresh citrus fruit at its best.  Varieties of oranges, grapefruit, tangelos, tangerines, and lemons buyers only dream about in super markets are available here at bargain prices under the live oak trees in the midst of this working citrus grove. The staff is helpful, and slices of fruit as well as cups of juice are available to sample.  Far removed from the highway, there's little of the bustling traffic or crass commercialism one often finds in such places. We probably came away with more than we can finish before it spoils, but the fruit is to sweet, juicy, and delicious to pass up. Remember that the tastiest varieties of Florida citrus have a relatively brief season and always taste best straight from the grove.

Joshua Citrus is located at 4135 County Road 760 east of Arcadia, FL and maintains regular business hours.

How to Get to Joshua Citrus

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For those who think Florida is all old people making left turns from the right lane along the coasts, places like Joshua Citrus and Peace River Seafood provide a welcome change of pace and picture of what "old" Florida still has to offer. Such places are scattered all over the state, and we'll be visiting several over the next few weeks. Join us for this change of pace from bluegrass and books.

YeeHaw Junction BGF - Saturday and Wrap-Up

Saturday at YeeHaw Junction was warm and nearly cloudless with just enough breeze to keep it from feeling hot. All this helped draw the largest day crowd we've ever seen come to this relatively isolated but centrally located cow pasture in east-central Florida. Many came to see headline attraction Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, but there was plenty more to keep people listening and enjoying themselves. High among those attractins was the Spinney brothers from Nova Scotia, new to many but sure to be frequently asked for here in Florida, where they made a new and well-appreciated debut performance. 

Morning Workshops

Danny Stewart - Remington Ryde

  

Billy Lee Cox

Rhyme "n" Reason

A veteran band from the Niagara Frontier in southern Ontario, Rhyme "n" Reason played three sets on Friday and Saturday.

Stefan van Holton

  

Bill Koop

 Doug Moerschfelder

 Pete Harrison

Keith Bass & the Florida Bluegrass Express

One of two Florida bands included in this year's YeeHaw Junction lineup, festival promoter Keith Bass & the Florida Bluegrass Express acquitted themselves admirably with a varied selection of classic bluegrass covers presented with enthusiasm and skill.  

Keith Bass

Clint Dockery

Shane Stewart

  
Jason Baker

Katie Stewart

Keith Bass & the Florida Bluegrass Express - Two More Days
Video


Mike Robinson - Emcee

Harold Asher - Ramrod

The Spinney Brothers

The Spinney Brothers, long a popular band in their home province of Nova Scotia and across Canada have been cutting an increasingly wide swath through bluegrass festivals and concerts in the U.S. They combine lovingly recreated covers of classic bluegrass and country songs with a range of originals to create a pleasing, energetic show which is faced paced and thoroughly enjoyable. They've been on the road for about eighteen years, and are now beginning to reap the rewards of their hard work. Look for them!

Rick Spinney

  
Allan Spinney

Gary Dalrymple

Daryl Hebb 

The Spinney Brothers - The Auctioneer - Video

 

Rick & Allan Spinney

Evan Carl & Madison Gibson

 

Travis Gibson

Rhonda Vincent & the Rage

Rhonda Vincent

No bluegrass performer works harder than Rhonda Vincent, both on stage and in giving time and attention to her fans. After each performance The Martha White Boutique is crowded three or four deep as her fans wait to buy her CD's and other merchandise as well as get a chance for a picture with her or a few moments of her attention. She has an almost unique capacity when meeting with fans of giving her complete attention to each one, leaving them with the sense they've really communicated with her, no matter how briefly. Her work on stage is always responsive to the crowds she attracts, as she performs without a set-list, making song selections on the fly from her vast catalog of recorded material.  Her band supports her with vocal and musical versatility and virtuosity that's always focused on creating the sound she wants. The addition of Brent Burke on Dobro has helped create a new sound permitting a country twang to enter into her bluegrass show while giving the entire ensemble a richer sound.

Rhonda with "Her" People

Hunter Berry

Mickey Harris

Aaron McDaris

 Ben Helsen

Brent Burke

Rhonda Vincent & the Rage - Crazy Love - Video
 

Rhonda Vincent

  
 

Darlene Bass with the Winner 
of both the
50/50 Raffle and the Breast Cancer Basket


Gospel Jam and Sing
Mike and Mary Robinson

While YeeHaw Junction has wisely given up its Sunday performances, Mike & Mary Robinson finished the weekend with their popular and spiritually satisfying Gospel Sing and Jam.  The sing was well attended with many people not packing to leave until after it was over.

Keith & Darlene Bass - Promoters