Singer/Songwriter Workshop at Mast Farm Inn

The Mast Farm Inn

 

The Mast Farm Inn located in Valle Crucis, NC and The Bluegrass Legacy, a relatively new and extremely useful Facebook site supporting all elements of bluegrass music, are sponsoring a Singer/Songwriter workshop under the rubric of its first artist in residence series for 12 invitees with Dan Tyminski and Ronnie Bowman as the primary resources.  This three day seminar prefaced by a two man concert by Bowman and Tyminski on Sunday night will give twelve young, talented songwriters from around the country to interact with each other and these two bluegrass legends.  While we can't be there, I've called on a variety of resources to keep me informed and provide pictures of the event.  With luck and good management, I should be able to cover this important event from my remote location.  Here's an account of the opening concert held on Sunday evening.

 St. John Episcopal Church - Valle Crucis, NC

 Photo by Sheila Maness

St. John Sanctuary

 Photo by Sheila Maness

Dan Tyminski & Ronnie Bowman in St. Johns

Photo by Mike Lane 

The event was kicked off by a two man concert presented at St. John Episcopal Church in Valle Crucis.  The church, built in 1862 is an all-wood construction, providing wonderful acoustics for the group of about fifty people lucky enough to attend.  Cindy Baucom, host of Knee Deep in Bluegrass, well-known emcee at festivals throughout the country wrote this about the event:

Cindy Baucom

"I have great appreciation for Henri DeChamps and the staff of the Mast Farm Inn for making available the opportunity to aspiring young artists of working one on one with music veterans Ronnie Bowman and Dan Tyminski.  Sunday evening's performance by the two was just outstanding.  An intimate setting in a small historical church building provided the 50 or so folks who were fortunate enough to be in attendance, an up close look at these two wildly talented individuals.  From songs that each were known for to collaborations on Lonesome River Band material from when they were band mates, they presented each song with great passion.  And the applause from the audience after each number told me that every one there would not have chosen to be any where else at that particular time, but in front of Bowman and Tyminski - soaking in every ounce of entertainment they were putting out there!"

Dan Tyminski

 Photo by Sheila Maness

Ronnie Bowman

 Photo by Sheila Maness

Darin & Brooke Aldridge also attended the event.  Darin said that Dan Tyminski started off singing a few songs from his storied career including "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow," his history making song from O Brother, Where Art Thou?  Ronnie Bowman offered his hit song for Brooks & Dunn, "Gettin' Better All the Time" as well as "Three Rusty Nails" by request and "Here I Am" his wonderful song about evil loose in the world.  Together they sang some of their great LRB songs like "Long Gone" and "Got the Hobo Blues."  Darin remarked on the relaxed environment of the two men sitting in chairs and building a performance together lasting something over an hour.  The sound was excellent, so good in fact that the electronic amplification was nearly superfluous.  He noted, too, that Henri Deschamps, owner of the Mast Farm Inn made an effective presentation introducing the concept of the artist in residence program and the present singer/songwriter event. 

Dan Tyminski

Photo by Mike Lane 

Ronnie Bowman

Photo by Mike Lane 

 

Henry Deschamps - Owner of the Mast Farm Inn