It rained in East Tennessee on Friday night, but the forecast for the weekend was promising. The weather would improve during Saturday with little further accumulation, and Sunday would be clear, sunny, and...dry. One of the hazards, and pleasures, of attending live music festivals is that they take place in the real world. Coming prepared for wet days and chilly nights only serves to increase the sense that music takes place in a real world, that each day presents gifts along with some risk. With the promise of a wonderful day of music to come, the Saturday crowd increased as the weather improved.
The Tennessee Fall Homecoming excels at celebrating its roots while featuring some of the biggest draws in traditional and contemporary bluegrass music. On the five stages of the festival, you can see shape note singers demonstrating gospel music as it was sung in days when literacy was low and faith high. The pre-cursors to bluegrass and country music, especially as it was played, sung, and danced in the mountains of Appalachia, remain alive here. The bluegrass music that developed during the migration of mountain people to the industrialized south, midwest, and northeast during the Great Depression and World War II is also showcased. All this is presented in the context of a recreated Appalachian farm village, brought together in East Tennessee by John Rice Irwin over the past half century.
The Appalachian Harmonizers
In the Green Room
The Geezers Bench
The Tenos
Blue Moon Rising
Chris West has consistently been recognized as a fine song writer/singer, but Blue Moon Rising has been unable to attract continued attention. Nevertheless, it was delightful to see both Keith Garrett and Brandon Bostic performing with a band where they both started and to hear Chris sing many of his fine songs.
Brandon Bostic
Chris West
Dale Ann Bradley
Dale Ann Bradley has consistently been one of the finest singers in bluegrass music. She has won the IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year five times with her wonderful interpretations and compositions. It was especially gratifying to see Phil Leadbetter, currently continuing his now years-long fight against cancer playing Dobro and looking animated and full of energy both on and off stage.
Phil Leadbetter
Dale Ann Bradley
Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice
Junior Sisk is one of the finest interpreters of the Stanley Brothers' music as well as a singer who successfully makes contemporary bluegrass material sound old. His distinctive tenor voice is always recognizable. His current band is probably the best group he's had backing him since he reconfigured Ramblers Choice after the breakup of Blueridge nearly a decade ago.
Junior Sisk
Jamie Harper
Balsam Range
Balsam Range is an excellent example of a contemporary band coming from a rural Appalachian setting (Haywood County, NC) which fuses deep rural roots with a hip, driving, bluegrass wall of sound using the ancient tones while containing rock and country sounds and sentiment galore. The band was named IBMA Entertainer of the Year. Bassist Tim Surrett was elected Chairman of the IBMA Board at its September meeting.
Tim Surrett
Buddy Melton
2014 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year
Darin Nicholson
John Rice Irwin - Founder
Museum of Appalachia
Emcee - Freddie Smith
WDVX-FM Knoxville
Del McCoury Band
Nine time IBMA Entertainer of the Year, the Del McCoury Band is probably the most recognized and rewarded bluegrass band of all time. The band has also won two Grammy awards. This year, banjo player Rob McCoury was named IBMA banjo player of the year for the first time. It's always a treat to hear and see the great Del McCoury.
Del McCoury
Rob McCoury
Ron McCoury
Alan Bartram
Dancing Breaks Out....
Only Kyle Perkins Can Make a Bass
Look Like a Guitar!
In the Green Room
The Stewart Family
Sunday
Sunday dawned bright and cool without a cloud in the sky, a perfect fall day to conclude a fine event.
Barefoot Movement
The Barefoot Movement is a genre busting band from Nashville presents high energy material with conviction and thoughtfulness.
Ashley Leadbetter & Grayson
The Tractor and Old Motor Display
Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain
Melvin Goins is a member of The Bluegrass Hall of Fame as a member of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers. He continues to tour singing old country and familiar bluegrass tunes in a friendly, folksy way. A touch of history.
Melvin Goins
Legal Moonshine
Is that an oxymoron?
Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier
I've become a fan of Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier. Jimbo was the lead singer of Pine Mountain Railroad during the most active period of that band before leaving the road to work around his home in Pigeon Forge. Greenbrier is only a part time band by choice. Whaley is a terrific story teller and entertainer and has surrounded himself with first-rate musicians. Matt Leadbetter is a worthy successor to his better known father, and Roger Helton, with banjo, plays everything well.
Jimbo Whaley
Peter's Homestead House
Stage One, Store, Restaurant
Bark Grinder
Irwin's Chapel Church
Larry Sparks
Larry Sparks has had a long, distinguished career beginning more than fifty years ago as lead singer and guitarist with Ralph Stanley. He was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame this year.
D. Sparks
Larry Sparks
Wilson Barn - Stage 2
The Gibson Brothers
The Gibson Brothers held the crowd late into Sunday afternoon's second performance. Mark McClashan, who was their first mandolin player lo these many years ago, now lives in Knoxville, made a surprise appearance with them and doesn't seem to have lost his chops. IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year Jesse Brock graciously stepped aside, saying, "I'll be your snare drum."
Eric Gibson
Leigh Gibson
Mike Barber
Leigh Gibson, Mike Barber & Mark McLashan
Mark McClashan
Irene at the Gibson Brothers Merch Table
The Fruit Cobblers Are Always a Big Hit Here!
Russ & Becky Jeffers at Stage 4
Bill & the Belles
Bill & the Belles are a new band out of Johnson City, TN, home of ETSU, featuring Chris Truelson, Grace Van't Hof, and Kalia Yeagle singing old style country music. Worth another look!
Grace Van't Hof
Cliff Truesdale
John Rice Irwin
Founder - Museum of Appalachia
John Rice Irwin has created and developed a fine museum and pioneered an event built to help support it. For some years, his daughter, Elaine Irwin Meyer, has served as President of the Museum. Recently John Rice's grandchildren, John, Will, and Linsey have become active in all elements of running the Tennessee Fall Homecoming. This year's Homecoming maintained its traditional allegiance to mountain and old-time music while presenting the strongest lineup of traditional and contemporary bluegrass it has ever had. It appeared to me that the strengthened lineup led to increased attendance, despite a day of threatened rain. While sound at the Tennessee Fall Homecoming remains problematic, I'm certain that problem will be addressed next year. Overall, Tennessee Fall Homecoming has been improved by keeping it in the family. The commitment to the museum's homegrown tradition is coupled with thoughtful growth to make sure it maintains and improves itself. We had a wonderful time and look forward to next year.
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