Musicians Against Childhood Cancer 2016 - July 20 - 23 - Preview

Musicians Against Childhood Cancer/Bluegrass Classic will run at Hoover-Y Park in Columbus, OH from July 20 - 23, 2016, celebrating it's 32nd year of bringing great bluegrass to the Columbus area and to the country in a comfortable setting offering four days of many of the top bluegrass stars in the country. Promoter Darrell Adkins' unique Classic Performances highlight performers not frequently seen together or more familiar in others genres. This year there will be six Classic Performances during the four day run of the festival, rededicated in Mandy Adkins in 2000 after she lost her battle to brain cancer. All proceeds from the festival are donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. Since its inception, the MACC has donated $875,840 to St. Jude following Mandy's death. The musicians donate their music and talent to this worthy cause.

Mandy Adkins

In many ways, the MACC is a family affair. Four generations of the Adkins family have and are participating in this annual event, picking up additional responsibilities as they mature. Musicians often come early and stay for most of the event, bringing their spouses and children, visiting with friends they don't often have time to see out on the bluegrass trail, and enjoying their time with the festival crowd. The environment is warm and welcoming. The few rules necessary are clearly stated and promptly enforced, maintaining a family friendly setting and vibe. Younger children who play music are welcomed to the MACC Children's Band, which performs on Saturday morning.

This year's lineup features thirty-four bands and more individual side musicians than it's possible for me to catalog. The list includes four members of IBMA's Hall of Fame and more category winners than I can count. The bands represent several distinct styles of bluegrass ranging from hard driving traditional bands, to classic country, old-time, and contemporary. As Darrell likes to say, "If a band doesn't suit your taste, go get something to eat or take a nap. You'll love the next one."

Here's a snapshot of the lineup for this year's MACC:

Classic Performances

Thursday

The Tim O'Brien Band - Thursday

Tim O'Brien makes his MACC debut in a Classic Performance in support of his new CD Pompadour, just out. Known to more than a generation of music fans as a member of Hot Rize, a regular at MerleFest and Telluride, and frequent recording with everyone from his sister Molly, singing often traditional bluegrass music to Darrell Scott presenting what's best described as Americana, O'Brien is a musical legend, rooted in tradition while known for risk taking and innovation. The band this weekend will consist of David Grier, Shad Cobb, Mike Bub, and newcomer Jan Fabricius. David Grier is considered to be one of the finest flatpicking guitarists in the world. Mike Bub is five time IBMA bass player of the year. Can't wait to hear this set!

David Grier

Flashback - Friday

Richard Bennet, Curt Chapman, Don Rigsby, Phil Leadbetter

This newly constituted band consists of musicians who were members of J.D. Crowe and the New South during the 1990's.The group released an album, including Crowe, back in 1995. Now, with J.D. Crowe retired, the sound of this band becomes an exciting reminder of those great days from former members of J.D. Crowe & the New South.Stuart Wyrick has been selected to play banjo in this exciting new band. Flashback will be making its debut performance at the MACC.

Randy Kohrs & Friends

 Aubrey Haynie, Clay Hess, Paul Harrigil - Friday

Composed of former "young guns" of bluegrass music, now matured, but not blunted, this band should provide lots of music and a few not so gentle surprises. Kohrs, now noted as one of the top producers in Nashville, started his career as a Dobro innovator some years ago. Aubrey Haynie, a product of the Bluegrass Parlor program in Tampa Florida, has become one of the top session musicians and side musicians in Nashville, Clay Hess played guitar for Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder before heading out to front his own innovative bluegrass band. Paul Harrigil, still too young to be called a "former" anything, plays banjo for Flatt Lonesome. 

Clay Hess

Old Friends - Doyle Lawson, Paul Williams, and Joe Mullins - Friday

Well over 150 years of experience bringing the audience classic bluegrass from the first and second generations, both Doyle Lawson and Paul Williams are members of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. Joe Mullins, front man of Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers as well as having played banjo on the great Longview recordings, is one of the best Scruggs-style banjo players around. This Classic Performance promises a feast of familiar traditional bluegrass as fans want it. 

Paul Williams

New Monday - Saturday

As with so many groups which appear at the Station Inn, New Monday features a somewhat changeable cast of performers, depending on who's in town. While Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, and Val Storey form the core of this group, some of Nashville's finest stars and side musicians may show up on any Monday to sing classic country, the great country music from the late fifties into the nineties. Look for Bradley Walker here, as well as other surprises. It's always a treat to see this band, which will appear on the culminating evening of the MACC, Saturday night!

Larry Cordle

Carl Jackson

Tribute to Merle Haggard - Daryle Singletary & Friends - Wednesday

Daryle Singletary

Merle Haggard represented one of the many contact points between bluegrass and country music. His song California Cottonfields, as well as several others, have become bluegrass standards. Haggard's music crossed boundaries, as his life defied classification. Daryle Singletary, with his deep, mellow baritone voice and warm demeanor will bring others to the stage in a tribute to the life, legend, and music of Merle Haggard. Though noted as a country singer/songwrter, Haggard recorded The Bluegrass Sessions in 2007.

Merle Haggard

New to the MACC in 2016

This year a number of bands that have not previously appeared at The MACC before will be featured during the week. It's an interesting and capable group bound to entertain and delight. Bands in the Classic Performances are not listed below.

Tennessee Mafia Jug Band

LeeRoy Troy

The Tennessee Mafia Jug Band featuring LeeRoy Troy brings back the music and style of Uncle Dave Macon and brings it up-to-date, too. Their hi-jinks not only often represent a change of pace at a bluegrass festival, but introduce listeners to a style of traditional string band music that might be lost to all but scholars of the music without bands like this one, that provided entertainment from the days of Vaudeville and early radio. Sit back and enjoy yourself.

Mike Armistead

 Sideline

As Sideline's name implies, the band was founded as something to do during the slow late fall and winter season for a group of North Carolina pickers. Something happened on the way to the studio: they became a hit. Now approaching 100 dates a year and about to release their third collection, this time featuring some newer material, Sideline has become the quintessential traditional, hard-driving bluegrass band, filled with talent, energy, and joy in performing. The best cover band in the business is expanding its repertoire and its reach. 

Steve Dilling

Terry Baucom & Dukes of Drive

A founding member of IIIrd Tyme Out, Terry Baucom has long been known as one of the finest banjo players in the business. He's played as a sideman with the best. Now he's touring with his own band. 

Terry Baucom & the Dukes of Drive

Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley

Rob Ickes has, virtually, redefined the Dobro over the past two decades, during which he was named IBMA Dobro Player of the Year an amazing fifteen times. All of that time was spent with ground breaking band Blue Highway. Now he's combined with guitarist Trey Hensley to present a duo of their own. Their first CD was nominated for a Grammy. Now they've produced a new CD called The Country Blues, which will be released in early July. This duo's picking and singing will be a pleasure to hear.

Rob Ickes

David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition

Bluegrass fans are familiar with David Parmley as a member of The Bluegrass Cardinals and, later, David Parmley & Continental Divide. After a hiatus from the road, David has returned with a band filled with familiar faces dedicated to re-introducing the great Bluegrass Cardinals sound of the seventies through the nineties. The band is certain to bring nostalgia with some familiar, and still frequently covered, material. 

David Parmley

The Boxcars

Adam Steffey

The Boxcars present some of the finest pickers, singers, and songwriters to have been assembled in a single band in some years. Adam Steffey, eleven time IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year, and Ron Stuart, who's won the instrumental award on both banjo and fiddle, are in great demand both as session musicians and with bands. Steffey's mandolin playing has influenced a generation of up-and-coming pickers. Lead singer Keith Garrett is a talented songwriter as well as singer. Be sure to catch this band if you've never seen them live before.

Ron Stuart

The MACC advertises itself as an All-Star festival, and indeed it is. Since bands only perform one set during the weekend, attendees may wish to pick and choose which bands they come to the stage to see and hear. Since there's plenty of shade, you can almost always find a place to move your chair if you don't wish to sit int he sun. The music starts each day at noon, and usually lasts until eleven in the evening. That's a lot of bluegrass, but you won't find a clunker in the bunch. There are plenty of different styles, some of which you might prefer over others, but you can count on getting plenty of the music you love here. 

At the Gate

The Details

Tickets: You can order tickets until July 13 at a discount online here. Remember, The MACC is a benefit for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, so at least a portion of your ticket price is tax deductible. There are a number of day ticket and season ticket options. You can also purchase tickets for the Todd Sams Guitar raffle online. The guitar is a replica of Tony Rice's famous Martin D-28 once owned by Clarence White. A new custom banjo has also been added to the raffle opportunities. 

Todd Sams Raffle Guitar

Davis Concord Model Raffle Banjo

Camping: Camping is available in four locations around the performance area. There are a number of electric sites, some with thirty amp service. These are likely to be reserved by the time you read this. In order to arrange camping, call 740-548-4199. While there are a couple of water standpipes available, campers should plan on arriving with full water tanks. A pump-out service is provided at a fee. Here's a map of the site:

Click here to get an enlarged map. 

In addition to the porta-johns provided at convenient locations, there are flush toilets and a shower facility (small charge) provided. On the grounds there are playgrounds, swings, a fortress, and other provisions to make children's time fun. Check the camping page of the MACC website for other conveniences. 

Hotels: A number of hotels and motels are available within a convenient drive for those who prefer not to camp. Here's a map and list

Map of Hotels Near Hoover-Y Park

MACC Recordings: Two award winning live recordings of artists at the MACC have been made. You can order them through this blog by clicking the links for each one.

Celebration of Life

Life Goes On

.

How To Get To the MACC:

Hoover-Y camp is located at:

1570 Rohr Rd.

Lockbourne, Ohio 43137

Here's a Customizable Map designed for you:

Phyliss & Darrel Adkins Accept Award

For many people, Musicians Against Childhood Cancer has become a bucket list festival because of its large, varied, and accomplished lineup, one of the best anywhere. Others are devoted to The Cause. Note that you don't have to attend the festival to support it. You can purchase raffle tickets online, donate to St. Jude through the MACC by credit card or direct donation on the upper left hand corner of the Home Page. 

Finally, if you heard about the festival through this blog, or are a regular, please take the time to say hello to me or Irene when you see us around the grounds or at the gate. See you at the MACC!

The Festival Thrower's Bible by Tucker Gumber - Book Review

If I were promoting a festival or helping to plan one, I would quickly go out and spend the $59.95 this little book costs in a second, it might be the best $59.95 you ever spent. Or you can purchase it in a digital format for $9,99.  There's plenty not to like about this book if you choose, but every chapter contains helpful ideas nudging you into more diverse ways of thinking that will help you make more money from your festival as well as save money in putting it on. Cautionary Note for my readers: Tucker Gumber attends lots of very large festivals around the country. He considers a festival with an attendance of 3,000 to 10,000 to be a small festival. His ideal festival, worth an entire (short) chapter, is Burning Man, in the desert of Nevada, If you're a festival promoter who reads my blog, this may not sound like your kind of festival. As I looked at festivals Gumber attended in past years, I realized the lineups at many were completely strange to me and the music would likely not be to my taste. Nevertheless, The Festival Thrower's Bible is worth any festival promoter's time and money, whether their festival attracts fewer than 1000 people or, like IBMA can bring out over 170,000 for it's five day run in downtown Raleigh, NC.

In a 7x7 inch glossy format filled with cartoons and photographs suggesting the realizations of what he's writing about, Gumber considers many issues confronting every festival promoter regardless of the size or nature of their event. Often, the ideas and issues raised suggest web sites where readers can go for further, more detailed information. He emphasizes the importance of creating a total experience. He covers significant issues, whether your location is an open field, a campground, a fairground, or hundreds of acres of open desert land. Concerns such as access, provisions made for water, camping, the environment, food, health and safety, publicity and more are dealt with realistically and directly. He doesn't duck from writing about the use of drugs and alcohol at many festivals. His chapters on branding, the use of social media, bringing the arts into festivals, and many more topics are each worth much more than the price of this book, just in terms of providing good ideas and opening eyes to the possibilities.

How to Use this Book: Since the audience of this blog is primarily people who attend bluegrass festivals or love bluegrass music, it may seem to you that much of the material in this book is irrelevant to you. Not So! First, if you're a promoter of a small festival, you might find all this a bit overwhelming. Your worst choice would be to give up on it because it doesn't apply to you. It does! You just don't know that yet.

Here's what I would do with the book. First cut off the back to separate the pages. Then, take each page and have it laminated in 8 1/2 by 11 paper and place the whole new book in a loose leaf folder, perhaps with more note pages between the pages. Then, look at every idea and issue with an open mind, making notes on your lamination paper with an easily erasable pen. Then start looking and writing about how the material in the book would be applicable in your situation. You'll be happily surprised. The more you can open your imagination, the more you'll find ways that Tucker Gumber's experience, as foreign as it might be to your own, can help you build your festival. All you need to do, as you study this book, is make connections. You'll find plenty of ideas to make the book worth reading.

Here's an example: Bluegrass festivals often make rather stringent statements about alcohol use (no alcohol allowed in performance area, no open carry) and hardly ever mention drug usage. In adopting this policy, they seek to cover up and disguise an issue, rather than figure out how to deal with it. Merlefest, for instance, searches every backpack for spirits, to the point of not allowing unsealed bottles of water on the grounds. Since the advent of soft packaged hard liquor, which can be carried in pockets, this has become an impossible stance to maintain. Gumber advocates, at several points in The Festival Thrower's Bible, that festivals adopt a realistic view toward alcohol and drug use, trying to encourage moderation while providing adequate medical care for those overdosing and professional security for misbehavior. In so doing, he argues, the event can manage overuse and benefit from the revenue gained by having beer and wine sales on site. Together, these approaches can moderate behavior, increase attendance by altering the demographics, and improve revenue. It can also replace hypocritical cover-ups with realistic and sensible policies.

Tucker Gumber

Known as "The Festival Guy," Tucker Gumber comes from Colorado, where he went to Colorado State University, majoring in Resort Management and Business. His first festival proved to be a life changing experience, as he began to see ways to improve and rationalize festival management. From 2011 - 2015 he attended 91 festivals, including five trips to Burning Man. He has partnered with Vendini to produce the Festival Thrower's Bible. He serves as a consultant to many festivals on audience development, health and safety issues, and green management. He is the founder and CEO of FestEvo.

Approaching this sensible book with an open mind seeking to solidify branding, increase the accuracy of your sales, and focus your attention how to make your event the best it can possibly be is emphasized in every chapter. The layout is eye catching, the ideas are well-highlighted, the organization is conducive to improving festival planning and providing a workable approach to development. All a promoter needs to do is to turn the concepts and approaches into a blueprint for their own particular event. It would be easy for a promoter to become defensive while reading this book, thinking, "He doesn't understand events like mine," or asking "What has all this to do with my event?" Such an approach would be a great mistake! There is much in The Festival Thrower's Bible to help any promoter think through the issues of building and maintaining a healthy, profitable, and enjoyable event.

The single most glaring flaw in this otherwise extremely useful handbook is the absence of information about finding and assuring that your festival offers great sound. Sound production is a major cost factor for promoters. Particularly with acoustic music, it's difficult to provide good, accurate sound reproduction. In bluegrass, sound companies with wide experience in, for instance, rock music, often are found to be inadequate for lack of understanding the requirements of the instruments involved. In addition, multi-stage events should be counseled in how to set stages to avoid overlapping sound interfering with other stages. These two issues should be given further consideration in future editions of The Festival Thrower's Bible.

The Festival Thrower's Bible by Tucker Gumber (Vendini, 2016, 154 pages, $59,95/9.99) can be ordered from the publisher or from Amazon as a physical book or in e-book format. It is written in a convenient, handbook format designed to assist festival promoters in nearly every aspect of festival promotion. While it seems to emphasize large, multi-purpose festivals catering to a youthful demographic, it would be a mistake to assume that its contents don't apply to every venue wishing to attract strong audiences and build profits in presenting them. Reading and studying this book and the additional resources suggested in it can only help promoters to develop stronger, more responsible, better managed events. The Festival Thrower's Bible was supplied to me by the author on my request. I read it in the print version, and highly recommend it as a resource. The e-book version is significantly less expensive, and would surely suffice. The print edition is available through Amazonwhile the e-book can be ordered from Blurb.com

Musicians Against Childhood Cancer (The MACC): Friday & Saturday - Review

The Shirk Family Heads to the Gate to Sell Tickets

The weather for Thursday at the MACC was just wonderful, ending this year without a drop of rain during the four days of the festival as well as warm, but not blazing hot days and pleasant, warm nights. Good crowds came out to enjoy the music, the sense of being a part of something bigger than they were, and the lovely weather. I'm late getting this up, so I'll reduce text and maximize pictures. Enjoy this year's MACC with its diversity of bluegrass and country music, great singing and picking, a few surprises, and lots of fun.

The Baker Family

The Baker Family is attractive and young, showing promise. Yound Carina has a delightfully mature voice. The family is worth keeping an eye on as they mature. 

Trustin Baker

Elijah Baker

Carrie Baker

Carina Baker

Sister Sadie Warms Up in the Hospitality Tent

Tina Adair, Beth Lawrence

Gena Britt, Brandon Bostic (ooops!), and Deannie Richardson

Playground Area

Out in the Campground

Sister Sadie

Sister Sadie is an all women, all-star band. Each member is distinguished in her own right. Their music is sprightly and highly disciplined. Because each has responsibilities in other major bands, they don't play often enough as a band themselves. Change this by requesting your local promoter to book them.

Tina Adair

Dale Ann Bradley

Deaning Richardson

Beth Lawrence

Gena Britt

 Lou Reid & Carolina

Lou Reid & Carolina has long been established as a fine band in both bluegrass and gospel music with an emphasis on classic bluegrass along with fine new songs that express a contemporary vision in an older and more traditional style. 

Lou Reid

Trevor Watson

Kevin Richardson

please help

Children's Band Rehearsal

In the Campground

 The Larry Stephenson Band

The Larry Stephenson Band has long been a staple of strong traditional bluegrass and bluegrass gospel music. It's not at all rare for Larry and his band to perform at a festival and join a worship service in a nearby or on-the-way church on Sunday morning. His pure, clear tenor voice is a model for tenors. Kenny Ingram is one of the banjo greats on Sonny Osborne's famous Vega banjo. This band always gives its best, which is very good. 

Larry Stephenson

Kenny Ingram

Kevin Richardson

Matt Wright

Larry Stephenson

In the Campground

Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers

Joe Mullins was a member of the original Longview and has, for years, broadcast from his family's radio stations in southern Ohio. Noted for his high quality Scruggs style banjo play, Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers were named IBMA Emerging Band of the Year in 2012

Mike Terr & Jason Barie

Vocal Trio

Mike Terry, Joe Mullins, Duane Sparks

Jason Barie

Randall Barnes

In the Bottoms - Rough Camping Field

Bradkey Walker - Classic Duets

One of the joys of Musicians Against Childhood Cancer is Promoter Darrell Adkins ability, because of his wide acquaintanceship throughout the bluegrass and country worlds to attract prime musicians and then put them together into interesting and creative performing situations with artists from other bands. For this set, he asked Bradley Walker to put together some of the great classic country duets sung by Dolly Parton and Porter Waggoner, Willy Nelson and George Jones, Tammy Wynette and George Jones, and June Carter and Johnny Cash to make great music. Walker, winner of the 2007 Male Vocalist of the Year Award from IBMA, pulled off a wonderful set, standing in for many of the great male singers. Magic!

Clay Hess

Charli Robertson

Josh Williams

Dominic Illingsworth

Aubrey Haynie

Brandon Rickman

Larry Atamanuik

Mo Pitney

The Lonesome River Band

One of those bands which is so well known merely its initials are enough: LRB. Continuing a more than thirty year tradition of rock inflected bluegrass with an edge to it, LRB is merely one of the best ever. Sammy Shelor's banjo play is so great it has become a picking style of its own. 

Sammy Shelor

Mike Hartgrove

Brandon Rickman

Barry Reed

Sammy Shelor

Emcee Daniel Mullins

MACC Nashville Mystery Performer
Mo Pitney

Mo Pitney is a rising young country singer/songwriter whose songs stimulate the mind as well as the spirit, bringing up some of the strengths of classic country music while still tinged with a strong contemporary vibe. His performance is string, and his personality winning. I can only wish him well.

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Blake Pitney

Mo Pitney 

Junior Sisk and Friend

The SteelDrivers

The SteelDrivers are on home ground at the MACC, having given one of their earlier performances there and continuing to appear there almost every year as an evening attraction. While seeming to be loose and carefree, they are at once completely disciplined and carefully structured combining a deep delta blues vibe with a bluegrass string band structure. Their song writing has always been superb and their singing and playing has continued to improve with additions to the and and careful, mostly minor restructuring. Those who stay to listen are easily captured as fans. They're a band that will consistently keep me up after bedtime. My apologies to Tammy Rogers for my having to go to another festival for a good picture of her. She deserves better. 

Mike Fleming

Richard Bailey

Brent Truitt

Tammy Rogers


Gary Nichols

Dudley Connell & Friends

Dudley Connell has been a leading member of three important ground-breaking bands, each different and a trend setter: The Johnson Mountain Boys, Longview, and for the past twenty years, The Seldom Scene, one of the most original trend setters of them all. Through his long career he's come to know most of the current and past greats, and called upon many of the current one for this classic performance. 

Junior Sisk

Larry Stephenson 

Aubrey Haynie

Randy Kohrs

Marshall Wilborn & Dudley Connell

Sally Love Connell

And thus endeth a very satisfactory Friday at the MACC. 

Saturday
MACC Children's Band

Each year the MACC Children's Band works for several hours a day to learn to play instruments and sing before presenting a performance at the beginning of Saturday's show. This year, a group of somewhat older, more experienced boys added their skills to working with and backing a group of young girls as they prepared and performed. Here they are at the opening of Saturday.

Volume Five

Volume Five made its MACC debut on Saturday morning. A Mississippi-based bluegrass band lead by Glenn Harrell, a fine singer and fiddler, the band is always a pleasure to hear and a strong addition to the MACC lineup.

Glenn Harrell

Patton Wages

Chris Williamson

Harry Clark & Colby Laney

Glenn Harrell

 '

Buddy Robertson (Flatt Lonesome) Looks On

Tom Feller - Set it and Pay Attention

Breaking Grass

Breaking Grass, another Mississippi-based band, made its second appearance at The MACC and, once again, put on a high energy show with plenty of original material as well as some fine covers of both Newgrass Revival and a selection of particularly well-grassed popular rocky songs. This band clearly respects its roots while continuing to explore ways to update and refresh itself.

Cody Farrar

Zach Wooten

Thelton Vanderford

Britt Sheffield

Tyler White

Cody Farrar

Plenty of Craft & Food Vendors

Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time

Larry Cordle's songs have been bought on over fifty million albums and he is one of the most recognized and rewarded of all people writing for bluegrass and country music. His song Murder on Music Row is both highly popular and a direct criticism of the loss of soul and heart in contemporary country music. He's a masterful, creative song writer whose songs carry content as well as often whimsical storytelling to new heights. It's always a pleasure to hear Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time. 

Jody King

David Harvey

Kim Gardner

Mike Anglin

Bowie Beach

Cord

Junior Sisk

Junior Sisk is clearly one of the best, and certainly one of the most loyal, practitioners of interpreting the works of Ralph Stanley and the repertoire of ground breaking band The Johnson Mountain Boys, whose work hugely informs his own singing and performance. He's going to need, however, to stop saying how much he hates talking on stage - he's getting too good at it. His older songs and his old-sounding songs are by times plaintive and funny. His band is filled with young, highly respected musicians who play tight, hard-driving bluegrass as it's supposed to be played. 

Junior Sisk

Jonathan Dillon

Jason Davis

Jonathan Dillon & Kameron Keller

Kameron Keller & Junior

Jamie Harper

 The Trio

Jonathan, Kameron, Junior

Terry & Kathy Owens

Flatt Lonesome

We first heard Flatt Lonesome at Newell Lodge in Folkston, GA, a mere twenty two and a half miles from their home in Callahan, FL where they had begun as a gospel band in the church where their father served as the pastor. Since then they've come a long, long way. Their harmonies have become sharper and more focused, their singing has smoothed out, their stage presence has grown as their confidence and experience warrant, and their comfort in public has increased hugely. Charli Robertson's voice has emerged as a fine solo and duet one, not only with her own band, but with other country and bluegrass bands, singing this year with both Daryle Singletary and Bradley Walker. The band won IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year in 2014, and has continued to improve. Look for more and better as they continue to work.

Charli Robertson

Buddy Robertson

Kelly Robertson Harrigil

Paul Harrigill

Dominic Illingworth

Michael Stockton

For the past three years, The Centerville (Ohio) Alternative Strings have appeared in conjunction with a band. The creation of Centerville High School's Doug Eyink, the alternative strings play, among other things, bluegrass music. This year, the band chosen for them to play with was Flatt Lonesome. This performance, combining a bluegrass band with a string ensemble, has become a well attended and much looked forward to event. 

Alternative Strings Waiting in the Wings

Doug Eyink

Centerville Alternative Strings with Flatt Lonesome

Buddy Robertson

Charlie Robertson

 

Saturday night at the MACC is usually an evening of assemblages and creations honoring bands and musicians of the past featuring contemporary musicians of unusual, even remarkable quality. The band are called together by Darrell Adkins and happily perform together in varying combinations which come together to create a magical evening of nostalgia for the past featuring players for the future, today, and yesterday.

Cordle, Jackson & Salley

As far as I know, this combination of singer/songwriter/performers was first brought together a few years ago on the MACC stage. Since then they have become a popular attraction as a trio, often with the addition of Val Storey, at festivals aroumd the country. They have also morphed into a band appearing at the Station Inn as New Monday performing classic country songs. They always deliver.

Jerry Salley

Larry Cordle

Carl Jackson

Robby Turner

Dani Flowers

Larry Attamanuik

Beth Lawrence

The Original Longview

Longview is a bluegrass superband formed in the late 1990's composed of busy and successful musicians. More a recording band than a performing one, they attracted a good deal of attention. This performance at the MACC was eagerly awaited. The Longview lineup has been fairly flexible, since each of the members has a busy schedule elsewhere. James King, however, has been a popular mainstay. Despite being obviously ill, James appeared on stage and, when he was singing, managed to find the strength to bring joy, and sadness, to his many fans. 

James King

Don Rigsby

Joe Mullins & Marshall Wilborn

A Tribute to J.D. Crowe

For the finale of this year's Musicians Against Childhood Cancer, Josh Williams hosted a large group of musicians, many of whom had been on stage all evening long, to sing some of the great materials played by J.D. Crowe & the New South during their heyday in the 1980's and 90's. Josh wisely chose some more obscure songs from this great catalog as well as many Tony Rice standards, in which he excels. Some of the show was backed by the Centerville Alternative Strings, too. A fine ending to another fine MACC.

Bradley Walker

Aaron McDaris

As the event came to a rousing close, we wearily packed our gear away in our truck and headed for the motel to pack for the long trip home starting on Sunday, when we annually pick up Stanley Butler, take him to the airport, and begin the 750 mile drive home. See you next  year!