From Tent Hill
Grinding heat and humidity with thundershowers threatening, and then finally rain as Del McCoury was finishing his set on Friday evening marked the day, followed by a mite cooler on Sunday, as people packed to leave. Meanwhile, Friday's excellence continue on into the weekend, with strength, variety, and a few fresh faces.
Colebrook Road
Colebrook Road, coming from the Harrisburg area in central, Pennsylvania. With impressive credentials in band contests and individual instrumental competitions, their singing, playing, and song writing are excellent. Many of their songs are written from within the band, running the gamut of emotions and tempos. This good band will be increasingly heard at festivals throughout the middle Atlantic region, into New England and New York and further into the mid-South in the next couple of years. Promoters should consider them for neo-traditional sound, high energy, and winning personalities. As winner of last year's Podunk Band Festival, they won their way into the Podunk lineup. Maybe next year they'll find they may have earned another slot, and more desirable, slot.
Jesse Eisenbise
Mark Rast
Joe McAnulty
Jeff Campbell
Up on Tent Hill
Tent Hill, rising about twenty feet above the rest of the fairgrounds, provides plenty of shade, a slight breeze, and a good view of the rest of the fairgrounds. It's cool in just about every way. There's usually a jam going on up there as a multi-generation group of campers enjoy their comfort as well as the close proximity of the shower rooms and flush toilets.
Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice
Junior Sisk comes from Ferrum, VA, near the eastern terminus of the Crooked Road, which runs through southwestern Virginia through the part of the state that has nurtured bluegrass and country musicians from the Carter Family, the Stanley Brothers, Sammy Shelor, and Alan Mills along with uncounted cloggers, pickers, jammers, song writers, insrument builders, and more. It drips music. Junior Sisk has long been a member of this community and belongs among its leading lights. When he comes to a festival, you know that genuine country authenticity is on the grounds. Junior has surrounded himself with a bunch of young guns who love traditional music as much as he does, leading to one of the best neo-traditional bands on tour. A corps of contemporary song writers have produced songs right in Juniors musical pocket, including his dad, with whom he also writes.
Junior Sisk & Jason Davis
Jonathan Dillon & Jamie Harper
Jamie Harper
Junior Davis
Kameron Keller
Del McCoury Workshop
Southern Raised
We don't get to hear much southern gospel music at bluegrass festivals in the northeast. This strongly Christ-centered, emotionally moving, inspirational music is more generally associated with the Southern Baptists. This family band consisting of three sisters and their younger brother sang close harmony, played very well, and impressed, in their second set, with a quartet version of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. With their mother at the sound board, their volume increased the physical impact of their music.
Lindsay Reith
Sarah Reith
Emily Reith
Matthew Reith
Song Writing Competition Finalists
Winner Dave McKeon in Center
Jim Beave Presenting Third Place Award
Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers
The Vocal Trio
Mike Terry, Joe Mullins, Dwayne Sparks
Joe Mullins has carefully molded his band into a tight, skillful, professional group of singers and pickers who can sell a song. look sharp, and perform effectively. Mike Terrry, on mandolin, is the only original member still with the band, generating good singing and personal warmth on stage. Dwayne Sparks' vocals are heartfelt and thoughtfully delivered. Mullins brings his highly professional radio voice to the role of band emceee along with his fine Scruggs style banjo play. The band is busy on tour and recording, and deserves to be so.
Joe Mullins
Mike Terry
Dwayne Sparks
Jason Barie
Randle Barnes
Jason Barie & Joe Mullins
Fiddle - Banjo Duet
The Del McCoury Band closed Saturday night with lightning flashes behind the stage suggesting a deluge could start any moment. Just as they closed their set, rain began to fall, but by then all but the greediest McCoury fans had had their fill. McCoury, for a period a Blue Grass Boy with Bill Monroe represents an important link to the beginnings of bluegrass, and has always stayed contemporary and forward looking at the same time. He may be the last of the high lonesome singers, and the very best in the genres history after Monroe himself. At age 77, Del can stand on the stage for 90 minutes giving full measure of his strong voice and sunny personality. Still can't be beat.
Ronnie McCoury
Rob McCoury
Jason Carter
Alan Bartram
Ronnie & Del McCoury
Rob & Ronnie McCoury
Del McCoury
The Del McCoury Band - High on the Mountain - Video
Sunday
Podunk Kids Academy
Under the enthusiastic leadership of Bill Thibodeau, Debbie Hall, and Sal Sauco, the Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance has rebuilt the Podunk Kids Academy into an enthusiastic group which worked hard and presented a good, varied program on Sunday morning.
The Claire Lynch Band
Claire Lynch's music is perfect for closing out a sunny Sunday at a bluegrass festival. Her pellucid singing voice can take her from Bill Monroe to contemporary jazz without stretching her range. Surrounding herself with experience and youth, Mark Schatz on bass provides change of pace as well as his always fine bass playing. Bryan McDowell never ceases to surprise with his versatility and strength on four instruments (at least) providing what's needed. The youngest member of the band, Jarrod Walker, brings strength on mandolin and guitar as well as increased discipline in this band. Claire's choice of material and delivery is always first rate. The only problem with this performance was that too few people stayed to see it, as they headed for home after a satisfying weekend, even considering the heat and humidity.
Claire Lynch
Mark Schatz
Bryan McDowell
Jarrod Walker
Mark Schatz & Claire Lynch
The Audience Was There....
...and Seeking Shade
Once again, the Podunk Bluegrass Festival presented a wonderfully well thought out event that offers a bluegrass music in themes and variations representing almost all corners of the music. Festival Executive Director Roger Moss with the enthusiastic hard work and thinking of his Board of Directors and numerous volunteers. Now, having re-established the festival in a desirable location with great sound and almost unlimited space, all they need is cooperative weather to bring it home. Next year.....