Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival - Sept. 19 - 21 - Preview

Promoters Joe and Mitzi Soward will celebrate the twentieth anniversary of their Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival this year, running from September 19 - 21 at 525 E. Dumplin Valley Road in Kodak, TN. Convenient to fans from nearly everywhere east of the Mississippi River, this festival draws loyal fans and newcomers from Florida to New England, the Outer Banks to Michigan. Held at their home, which is a year-round campground and popular regional meeting and event center, the festival features some of the brightest lights in bluegrass music as well as introducing fans to rising bands they may never have heard before. Over the years, the festival and its hosts have become one of our favorites. 

Joe & Mitzi Soward

Dumplin Valley is a fan friendly event, from its Pot-Luck supper and home grown show on Wednesday evening to its close on Saturday night. The campground is large and offers a variety of accomodations, there's lots of jamming at all levels, plenty of under control socializing, good food vendors, and nearby attractions of the Smoky Mountain National Park and the entertainments of the Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg tourist region. If you love bluegrass music and haven't been to this festival, this is the year!

The Lineup

Thursday

Salt & Light

Salt & Light: The Moore Family Band is an emerging family band coming out of Graham, NC. They're a melodious, high intensity group that will entertain with a strong dose of gospel music as well as some interesting takes on traditional bluegrass. As a six member band, they have provided themselves with plenty of ways to divide the honors and keep the attention of their audience.

Salt & Light - Medley

Jerry Butler Band

We've known and liked Jerry Butler since the days when he was lead singer with Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road. He's equally comfortable with bluegrass and country music, playing both at his long-time gig at Dolly Parton's Dollywood, where he's a featured act at several venues around the campus. His flexible voice and friendly demeanor make him an "in demand" performer.

Jerry Butler - Mama Tried

Po' Ramblin Boys

The Po' Mountain Boys are a neo-traditional bluegrass group, mostly from East Tennessee, whose music owes a great deal to the Ralph & Carter Stanley tradition and sound, without ever becoming slaves to it. They include a good dose of their own music as well as other traditional renditions. They are one of the too few such bands which bring enough energy, respect, and individuality to traditional sounds that they stand out as contemporary representatives of the best that too many modern bands styling themselves as traditional seem to lack.

Po' Ramblin Boys - I'd Like to Be a Train

Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier

Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier is a fixture at Dumplin' Valley. Jimbo, one of the founding members of Pine Mountain Railroad, popular from its inception in 1998 for about a decade, Jimbo lives in the vast tourist destination comprised of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg just South of Dumplin' Valley. His band is filled with members of that pool of musical talent which originated or was drawn drawn to the region. Since this band doesn't tour, it's always a pleasure to see them and get to visit.

Appalachian Road Show

While I haven't seen Appalachian Road Show yet, I understand their show to be not only a musical extravaganza, but a guided tour through the development of bluegrass music out of the old time mountain traditions of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Founded by Darrell Webb and former Mountain Heart founders Barry Abernathy and Jim vanCleve, this group, which also includes Todd Phillips on bass and Zeb Snyder on guitar has emerged quickly and should last. You can count on having a lively good time combing great music with humor and maybe some education, too. (Ninety Minute Closing Show)

Appalachian Road Show - Dance, Dance, Dance

Friday

The Alex Leach Band

Photo: Bluegrass Today

While only thirty years of age, Alex Leach has been a recognizable name since there was only one number in his age. As he's matured, so has his music, bringing to his once single-minded devotion to the Stanley Brothers, increasing nuance and awareness of how even tradtion grows and changes. Once better known as a DJ, he's emerged as a recognizable voice and bluegrass personality.

Alex Leach - Mountain Heartache

The Crowe Brothers

Josh and Wayne Crowe, the Crowe Brothers, have kept close to their Maggie Valley, NC roots. Maggie Valley, once a secluded, rural village in western North Carolina's Haywood County, near the popular tourist town of Asheville. Maggie Valley has become an expensive getaway to the Smoky Mountains, while retaining its rural country aura. Their music is both rough and sophisticated, as they sing songs about old country values and living in an RV. It's always a pleasure to see and hear this band. 

The Crowe Brothers - Livin' in My Mobile Home

U.S. Navy Band Country Current

Founded in 1973 by Bill Emerson, recently named to the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, Country Current brings to audiences its program of traditional bluegrass, more contemporary songs written within the band, along with patriotic military bearing and service hymns. While primarily a part of the recruiting efforts of the Navy and tasked with appearing at official events in Washington and around the world, the band is entertaining and inspiring. While very much in demand, they can be booked by schools, communities, and bluegrass festivals at no cost to the sponsoring event. 

Country Current - The Bluenose

The Malpass Brothers

The Malpass Brothers, Christopher and Taylor, come from around Greenville, NC, in the eastern part of the Piedmont where the land is flat, rich farmland and drive-through country for many headed to the beaches of the Outer Banks. It's also rich in country and bluegrass history. The brothers grew up immersed in classic country music, perfecting their impersonations of artists who were well-known before they were born. They attracted the attention of Merle Haggard, with whom they traveled, opening his shows, for several years. Their music and their engaging, humorous act has found an audience at bluegrass festivals where traditional music is valued and encouraged. 

The Malpass Brothers - I Just Don't Like Lovin' You Any More

Rhonda Vincent & the Rage

Nominated again for the IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year, which she has already won eight times, Rhonda Vincent is a fixture at Dumplin' Valley, always welcome for her highly professional and versatile band, fine singing, and seemingly tireless willingness to stay at the Rhonda Vincent Boutique until the last fan is greeted, the last CD is signed, and the end of the line has been satisfied. She is both admired and loved by her huge fan base. Fiddler Hunter Berry has been rightly nominated this year for IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year. 

Rhonda Vincent & the Rage - Momma Tried

Saturday

Penny Creek

Penny Creek developed its chops as a bar band in Melbourne, FL and began appearing at local and regional festivals several years ago. As it has become increasingly popular, it has also changed its personnel and become increasingly good, while expanding its reach. Look for a very solid bluegrass band offering a good variety of material. We always enjoy seeing and hearing this band.

Penny Creek - A Poet with Wings

Deeper Shade of Blue

Deeper Shade of Blue was one of the first bluegrass bands we saw when we began coming to North Carolina about twenty years ago. Over the years, the band has maintained a remarkably stable membership, allowing it to mature and develop from good to excellent. In recent years, despite all having jobs at home, the band has travelled more widely, spreading its very good traditional sounds. They always deliver!

Deeper Shade of Blue - Making Plans

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

Michael Cleveland has become the most awarded and recognized fiddle player of his era. Named IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year eleven times in this century, his hard driving traditional fiddle playing takes on the colors of the many of bluegrass music's great fiddlers while sounding like his inimitable self at all times. While the focus is often on Michael's fiddle play, Singer/Guitarist Josh Richards and Mandolin ace Nathan Livers add vocal and instrumental strength.  

Michale Cleveland & Flamekeeper - Jerusalem Ridge

Darin & Brooke Aldridge 

Nominated for a third consecutive IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Brooke Aldridge's clear warm country voice and powerful emotive delivery cannot be surpassed by any contemporary singer. Less noted, but equally important to this band, is veteran performer, at just forty years of age, of Darin Aldridge. His fine instrumental work on both guitar and mandolin and harmony singing is under-estimated, as he sublimates his own virtuosity to the excellence of the band and to supporting his wife. Other members of the band include, Carley Arrowood on fiddle and Matt Menafee on banjo or Dobro, combine to make this band one of the most versatile and subtle bands in the business. Billy Gee, on bass, brings his solid beat along with bass vocals to fill the gospel songs this band loves to sing. 

Darin & Brooke Aldridge - Someday Soon

Lonesome River Band

Since its founding thirthy-seven years ago, the Lonesome River Band has stood out among bluegrass bands for its musicality, blending bluegrass with the influences of rock sensibility and country connections. Since 1990, Sammy Shelor has been first their banjo player and, since 1995 sharing leadership with Ronnie Bowman before taking over in 2000. His outstanding musical imagination led to his being awarded the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass Music in 2011 as well as being named IBMA Banjo Player of the Year five times over three decades, a remarkable display of longevity and leadership. LRB has often been the closing band on Saturday night for this fine festival. 

Lonesome River Band - Wreck of My Heart

Spotify Playlist of Bands at Dumplin Valley 

The Details:

Tickets:

For Further Information you can contact the festival by writing: 525 East Dummplin Valley Rd., Kodak, TN 37764, Phone at: 865.397.7942 or 865.740.1889. or email: dumplingrass@comsst.net. You can also make reservations for camping accomodations. Sometimes there are late cancellations so a few sites with hookups may become available, although these are usually reserved far in advance. 

A number of motels are conveniently located near Exit 207 of I-40, about three miles from Dumplin Valley, for those who are not campers. This year, we were able to find a convenient Airbnb, which like VRBO are becoming increasingly available in the area. 

Wednesday Night at Dumplin Valley

Vendors

Vendors offering food ranging from snacks and sweets to full dinner plates are available conveniently located behnd the covered stage area located in the former milking parlor. Instrument and gear vendors, some of whom provide quick instrument repair, are usually available, too. 

How to Get to Dumplin Valley

input your address in the O space & click

Happy Joe Soward at the End

of a 

Great Weekend Festival!

Palatka Bluegrass Festival - February 14 - 16 - Rodeheaver Boy's Ranch - Preview

The fifteenth annual Palatka Bluegrass Festival will be held at the Rodeheaver Boy's Ranch from February 14 - 16, 2019 featuring one of the strongest traditional bluegrass lineups you'll find anywhere. Multiple IBMA Entertainers of the Year and Members of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame will be performing over the three days packed with music and fun. Below, I've provided the details you need to know to enjoy the music and have a great time. The gates open on the Sunday before the festival begins on Thursday. Come early to jam, enjoy your friends, and get to know this history and nature-rich area along Florida's St. John's River. Promoter Norman Adams has provided the music, Rodeheaver Boy's Ranch the campground and facilities. All that's needed now is for you to purchase your tickets, come, and enjoy yourself while supporting a worthy cause.

Homer Rodeheaver

Homer Rodeheaver (1880 - 1955) was famed as an evangelist, band director, publisher, and composer of gospel songs. Along the way, he accumulated enough money to enable himself to purchase a large tract of land near Palatka Florida, establishing what later became the Rodeheaver Boy's Ranch, a home for abused and abandoned boys. The Palatka Bluegrass Festival is held on the ranch grounds to benefit its ongoing program. Boys at the ranch live in small residential facilities with house parents while attending the local public school and developing a work ethic through their chores on the ranch. While you're at the ranch, take the opportunity to chat with a couple of the boys and walk around the facility. Their's a new, and impressive, Ranch Museum, which details Rodeheaver's life and the ranch history. You'll want to visit it anyway, because the guitar raffle is held there.

The Lineup:

Thursday

The Crowe Brothers

The Crowe Brothers, coming from Maggie Valley, deep in the Smoky Mountains, where they developed their own style of rough edged traditional bluegrass, much influenced by Raymond Fairchild. Watch for brother Wayne's use of a small drum head under his strings, adding a new dimension to the music. 

Living in My Mobile Home

Donna Ulisse & the Poor Mountain Boys

Donna Ulisse's re-emergence about a decade ago, from a lengthy tour in the back rooms of tune-smithing is a success story of determination and hard work that should be constantly celebrated in bluegrass music. Her mellow singing voice combines with her fine song writing to produce a country tinged music right for the times. One of the sunniest personalities in the genre.....

It Could Have Been the Mandolin

The Gibson Brothers

The Gibson Brothers, always popular at the many Norman Anderson festivals where they play, bring their unique humor and North Country vision to the bluegrass stage. Incidentally, "North Country" refers to that vast rural area north of Albany, New York, including the Adirondack Mountains and the rugged northern area north of the mountains stretching toward to North Pole. 

They Called It Music

Larry Stephenson Band

Larry Stephenson, born in Virginia and a member of the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame and the recipient of numerous SPGMA awards through the years, his fine tenor voice is one of the clearest and most well-recognized on the contemporary scene. Look for two new members in the band this year as the great Kenny Ingraham has retired and Matt Wright moved on. 

Sweet Little Darlin' Don't You Cry

Dailey & Vincent (90 Minute Set)

Dailey & Vincent are a headline attraction at bluegrass festivals and other events. Their well-choreographed show with large production values, particularly within the festival format, are fast-paced, filled with variety, and always emphasizing patriotism and religious faith. This format strikes a strong chord with the traditional bluegrass audience making up the core of the crowd and Palatka, other Norman Adams festivals, and around much of the country. Their musicians are always first rate and their show keeps moving. 

Noah Found Grace

Friday

Summer Brooke & Mountain Faith

A couple of years ago, Irene and I visited the McMahan's Tire Shop featured in the song below. It's real and they work hard, long, often dirty days on the shop floor and in the store. And they almost won America's Got Talent a couple of years ago, gaining wonderful coverage for bluegrass music while sharpening and broadening their music. Since that time, they have continued to grow while always proclaiming the faith that's in their name. Enjoy this band!

The Tire Shop

Dry Branch Fire Squad

Dry Branch Fire Squad is well-known for its almost old-time renditions of traditional bluegrass music, while Ron Thomason adds a unique voice and much-enjoyed sharp social commentary along with down-to-earth observations of the world around us. Together, the package works, providing a show that's approaching its fiftieth year on the road. They will also perform on Saturday. 

Fifty Miles of Elbow Room

Doyle Lawson

Doyle Lawson has been a major figure, first as an able side man and then as  not only the leader of his own band, but a trend setter for bluegrass music for over fifty-three years. First with Jimmy Martin, and later with J.D. Crowe & the New South and the Country Gentlemen, he influenced and was influenced by each. His own first band emerged in 1979, rapidly morphing into Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. Over the years, so many great bluegrass musicians have worked in his band before going on to establish themselves in other settings that his mentorship has become known as the Doyle Lawson School of Bluegrass. Despite fairly constant change, Lawson has always demanded the highest in performing quality, and delivered it. 

Drivin' It Home

Penny Creek Band

Penny Creek has appeared several times at Palatka over the last couple of years. The band, based in Melbourne, FL features good singing, strong song writing, particularly by Chris Pagonini on guitar, and a well-paced, lively program. Always a good choice....

Catfish John

The Del McCoury Band (90 Minute Set)

Jason Carter & Rob McCoury

It's rare that two of bluegrass music's seminal pioneers and long-running headliners appear on the same day at any festival. With the Del McCoury Band closing Friday with a single ninety minute, set, Norman Adams has achieved an almost overwhelming day. Adding Dry Branch Fire Squad on the same bill delivers nearly a century and a half of great music. McCoury has recorded so many great hits that a highlight of his show consists of satisfying audience requests, a show in its own right. Every member of the McCoury band has been named Instrumental Player of the Year by IBMA during his career...and no-one sings like Del!

The Streets of Baltimore

Saturday

Dry Branch Fire Squad

Dry Branch Fire Squad returns for a second day of its own unique combination of music and humor. 

The Moron Brothers

The Moron Brothers, Lardo and, come from Kentucky where they polished their stories and songs into musical and narrative gems that tickle the imagination while both treasuring and gently satirizing rural American life. You'll enjoy them either for the first time or as repeat customers. Don't miss.....

Burglar Man

The Little Roy & Lizzie Show

Several years ago, I wrote this about Little Roy Lewis in my No Depression column, "His act recalls the baggy pants clowns and comedians of vaudeville, which had, by the mid-'50s, been completely lost to urban and suburban areas, but continued to exist at bluegrass festivals because Little Roy Lewis made gospel music attractive and entertaining on multiple levels. In the end, Little Roy remains a cultural icon, reminding us of where our music came from culturally and musically." Meanwhile, Little Roy's musical partner, Lizzy Long, continues to grow in stature and quality. Simply put, while the Lewis Family already has its own place in the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, Roy Lewis has represented a quality and character who deserves to be remembered as a central part of our heritage. At age seventy-five or so, I've searched hard for his birth date, Little Roy continues to make his own unique contribution. 

In Glory Land

The Inspirations

Each year at Palatka one fine Southern Gospel quatet performs. The Inspirations, founded in 1964, come from Bryson City, NC. During the 1970's the group was named the Favorite Gospel Group six times, but during the current decade the have been recognized as a leading traditional group, as other musical influences have dominated Gospel music. Over the years the group has had many members, but they have always maintained their quality. 

Wben I Wake Up

The Malpass Brothers

The Malpass Brothers beeb change of pace flavor of classic country to bluegrass festivals around the country. Blending fine voices, interesting, accurate, and evocative interpretations of country fans many bluegrass fans grew up listening to. Probably, many people who have been attracted to bluegrass when they began to feel that country music was leaving them and becoming something else. The brothers, Christopher and Taylor bring humor and fun to the stage with them, and always leave their audiences asking for more. 

Hello Walls

Rhonda Vincent & the Rage

Rhonda Vincent is one of the most popular performers at Palatka, as well as the many other festivals where she performs as one of the most loved and hardest working of all bluegrass acts. Rhonda's band includes some of the best individual musicians in bluegrass whose work together always performs like a well-oiled machine brought together to provide top-notch entertainment. 

All American Bluegrass Girl

Wernick Style Jam Camp Conducted by Gilbert Nelson

Gilbert Nelson has been conducted his Wernick sanctioned jam classes at Palatka for several years with increasing numbers of participants. If you've always wanted to jam or wished to jam better, Gilbert can help you learn the skills necessary or help you improve while having fun during the classes and developing in you the confidence to join jams. 

The Palatka Bluegrass Festival has a satisfying, often exciting program for traditional bluegrass fans in a traditional setting. While you enjoy the music, you can also jam with your friends, eat at the Ranch concession stand or from some of the food carts, and shop for a variety of merchandise. 

The Details:

Tickets may be ordered online (scroll down to Palatka (February) Festival to select ticket type and order) or by calling (706) 864-7203. Prices for Adams Festivals are:

Tickets Prices

Reserved seats can be selected by consulting the map here. 

Camping: The Rodeheaver Boys Ranch provides a campground with over 500 water/electric sites. For further information and to reserve a site call (386) 328-1281. The Ranch provides a convenient shuttle service for campers, as well as a large coral for golf carts and other conveyances near the music shed. Proceeds from the campground provide the Ranch with its major income from operating the bluegrass festival.

Other Accommodations: A list of Palatka area accommodations is provided here on the the Adams Festivals web site. We had booked what appeared to be a very comfortable AirBnB in the area, but it was cancelled by the owner. While such rentals continue to increase in the entire state of Florida, we cannot, at this time, recommend any place in the Palatka area, although careful research at AirBnB and VRBO might prove useful for people contemplating slightly longer stays.

The Performance Shed

Rules: The Palatka Bluegrass Festival, run by Rodeheaver Boys Ranch, a residential school with a strong religious orientation has a few rules, mostly to increase the pleasure for attendees and maintain the appropriate atmosphere for the venue. They're simple and easy to follow:

No Video or Audio Recording is Allowed.

No Alcoholic Beverages, Smoking, or Pets in the Concert Area.

Bring Your Own Lawn Chairs

No Highback (32 inches) or Rockers of any type.

It's also considerate for your neighbors to refrain from talking or singing along during the music. 

How to Get to Rodeheaver Boys Ranch:

On the map below, input your location in the space marked by a O and then click. A Google map will open with your route to the Palatka Bluegrass Festival on it. 

Your Hosts: Norman & Judy Adams