Musicians Against Childhood Cancer (The MACC) 2014 - Preview

Musicians Against Childhood Cancer, an annual bluegrass festival to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, celebrates its fifteenth season at Hoover-Y Park in Lochbourne, Ohio from July 16 - 19, 2014. Begun in 2000 after promoters Darrell and Phyllis Adkins lost their daughter Mandy to an incurable brain stem cancer. Since that first festival, The MACC has contributed over $750,000 to St. Jude. Bluegrass musicians eagerly flock to work for free at this annual festival of hope and celebration.

Mandy Adkins

The Lineup

The MACC always presents great bands in a wonderful setting. What distinguishes it from many other festivals is Darrell Adkins ability to call together many musicians who don't often play together, placing them on the stage together, and cutting them loose to create "Classic Performances." These classic performances, which now occur on every day of the festival are the sort of musical experience that lead fans and musicians to say, "You should have been at the MACC when x,y, and z played together!" Here's a listing of the performers with a few highlighted commets:

MACC Debuts
Daryle Singletary

Daryle Singletary has been mostly a country musician who is now touring in both conventional country and fully acoustic formats delivering his own brand of aggressively traditional country music. Opening the "Classic Performances on Thursday evening, his set should be a real treat.

Adkins & Loudermilk

Dave Adkins is familiar to bluegrass fans for his work with his own band, David Adkins & Republik Steel. Edgar Loudermilk spent the last seven years as bassist and harmony singer with Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out. Now they have joined together to form Adkins & Loudermilk, a driving bluegrass band representing their combined sensibilities. Welcome them to the MACC stage and see for youself on Friday. 

Dave Adkins

Edgar Loudermilk

Breaking Grass

We first saw this dynamic Mississippi-based bluegrass band at an after hours showcase at IBMA about three years ago. Since them we've enjoyed seeing them develop at Newell Lodge in Georgia. This debut performance at The MACC represents a breakout opportunity for a very good band that deserves to be much more widely heard. Singer/Songwriter Cody Farrar has surrounded himself with a group of very fine, mostly young pickers presenting covers of New Grass Revival classics, Darrel Scott, and Farrars own material - a very entertaining band.

Cody Farrar

Thursday

Rarely Herd - Jeff Weaver

It's sad to say this band is aptly named. It's a very good band!

Clay Hess 

Recognized as a hot young gun when he was quite young, Clay Hess's music continues to develop and mature. Irl Hees on bass has added further depth and experience. We last saw this band arrive tired at Gettysburg for a Sunday afternoon performance without a hint of giving anything less than a highly professional performance representing the best they had to give. Good Stuff.

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers
Mike Terry, Joe Mullins & Dwayne Sparks

Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out

Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out have not only survived a major lineup changed but thrived and grown with it. The addition of Keith McKinnon on banjo and Blake Johnson has bolstered the band instrumentally and vocally. Five time IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year, Russell Moore's fine tenor voice is undimmed, while the vocal harmonies surrounding him are strong. As ever, this is also one of the finest instrumental bands...ever.

Joe Mullins & Junior Sisk

Joe Mullins & Junior Sisk combine for a Hall of Fame Bluegrass as the first of the week's "Classic Performances." Two of the most recognized modern interpreters of traditional bluegrass music in the style of Flatt & Scruggs and the Stanley Brothers, these two fine performers present the music as it was originally heard and in new interpretations representing their own unique skills. They make traditional contemporary.

Darryle Singletary "Acoustic"
see above

Blue Highway
 Tim Stafford

One of bluegrass music longest lived and most recognized bands, Blue Highway still has its original lineup after twenty years of touring and recording. Their new CD The Game continues their high level of ensemble achievement.

 Wayne Taylor

Thursday

Adkins & Loudermilk
see above

Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice

Marty Raybon & Full Circle

The Gibson Brothers

The Gibson Brothers, 2012 and 2013 IBMA Entertainers of the Year, are having a great time making more friends and fans wherever they appear, and appearing in the highest profile music events around. They have just completed a new recording featuring interpretations of the brother duos from the Louvin Brothers to the Everly Brothers. Look for them to  perform selections from this new work as well as from the deep and increasingly varied, creative catalog of their own work.

Eric Gibson

Leigh Gibson

Larry Sparks & the Lonesome Travellers

Lonesome River Band

LRB (How many bands are known by their initials alone?) has been making great music for over thirty years. No reason to stop now.....

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

From Jimmy Martin & the Sunny Mountain Boys, to J.D. Crowe, to the Country Gentlemen to his own band Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Doyle Lawson has remained both an interpreter and an innovator. Through six decades he has shown the way.

James King "Three Chords and the Truth"

James King's latest CD Three Chords and the Truth was nominated for a Grammy award, providing recognition his fans have been giving him for years. In this "Classic Performance," King is joined on vocals by bluegrass legends Don Rigsby and Dudley Connell to interpret classic country songs in bluegrass versions in Hall of Fame Bluegrass.

Friday
Flatt Lonesome

Kenny & Amanda Smith

Lou Reid & Carolina
Christy Reid

Lou Reid

Josh Williams, Randy Kohrs, Aubrey Haynie & Michael Cleveland

Aubrey Haynie

A "Classic Performance" bringing together four fine musicians whose instrumental work is unparalleled. People often overlook Josh Williams fine singing because of his superb guitar playing. This should be an interesting and, perhaps, surprising grouping capable of enormous versatility as well as straight ahead bluegrass. 

Randy Kohrs


Larry Stephenson

The Grascals

The Grascals have become associated with their support for The MACC and for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, often going to Memphis withe the Adkins on their annual visit to deliver The MACC donation. Here a young cancer survivor sings the Jamie Johnson song We Are Strong accompanied by the Grascals vocal trio: Jamie Johnson, Terry Smith, and Terry Aldridge. Take a look at the audience reaction below:

Seldom Scene

Rambling Rooks

Three legendary bluegrass singers and award winners have re-combined after going their separate ways for two decades into the Rambling Rooks. Ronnie Bowman, Don Rigsby, and Kenny Smith have been offering up their own hits as well as standards from LRB when they were members. They will be joined by Justin Moses on banjo. They never fail to hit the stage with enrgy and commitment to deliver a pleasing performance.

Amanda Smith & Garnet Imes Bowman

Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out w/Centerville Alternative Strings
Russell Moore

The Centerville Alternative Strings have appeared with major bands at The MACC for the last two years. Composed of string students from the massive music program at Centerville (Ohio) school district under the direction of band-master and bluegrasser Doug Eyink, their performances are always polished, impressive, and moving. Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out should provide an ideal element for their combined performance.

The Centerville (Ohio) Alternative Strings

Saturday

A well designed bluegrass festival creates a momentum of its own, rising with increasing intensity to an intense climax on its final day. The MACC does this in spades. Saturday's performances will excite the most exacting traditional bluegrass fans as well as those seeking something different.

The MACC Childrens Band

The MACC Children's Band has, through the years, given a huge range of musicians both a start and a place to demonstrate their growing skill and sophistication. Many former Children's Band members have entered the ranks of professional musicians or attend(ed) college programs in traditional music. It's lots of fun for the kids as well as a respite for their parents during part of the day. For further information or to enroll, call Jackie Barnett at 304-991-0509.

 The Children's Band

The Price Sisters - Leanna & Lauren
Now at Davis & Elkins College


Breaking Grass
see above

Feller & Hill

Tom Feller and Chris Hill have wide and deep experience in bluegrass. Tom is related to the Holt family of Boys from Indiana fame, and Chris played with them, too. They made their performing debut as a duo at The MACC two years ago and their band debuted at The MACC last year. Since then they have toured widely, sharpening their music and delivery. Expect good things from this band. Furthermore, they run sound for The MACC, delivering some of the best sound you'll hear anywhere.

Don Rigsby & Midnight Call

Lost & Found - Alan Mills

Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time

Larry Cordle is a great singer/songwriter in both country music and bluegrass. His story songs are virtual novels in three verses and a chorus. Murder on Music City Row is anthemic in its powerful resistance to change and praise of excellence. It was an award winner and hit in both country and bluegrass music.

Bradley Walker & Friends

IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year in 2007, Bradley's rich baritone voice and deep knowledge of both classic country and bluegrass guarantee a first rate set of music. His band will consist of: Aubrey Haynie on fiddle, Clay Hess on guitar, David Babb on bass, Brent Burke on Dobro, Don Rigsby on mandolin and vocals, and Jody King on banjo. 

MACC Opry "Classic Country"

Carl Jackson

A few years ago, Darrell Adkins put storied singer/songwriters Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, and Jerry Salley together on the stage to sing their songs together. This performance has grown and developed into the MACC Opry, one of the most looked forward to sets at The MACC. It has also grown into a band called New Monday which performs every Monday evening at the World Famous Station Inn in Nashville, where, with the addition of luminous singer Val Storey and a movable feast of top Nashville side musicians they sing and play classic country. Carl tells me that the band at MACC will be pretty much the one that plays at the Station Inn with a few necessary substitutions and, of course, drawing on the resources of the great musicians available at The MACC. 

Jerry Salley

Val Storey

J.D. Crowe & Josh Williams

J.D. Crowe's retirement from active touring has allowed him to pick and choose his spots and to arrive at events where he performs both rested and filled with energy. His touch on the banjo still contains magic. Josh Williams has been named IBMA Guitar Player of the Year three times, but his marvelous voice is often overlooker because of his guitar wizardry, strongly influenced by Tony Rice. Look for this "Classic Performance," which will also include Doug Jernigan and Aubrey Haynie to include lots of material from the the The Bluegrass Album Band, which did much to re-energize bluegrass in the 1980's by taking it back to its roots.

Josh Williams

The SteelDrivers

The SteelDrivers are one of the great closing acts in bluegrass. The band that brought the blues back to bluegrass, they come out at night with their most entertaining and affecting music. The band is both musically exciting and terrific entertainment. They're the kind of band that can keep an audience until the very end on a Saturday night.

Tami Rogers

So that's a taste of what's coming up in July at The MACC. In addition, you can expect a festival infused with the spirit of giving and the celebration of life. Now lets take a look at the details of attending.

The Details

Tickets: 

2014 Ticket Prices at the Gate, beginning July 9:

*4 Day Tickets $110.00​

*Daily Ticket - $40.00 or *Combination of 2 or 3 day - $40.00 per day

Children 11-15 years old 1/2 price

Children 10 and under are free with a parent

The ticket gate will be open from 8am to 11pm daily

No Refund on Tickets

Purchase Advance Tickets before July 9, 2014 for a price of:

*4 Day Adult Tickets $100.00  *4 Day Children's Tickets $50.00

You can order tickets online here. The MACC also accepts most credit cards. Call or write:

Charge by phone (740) 548-4199

Email: macc@musiciansagainstchildhoodcancer.com

Musicians Against Childhood Cancer

1434 S. 3 B's and K Rd.

Galena, OH 43021

Raffle Guitar by Todd Sams

Replica of the Clarence White 1935 D28

Each year for the past several years, Todd Sams has built one of these great replica's of the famed Clarence White guitar used by Tony Rice. The guitar will be raffled off on Saturday night. Tickets cost $10.00 a piece and can be ordered on line on the ticket page.

Camping: The MACC is held on the large, shady campus of the Hoover-Y Park in Lockbourne, Ohio, just south of the city of Columbus. A limited number of electric sites have been provided, which are usually reserved ahead of time. There is almost unlimited rough camping available in a delightful variety of settings, many tree shaded. The festival provides frequent tranport from your site to the main stage area. Here's a map of the park:

You can find a larger version here. Primitive sites and sites with 20 Amp service cost $5.00 per night. 30 Amp sites are $25.00 per night. For further information look here.

Hotels: A number of options for hotel accommodations can be found within 2 1/2 miles of Hoover-Y Park at the Alum Creek Drive exit of I-270. Here's the contact information for these preferred hotels:

Quality Inn

4850 Frusta Dr

Obetz and Columbus

614-497-9600

Baymont Inn and Suites

2323 Port Rd

Columbus, Oh 43217

614-491-4400

Comfort Inn

4870 Old Rathmell Ct

Obetz, Oh 43701

614-492-9000

For other choice, check here.

Directions: Input your location in the o and then click to create personalized directions for getting to Hoover-Y Park for The MACC

Musicians Against Childhood Cancer grew out of loss and grief, but has developed into a celebration best expressed in the titles of the two recordings that have come out of live performances at the festival. The festival is always A Celebration of Life which continually makes the statement that Life Goes On. Come out and become a part of this great celebration. If you can't be there and wish to make a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital you can send donations to:

Musicians Against Childhood Cancer

1434 S. 3B's & K Rd.

Galena, OH 43021

Or donate online here.

Promoter Darrell Adkins

The Fixer: The Notorious Life of a Front-Page Bail Bondsman by Ira Judelson with Daniel Paisner

The Fixer: The Notorious Life of a Front-Page Bail Bondsman by Ira Judelson with Daniel Paisner (Touchstone, June 2014, 273 pages, $26.00/$11.89) is an (almost) tell-all book which tells the story of a street-smart middle class hustler who, after years of drifting, falls into the opportunity of a lifetime when he discovers, at age 30, that the largest bail bondsman in the New York metropolitan area is his uncle who is willing to back him as he learns the ropes in the bail bond business. Bail bondsmen occupy a unique position in the criminal justice system, as they are the people who provide the money that insures the court appearance of people accused of crimes within the criminal justice system. Because of their importance in this process, they appear to be nearly untouchable by the hosts of people who rely on their efforts to get them out of jail while they await trial. Thus, Judelson has numerous stories to tell about the famous, the notorious, the guilty, and the innocent. He carefully names names in those cases that have become part of the public record and (wisely) protects the identities of those who might have the will and ability to hurt him should he bandy their names about. Judelson emerges as a smart, careful, shrewd judge of character who can juggle the conflicting demands of an often misunderstood and potentially dangerous profession with the multiple demands of suburban family life in contemporary America. All this makes Ira Jedelson an interesting character and The Fixer a good read. In the end, however, the nagging question of his reliability as a narrator remains.

I'm not usually a great fan of autobiographical collaborations, however, in The Fixer co-writer Daniel Paisner keeps the book pointed in the right direction, turning this ghost written project into a masterpiece of the genre. He captures Judelson's voice and maintains it throughout the text, making the language street-sounding enough to seem authentic while maintaining focus, drive, and interest in this narrative – no mean feat considering that Judelson describes himself as ADHD in the beginning of the book, an academic and professional mediocrity without any real thought of obtaining steady, gainful employment until Uncle Phil falls in his lap, he sees the possibilities for both gain and excitement, and embarks on a career leading to plenty of adrenaline and more money than he ever imagined. He moves from being a pretty small-time hustler to serving as the go-to person for getting people out of jail in the convoluted world of New York's business, celebrity, and criminal communities. The stories of people arrested and in need of immediate bail is inter-related with Judelson's home-life, where he sees himself as a devoted father and husband who must hustle every moment to keep bread on the table. This conflict, so familiar to career oriented people, dominates the book and keeps it interesting. The other element keeping the reader driving forward through this breezy narrative is the high level of interest in the stories Judelson tells and the potential for danger always hanging in the background. The famous names always popping up also work to keep the people who read The Post, The Daily News, and People Magazine interested and involved.

Ira Judelson

Along the way, Judelson does a useful and interesting description of the nature of the bail-bond business, its risks and rewards, as well as some very good advice for innocent people arrested and finding themselves in need of bail by providing some very good advice about what to say, who to call, and how to avoid making situations worse. He also admits, nearly glories in, his addiction to seeking press for his clients and himself, to being a celebrity bail bondsman. While doing this, he emerges as a stalwart advocate for the rights of the accused to receive bail until they have been convicted in order to give them and their families a chance at keeping their lives together while the wheels of justice grind slowly forward. He also seeks to portray himself as a dedicated husband and family man who wants nothing more than to provide for his family. While resolving this conflict is never easy, in Judelson's case it appears to have been seriously considered as the basis of a syndicated television show. All this raises the question of whether the book serves more to allow Judelson to tell an interesting story or to promote his upcoming television show, of which he and his wife Blake will serve as executive producers.

Co-Author Daniel Paisner

Co-author Daniel Paisner is one of the busiest collaborators in publishing. He's written over fifty books, on topics ranging from business and sports, to politics and popular culture, including eleven New York Times best-sellers. The term “ghost-writer” is often applied in a pejorative fashion, but this book displays huge skill in capturing the putative author, Ira Judelson's voice and personality in a consistent way throughout the book. I've never before read a book that led me to want to read others by the collaborator to examine and study his writing skill.

The Fixer: The Notorious Life of a Front Page Bail Bondsman by Ira Judelson with Daniel Paisner (Touchstone, June 2014, 273 pages, $26.00/$11.89) presents the life and adventures of a new character on the horizon of true crime stories – the suburban bail bondsman always acting on the edges of the mob, drug dealers, and miscreant celebrities in important effort to assure they remain free until they are either convicted or acquitted. Often such proceedings take years to resolve, and (sadly) are much more available to those with sufficient funds to make paying for a bond feasible. The poor often are forced to accept a plea to get out of jail. The Fixer is light reading concerned largely with celebrities. It's a very good summer read. The Fixer was provided to me as an electronic galley by the publisher through Edelweiss. I read it on my Kindle.

At the Point of a Cutlass by Gregory N. Flemming - Book Review

At the Point of a Cutlass by Gregory N. Flemming (ForeEdge (the University Press of New England), 2014, 256 pages, $26.90/$14.99) tells the story of Phillip Ashton, a cod fisherman from Marblehead, Massachusetts, who, in 1722 was captured by the pirate Edward Low, a man more vicious and arguably more successful than the better known Edward Teach, famed as Blackbeard. Attacked and captured from his fishing schooner off the coast of Nova Scotia, the nineteen year old Ashton, was subjected to incredible verbal and physical abuse by the captain and crew of Low's ship in order to force him to sign the ship's articles and thus declare himself a criminal along with them. By refusing to sign the articles, he preserved his innocence against charges of piracy, should he ever once again gain his freedom. This harrowing tale of the ending stages of the so-called Golden Age of Piracy uses Ashton's tribulations and eventual triumph as an organizing focus for an important element in the transition of New England from a Puritan colony to the birthplace of the American Revolution in a time of turmoil, violence, and changing values.

The story of Philip Ashton, by itself is pretty slim stuff for a book about piracy or an important moment in American history. Combined, however, with the contexts of a region and world changing from one dominated by religious squabbling into the more recognizable mercantile/political world of the American Revolution illuminates the changes through the experience of one man. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was just over a century removed from the small band of Pilgrims seeking to establish a Puritan theocracy on the unprepossessing shores of rocky New England. Towns along the coast like Marblehead were a source of intrepid fisherman combing the Grand Banks for the rich food source of cod, a fish in those days much larger than anything we would imagine today. Fishermen, manning small boats far out at sea fished, caught, salted, and packed barrels of cod for export to England and the Caribbean. Meanwhile, a large, colorful, and vicious group of anti-social (perhaps psychopathic) ships' captains ruled the waters with violence exceeding even the unpleasant norm of the sea world. They ransacked, captured, sank, and destroyed literally thousands of Spanish ships transporting wealth home, English merchants plying the triangle trade from New England to the Carribbean, to Great Britain, and colonial loggers working the forests of what is now Central and South America for the rich lode of logwood, a source of a rare red dye. These pirates, with a penchant for violence reminiscent of today's most vicious gangs, ruled by using senseless violence, destroying everything they could not carry off. Eventually, Ashton escaped Low's small maritime empire onto a small island off the coast of Honduras.

Ashton's sojourn on Roatan, an island now noted as a site for SCUBA diving expeditions, where he was able to disappear into the underbrush while on a search for fresh water without any tools or clothing other than what was on his back held out little promise. He lived in almost total isolation for seven months, surviving on native fruits, until a mysterious Scotsman visited for a couple of days, left him a knife and a few utensils before leaving on his canoe-like vessel, never to return. Most of Ashton's time was spent securing food for himself, sitting on a small cay just off the shore where he ceaselessly scoured the ocean for the site of a vessel to rescue him, and hiding from pirates. Eventually rescuers appear and after more months of recovery and seeking good ways to return, he makes his way back to Marblehead, where his return is seen as a nearly miraculous resurrection. On his return to Marblehead, Ashton meets the local pastor, John Barnard, a former student of Cotton Mather in Boston, who helps him tell his story as an example of God's grace to the faithful, a narrative which largely repudiates Mather's gospel of punishment and damnation for those who fall into an unspeakable life. This change in Christian emphasis represents a move in the the region toward greater openness to human experience. This context of religious, social, and mercantile change is the real and important element this useful book makes clear and loud. Author Flemming succeeds in planting the seeds of later change by emphasizing the lineage of President Millard Fillmore, whose great grandfather served for a time on a pirate ship, the work of James Franklin (Ben's brother) in Boston, and the changing role in the Protestant ministry in New England. The book sometimes becomes necessarily repetitive, as it recounts the depredations of the pirates, with near catalogs of ships captured, alliances made and broken, and the senseless violence of the pirates themselves.

Greg Flemming

Gregory N. Flemming spent more than three years researching At the Point of a Cutlass, which tells for the first time the complete story of Marblehead fisherman Philip Ashton and the horrific pirates who captured him. Greg is a former journalist with a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A New England native, he is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire. He lives with his family in New England. This is his first book.

At the Point of a Cutlass by Gregory N. Flemming (ForeEdge (the Univeristy Press of New England), 2014, 256 pages, $26.90/$14.99) illuminates an important point in the American story when an age of barbarism is coming to a close as the Age of Enlightenment develops. With England's growing sea power, the decline of Spain, and the emergence of social and politcal awareness in the American colonies, a new age of discovery, knowledge, and freedom is about to emerge. While sometimes seeming a bit repetitive, as if to draw out Philip Ashton's unique story (unique enough the capture the eye of Robinson Crusoe creator Daniel Defoe for a later book) provides a useful and sometimes riveting focus. This book will provide plenty of intellectual food for those fascinated with piracy and intrigued by this important transitional moment. I read the book as an electronic galley provided by Edelweiss on my Kindle.

Tug Hill Bluegrass Festival - June 12 - 14 in Lowville, NY: Preview

The Tug Hill Plateau lies just west of the Adirondack Park, separated by the Black River. This beautiful region is renowned for the impressive depths of its winter snow, which has turned it into a popular destination for snow mobilers in the winter. The Tug Valley Bluegrass Festival has been held in Lowville for eight years, and will boast a solid lineup of national and regional bands for this year's event. We will drive over from the eastern Adirondacks for Friday to see our friends Darin & Brooke Aldridge, but this surely looks like a good way to celebrate Father's Day weekend.  Host band, The Atkinson Family, is quite familiar to us, as we've seen them in various New York and New England events. I'm certain they'll show you a good time. 

The Lineup

The Grascals (Th)

Award winning and highly entertaining, the Grascals are sure to light up Thursday evening at Tug Hill. Be sure to catch their show and the excitement they bring with them. The addition of Adam Haynes to this already fine band has brightened up the left side of the stage.

Darin & Brooke Aldridge (Fri)

Darin & Brooke Aldridge originated as a largely gospel band in North Carolina, and have broadened their repertoire, extending their musical range. Adding Becky Buller to the band has brought a whirlwind of creative energy, lifting them still further. Brooke Aldridge has one of the finest voices in bluegrass music, while Darin's mandolin and guitar work is much in demand.

Becky Buller

Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers (Fri)

Joe Mullins (shown here with Mike Kelly and Dwayne Sparks) is an experienced radio broadcaster whose station in Dayton, Ohio has featured bluegrass and country music for two generations. A member of the original Longview, he is well-recognized as a master of Scruggs style banjo. They were named IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year in 2012.

Audie Blaylock & Redline (Fri)

Audie Blaylock & Redline are noted for their high energy, hard core bluegrass strongly influenced by Jimmy Martin, with whom Audie did a significant stint. No one works harder than Blaylock, who can be counted on for a first rate performance. Patrick McAvinue on fiddle has been a significant part of this band for seven years. 

Mike Compton (Fri & Sat)

Mike Compton is renowned as one of the foremost practitioners and teachers of Monroe Style mandolin in the world. A look at his schedule indicates his value to continuing Bill Monroe's legacy. He will present solo performances on Friday and Saturday and conduct a workshop on Saturday. If you're a mandolin player, don't miss the opportunity to learn from a master teacher and performer.

The Crowe Brothers (Sat)

Featuring their unique sounding mountain style bluegrass, The Crowe Brothers have emerged from North Carolina's Maggie Valley, becoming an entertaining national band. Steve Sutton on banjo is a standout.

Jeanette & Johnny Williams (Sat)
Jeanette Williams

Johnny & Jeanette Williams are seasoned entertainers. Coming from southwestern Virginia, they sing and play with a distinctive style. Jeanette has one of the finest singing voices around, while Johnny's rhythm guitar is much sought after. He's also well known as a record producer. They're musically high quality and personally delightful.

Johnny Williams

Bob Amos & Catamount Crossing (Sat)

Bob Amos, formerly lead singer with Front Range in the nineties and early 21st century, is back on the national stage. Last year's new CD is excellent, and he will be campaigning in support of his new CD, released last week, mostly in New England and New York. I expect this band to have a wider audience soon.

The Atkinson Family (All Three Days)

Host band The Atkinson Family will be present on the stage and around the grounds all weekend. Make sure to say hello to them and thank them for this high level event in northern New York.

Other bands include Lake Effect Bluegrass, Lost Time, Ethan Bates, and The Lindsey Family.

The Details

Festival tickets cost $65 per person with free rough camping. For further ticketing information, look here. The grounds open for camping at 9:00 A.M. on Thursday morning. See the camping policy here. 

How to Get to Tug Hill

click on the o in the map and place your location

We're looking forward to driving over to Tug Hill to visit it for the first time. The location is convenient to much of central and western New York as well as the Adirondack region. Hope to see you there.

Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival 2014 - June 26 - 29: Preview

The Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival in Tunbridge, VT has become one of the jewels among bluegrass festivals held in New England, if not the entire country. We have watched for the past decade as the Sawyer Family have carefully nurtured and built it from a small festival held in a town park into a major event filling the Tunbridge World's Fair Grounds with wonderful music, campers galore, hot and slow picking, and every other nicety you'd want to include in a comprehensive bluegrass festival.  Running from June 26 through the 29th, the fun actually starts on Tuesday when the gates open at noon. On Wednesday evening festivities begin with an always tasty covered dish supper and then a country music dance and show featuring the Clem Hawkins Memorial Band, composed of Jenny Brook favorite BearTracks augmented by Eric Gibson on the electric guitar. The music begins on Thursday at 10:00 A.M. and continues until Sunday afternoon.

The Lineup

The Gibson Brothers

IBMA Entertainers of the Year in 2012 and 2013, the Gibson Brothers have appeared at every edition of the Jenny Brook Festival. They will be here this year for two days, Friday and Saturday. The band, once known as a regional favorite has become one of the most important national bluegrass bands, best known for their performances of their own excellent songs and as a brother duo. Expect lots of material from the soon to be released new album of their interpretations of bluegrass and precursor brother duos. As headliners for the entire festival, these performances are not to be missed.

Travelin' McCourys

The Travelin' McCourys are the members of the Del McCoury band without Del, whose performing schedule has become increasingly restricted. In recent years, the McCourys have expanded their musical interests and their reach into performances with non-bluegrass groups like the electric gospel group The Lee Boys and famed jazz band The Preservation Hall Dixieland Band. Ron McCoury has been named IBMA Mandolin Player of the year eight times, while Jason Carter is four time Fiddle Player of the Year. You never know where fiddle great Jason Carter might show up. Individually and as a band, the McCourys may be one of the most recognized and award winning bluegrass bands of all time. Jeff Autry will be playing guitar for the Travelin' McCourys at Jenny Brook. Their appearance represents a great opportunity to see one of the all-time great bluegrass groups.

Lonesome River Band

The Lonesome River Band has been notable in bluegrass for over thirty years, yet it's as fresh as this morning. Sammy Shelor, winner of the $50,000 Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Bluegrass & Banjo, remains the heart of this acclaimed band, playing LRB's great work from the eighties and nineties along with adding newer works, especially material composed by singer/songwriter/guitarist Brandon Rickman. The Lonesome River Band will close Thursday night with a bang.

The Boxcars

Ten time IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year Adam Steffey leads The Boxcars, who have been named instrumental group of the year three times. The band is one of the musically finest groups around. We saw The Boxcars last week at Strawberry Park, where they performed one of the most relaxed and entertaining sets I've every seen them present. Almost immediately after this show, founding member John Bowman announced he would be leaving the band to devote full time to his preaching and musical ministry. It will be interesting to see how the Boxcars solve this problem, which could turn into an opportunity.

Audie Blaylock & Redline

Audie Blaylock has been a favorite at Jenny Brook for several years with his hard driving, traditional bluegrass and the massive talent of fiddler Patrick McAvinue. Audie has had a couple of personnel changes since last year, which make this year's performance very interesting, as he seeks to keep offering the high quality he has shown in recent years. Audie's career spans time spent with Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys to the Michael Cleveland era. Now, fronting his own band, he continue to chart his own way with distinction.

James King Band

James King's latest CD Three Chords and the Truth was nominated for a Grammy Award this year. Known everywhere as The Bluegrass Storyteller, his "sad and pitiful" songs are heart wrenching to both his audience and, frequently, himself as he sings them. James has recently been facing some serious health issues, but he's been released from the hospital and has every intention of appearing at Jenny Brook on Thursday.

Nothin' Fancy

Nothin' Fancy will close the show on Sunday again this year as well as perform early on Saturday afternoon. The band is alway entertaining for both its music and its hijinks. Mike Andes song writing (both serious and novelty) and Chris Sexton's fiddle are only part of the action. The addition of very young and very good Jesse Smathers on guitar and vocals has improved the overall band significantly. With Nothin' Fancy you always know you can appreciate, enjoy, and get a few food laughs. That's really quite an achievment.

The Chapmans

The Chapmans, four brothers and their dad, come from the show-me state of Missouri. And they've shown lots of people with their combination of traditional material and cutting edge interpretations. We haven't seen them in several years and very much look forward to re-acquainting with them and their music.

Feller & Hill & the Bluegrass Buckaroos

Tom Feller and Chris Hill bring many years of experience as both performers and high quality sound men to the bluegrass stage with their new band Feller & Hill and the Bluegrass Buccaneers. Their background clearly carries a mid-western influence, as Tom is related to the Holt family of Boys from Indiana fame and Chris played with the band. Their appearance on the bluegrass horizon was not impulsive as they carefully planned their debut performances and CD. They are touring widely now, bringing their deep love of bluegrass music to festivals across the country.

Spinney Brothers

The Spinney Brothers, Rick and Alan, have gone from being visitors from Nova Scotia to a popular regional band, to becoming a serious International band touring throughout the U.S. They stand today as strong candidates for being named IBMA Emerging Band of the Year in 2014. If they were to win, they'd be the first international band to win an award. Their polished performances and combination of traditional bluegrass and classic country have won fans everywhere.

Zink & Company

Corey Zink and his re-constituted band have become regional favorites throughout New England. His strong baritone voice resonates across any bluegrass field.

Michelle Canning & Rough Edge

Michelle Canning is a graduate of the Jenny Brook Kids Academy and the founder of the Grass Seeds showcase stage here. She's currently a student in the traditional music program at Morehead State University in Kentucky. I'm eager to see and hear what two years away at college have done to her music. Her band provides her with strong support, and they've recently added Shaun Batho on guitar.

Bob Amos & Catamount Crossing

Last year at Pemi Valley Bob Amos approached me and gave me a copy of his new CD. On the way home we listened to it out of politeness the first time and then again, because we enjoyed it so much. I'm looking forward to hearing Amos, his daughter, and the band live at Jenny Brook this year. Formerly lead singer for national touring band Front Range in the 1990's and early 2000's, Amos has returned with vengeance.

The Seth Sawyer Band

Host band, The Seth Sawyer Band will  open the festival on Thursday morning and play appear once again on Friday.  Seth's strong singing and wonderful song writing are a feature of this locally popular band.

Promoter - Candi Sawyer

Cedar Ridge

Cedar Ridge comes from around Saratoga, NY and has been around since 1990. They play at festivals and other events in the region. Cedar Ridge won its way into Jenny Brook when it one the fans choice at a Jenny Brook fund raiser last winter.

Gospel Sing & Jam with Mike and Mary Robinson

Jenny Brook Kids Academy - Aaron Foster, familiar to all Jenny Brook regulars as a kid who grew up learning to pick at Jenny Brook and as a graduate of the Kids Academy is a kid no longer. Now a rising senior at East Tennessee State University majoring in Business Administration, he is also a part of the bluegrass program, where all accounts say he's doing extremely well. At Jenny Brook, as Director of the Kids Academy, Aaron has resurrected a program that nearly died. You can pre-register and get more information here.

Aaron Foster

The Bluegrass University - Tony Watt has been building The Bluegrass University for the past couple of years. I've watched it mature and become more organized as it has developed. Lessons and classes will be offered for all levels of instrumental. Instructors in the University are some of New England's best musicians and teachers. Prices are reasonable, and times are convenient for people who want to learn and attend theshows. Sign up now or attend the free preview on Friday afternoon at the Gazebo Stage.

Tony Watt Teaching Guitar Class

The Grass Seeds Gazebo Stage -  Michelle Canning hosts the Grass Seeds Stage as a place for bands and individuals to showcase and for a band competition, the winner of which will perform on Sunday on the Main Stage. A good opportunity for local bands and those who want to be bands to try out their stuff in public. Michelle's band Michelle Canning and Cutting Edge is also in the festival lineup.

The Jenny Brook Theater returns again this year, as do last season's very popular children's activities, held near the rear of the site.

Accommodations -Jenny Brook offers several alternatives for people who don't own their own camping equipment or rigs. Rental trailers are available through Mekkleson RV in Montpelier, VT delivered to a site for the festival at a cost of $735 for any available size. Both the Comfort Inn and the Super 8 in White River Junction, VT offer a special Jenny Brook rate. Contact them directly. Of course, camping is, for many people, the preferred way to attend a bluegrass festival. The Fairgrounds sets the prices for electric (20 amps) hookups and water. The price of $25/night is a pass-through. People arriving early enough to select their sites have a choice of waterfront (along the river) or various other prime sites for jamming and camping. Jamming continues 24/7 at Jenny Brook. There is no quiet camping area provided. Study the Jenny Brook Web Site carefully for complete information and pricing.

Tickets: The early bird ticket prices are over now. You can get further information about ticketing here or order tickets on line by clicking the picture on the Jenny Brook home page.

How to Get to Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival

Place your address in the o and

Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival is a full service event with something for just about everyone. Once again, Candi Sawyer has assembled a top-notch lineup of local, regional, and national bands. There are plenty of activities for everyone. Come to every show, jam 'til your fingers fall off, get some lessons, attend a workshop, or jam with a national band at the sugar shack. Its all there. Hope to see you there.