The Bluegrass Painter

Appalachian Festival and More

This past Saturday was a red letter day for me. Our band for the day,  Bloomington Hill, was privileged to be one of the mountain music groups playing at the Appalachian Festival on the campus of Frostburg State University.   It was a pleasure to have Randy Thomas, Eric and Wayne Weimer, Dave Funkhouser and Walter Dixon with me on stage

 This a well run event that showcases the mountain culture of western MD and surrounds. Thanks to Kara Rogers Thomas for inviting us and Greg Latta and the sound crew at the Sowers Stage for making it easy. We were flattered to be included with so many performers of significant stature. Saw Karen Artis, bassist and vocalist with the Allegheny Drifters. Also,  Pat Skipper on fiddle and Jim Rayner on mandolin, who perform as part of the Broken Glass and Rusty Hinges, were nice enough to sit through our set along with their wives.

Loretta Hummel, accompanied by Robert Broadwater and Bill Nelson, preceded us on stage and was kind enough to extend an invitation to an afternoon pickin' party at her home near Grantsville. I went and had a real good time although I had to leave just as things were getting going for another commitment.

I didn't get any photos, darn! But here are two watercolors that seem to capture the day.

Hope we get invited back to both of these events.

Red, White and Bluegrass Festival

A project that I had a lot of fun working on recently was artwork for the Red, White and Bluegrass Festival down in Morganton, North Carolina.  This popular festival takes place every year July 1 through July 4. If you live near or can arrange to be in the area, this is one to attend. It's real Americana, complete with fireworks. Check their website for details on scheduled performers. By the way, the model for the youthful fiddler is my grandson who is just getting started with the instrument. Maybe he'll be on that stage someday.

38th Annual Covered Bridge Festival

I'm looking forward to exhibiting at The 38th Annual Covered Bridge Festival in Washington County this coming weekend.  This will be the first time I've exhibited at this festival and it looks like it will be a good one.   The festival celebrates the love of covered bridges in Washington and Greene counties in Pennsylvania. 

The event takes place throughout both counties around a total of ten covered bridges.  I'll be located at Ebenezer Bridge in Mingo Creek County Park, about twelve miles east of Washington, PA.  Festivities around the bridges include arts and crafts vendors, food booths, activities, demonstrations and special exhibits. 

I've painted some new material for the event.  Shown here is "Right Turn". 

Click here for directions to Ebenezer Bridge.

Starting To Get That Itch...

I received an email today from the IBMA announcing some of the acts that will perform at this year's Fan Fest during the World of Bluegrass.  Queen Bee, Petunia and I are headed back to Nashville again this year for the annual event and we're mighty excited about it.  The announced list of performers includes Blue Highway, Dale Ann Bradley, Dailey & Vincent, Audie Blaylock and Redline, Grasstowne and many many more great performers.

This year, even more friends will be accompanying us.  The bluegrass fan base keeps growing and growing in our neck of the woods, as it seems to be everywhere. 

We Sure Do Meet the Nicest Folks!

Just got back from a very special event, Art In The Park, held in Deep Creek Lake State Park. We feel very fortunate to have so much of our business and personal lives linked to both the art and music communities. 

We ran into Judith Becker, watercolor artist superb from Alpine Lake, WV.  Judy always shares good information with us and helps to make our work easier and hopefully better. We also saw old friend Jack Rickman who has retired from public school administration and devoted much of his time to wood turning. Great Stuff!

And, what can you say bad about a good fiddle player?  Mike Furbee,a brand new acquaintance, wowed us with his touch on Whiskey Before Breakfast and some other Irish and Old Time tunes. He also was gracious enough to allow your old Bluegrass Painter to scratch on his lovely Breedlove mando. Mike hails from Morgantown WV and along with his friend, Maggie Fenton, was marketing a line of hand-made soaps called Smell Like A Monkey. That booth sure smelled good. Check them out on line. Cool fragrances like Hot Dang Orangutan, Filthy Monkey, Naked Ape, Gorilla Vanilla, Gorilla Vanilla with Oatmeal and Organ Grinder.  The folks that put on this show, Garrett County Arts Council and the Western Garrett County State Park Volunteers, are the best.  Thanks!  

Art In The Park and a Gospel Music Benefit

This is the weekend for the annual Art In The Park celebration at Deep Creek Lake State Park on the shores of Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland. I'm looking forward to taking part with an Appalachian Studio display.  The event takes place on Saturday from 10 until 5 and Sunday from 10 until 4.   If you are in the area, please stop by and see us.

The old Bluegrass Painter will be at the booth both Saturday and Sunday...and, next weekend is the gospel music benefit for reconstruction of the Mt. Beulah Methodist Church on Twin  Churches Road near Grantsville MD. Six local bluegrass and old country bands will entertain all day Saturday, July 19. Come and go as you please, lunch will be available. Funds raised will go for restoration of the historic chapel.

Robert Yonke Art at the Old Settler's Music Festival

The Old Settler's Music Festival kicks off tomorrow in Austin, Texas.  Our new friends FastFrame and Prickly Pear Galleries, based in Austin, will be selling my prints and cards in the arts and crafts area.  I'm told they will have other music related arts and crafts as well, so be sure to visit their booth if you're lucky enough to be attending this event. 

Photos from Seoul Bluegrass Festival

I can tell from my sitemeter that bluegrass music is alive and well all over the world...sometimes in places that you might not expect.  I stumbled upon these photos taken at the Seoul Bluegrass Festival  from William George's Blog and thought you might like to see them as well. 

The Real Deal

The Gardner Winter Music Festival is one of my favorite events of the year, and I'll do just about anything to get there...Saturday morning I left the house to drive down (about 60 minutes worth of driving) and slid through the first stop sign at the end of our block due to snow over ice with fog and freezing drizzle. I thought seriously about bagging this but considered what I would miss and kept on going. 

Lots of other folk did, too! And had a heckuva good time at the Middle School there in Morgantown.

Here are a few pictures of real down home pickers going at it in the school cafeteria. The neat thing about this gang is that its a mix of pros, old-timers, and fans doing bluegrass, old-time, gospel and country.

Gardner Winter Music Festival

Next weekend, the South Middle School in Morgantown, West Virginia will be taken over by bluegrass, old-time and country music pickers and singers. They will be grinnin' because its time for the 30th Gardner Winter Music Festival - a continuation of the original festival started by the late Worley Gardner and  wife Margaret. There will be jamming, socializing, workshops and stage performances showcasing Appalachian acoustic music. Admission on Friday is $3 and $5 on Saturday.

I make it a point to get to this every year. My good friend, Randy Thomas of Randy Thomas and Friends, gets a slot on the stage and graciously allows me to pick along. Hope to see you there. By the way, musicians are admitted free. Check the GWMF website for specifics on the program, on the workshops and for directions.