The Bluegrass Painter

Bluegrass and Icebergs

Imagine this. Sitting with Tim Stafford and Claire Lynch as they share their expertise as top shelf songwriters, listening to them illustrate their points with real harmony and watching a humpback whale roll his tail at the same time.

That's only one of many such moments that I had last week as a participant in the annual Cottage Music Alaskan Bluegrass Cruise. Now you've got to understand that I'm a reluctant cruiser at best...an avowed resistor.That is until the Queenbee and her friend Judy signed up for the "bluegrass"  cruise. I gave in along with Judy's Ed and had a great time.

I sure learned a few things from watching and talking with the members of Blue Highway, the Claire Lynch Band and the Infamous Stringdusters. I noted a lot of detail but that was packed in my luggage which hasn't arrived home yet. So I'll be adding to this as I get it. But anyhow here are a few of the photos that I took as source for what else but some more bluegrass paintings.

Boarding our plane to Vancouver where we will meet the Norwegian Sun and fellow bluegrassers.

Ed and Judy just chillin' out till the next concert. Did I forget to mention that Alaska is a REALLY COOL place...sorry 'bout that.

Happy Independence Day

On behalf of The Bluegrass Painter, I'd like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday, this Fourth of July!  Bob is spending the holiday cruising around Alaska with the Queen Bee and some other friends on Cottage Music's 2007 Alaska Bluegrass Cruise.  Be sure to tune in next week for his photos, paintings and comments from the trip! 

Petunia

More on the Floyd Country Store

Cybergrass has details on the recent changes made to the Floyd Country Store, some of which you can see in my  photos from our visit last week.

More Photos from the Floyd Country Store

Get me to Dunkeld

My family knows that I’m not much for long plane rides and my travel plans are usually arranged by the Queen Bee who takes me kicking and screaming off on some vacation.  I usually end up enjoying myself…take our trip to Ireland a couple of years ago.  That was a good one. 

Now you could get me to Dunkeld, Scotland.  Scott Crawford’s account of the folk session in the Taybank Hotel reminds me of my evenings in Garrett County at the Friday night Deer Park VFW jam session.  The format, the songs, the tradition, there are a lot of similarities.  I found a web site - www.thetaybank.com if you want to make the trip.