Twofold Awesomeness
The awesomeness of this weekend is twofold:
1. I found out on Friday morning that I am the new administrative assistant for the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association). I start June 4 officially, but probably May 29.
2. Merlefest. Guess who showed up to jam with everyone under the sun...John Paul freaking Jones! Of the concerts I saw, he played with Uncle Earl, Donna the Buffalo, and the Duhks (whose new fill in singer is great). Sam Bush is my new hero, I'd pretty much show up to watch him recite the phone book (as long as he had his mando with him). He played "Whole Lotta Love" which was pretty much the peak of the festival for me, following "White Bird." Seriously, sign me up for the Sam Bush fan club, he rocks. The Duhks also did credit to "Whole Lotta Love," while having JPJ out on stage playing mando with them. Mom still inexplicibly loves Donna the Buffalo. I like them too, but they are very very jammy, and Mom usually hates that. I also got to see Earl Scruggs, (and got an autographed poster, to be hung up in my new apartment next to my autographed Ralph Stanley poster.) The new (to me) group I liked the best was the Carolina Chocolate Drops. They are great performers. I got to see 4 members of the Newgrass Revival onstage, which was pretty cool as well (Sam Bush, John Cowan, Pat Flynn, Bela Fleck). I saw Allison Krauss, Tony Rice, Doc Watson, Dirk Powell, Martha Scanlon, Crooked Still (they rocked too), Jim Lauderdale, Steep Canyon Rangers, Infamous Stringdusters, Jerry Douglas, Cherryholmes, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Elvis Costello...uhm, and probably some others.
It was tons of fun.
Earl Scruggs and Doc Watson
John Paul Jones with Uncle Earl
Sam Bush
Elvis Costello
1. I found out on Friday morning that I am the new administrative assistant for the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association). I start June 4 officially, but probably May 29.
2. Merlefest. Guess who showed up to jam with everyone under the sun...John Paul freaking Jones! Of the concerts I saw, he played with Uncle Earl, Donna the Buffalo, and the Duhks (whose new fill in singer is great). Sam Bush is my new hero, I'd pretty much show up to watch him recite the phone book (as long as he had his mando with him). He played "Whole Lotta Love" which was pretty much the peak of the festival for me, following "White Bird." Seriously, sign me up for the Sam Bush fan club, he rocks. The Duhks also did credit to "Whole Lotta Love," while having JPJ out on stage playing mando with them. Mom still inexplicibly loves Donna the Buffalo. I like them too, but they are very very jammy, and Mom usually hates that. I also got to see Earl Scruggs, (and got an autographed poster, to be hung up in my new apartment next to my autographed Ralph Stanley poster.) The new (to me) group I liked the best was the Carolina Chocolate Drops. They are great performers. I got to see 4 members of the Newgrass Revival onstage, which was pretty cool as well (Sam Bush, John Cowan, Pat Flynn, Bela Fleck). I saw Allison Krauss, Tony Rice, Doc Watson, Dirk Powell, Martha Scanlon, Crooked Still (they rocked too), Jim Lauderdale, Steep Canyon Rangers, Infamous Stringdusters, Jerry Douglas, Cherryholmes, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Elvis Costello...uhm, and probably some others.
It was tons of fun.
Earl Scruggs and Doc Watson
John Paul Jones with Uncle Earl
Sam Bush
Elvis Costello