Ladies and Gentlemen…….
Last weekend I attended the Madrid Bluegrass Festival, now in its 21st year. Come to think of it, I’ve been there for every one of them. I was a tenderfoot bluegrass radio host when festival founder Bud Rupert asked me to emcee his new bluegrass festival. Bud passed away in 2005, but his kids, grandkids, cousins, in-laws, and friends carry on in his place. Funny… it takes so many of them to fill his shoes!
Well, it was rainy for most of the weekend, but the music kept our spirits up. Nadine Nichols usually takes photos wherever she goes, but this year she handed her camera over to me. What a blast! It’s one of those fancy digital cameras with a zoom lens that’s about a foot long…. Here’s what I saw:
That’s Shelene Atkinson, one of my favorite people. She’s also a frequent co-host on String Fever. Now you can put a face with the name! Her husband Dick plays banjo in the band, and also built all their guitars. What a handy guy.
This is daughter Liza Atkinson. I remember when she was a kid – 20 years ago. Now she’s got her own family, and can she ever sing!
Earl Belile. A real special person. ‘Nuff said.
Merv Wilson, dobro. I only get to see Merv at the Madrid Festival, so it’s always a treat. I hope one of these days he’ll cross the St. Lawrence and play a String Fever show for us. He’s terrific!
Pat Ashley…. Is he really smiling?? What a joker! Funny guy, but I don’t think he realizes what a terrific singer he is. Another north country treasure.
Dave Nichols (of Custom Pearl Inlay) donated a guitar to raffle off. It brought in over $1000 to fund the next festival. Thanks David! This is the inlay artist and luthier who answers your instrument questions on String Fever. Learn more about David at www.custompearlinlay.com
David also taught a mandolin workshop on Saturday.
The Delaney Brothers from Cortland. They’ve been the host band here for as long as I’ve been the emcee. It’s always great to see them again!
Meet Dorothy Jane Siver (rhymes with 'diver'), a talented fiddler from Crown Point. Her debut album was JUST released!
Where would we be without our emergency medical volunteers? Nice wheels too!
Phil was our sound man. So patient, even when the power kept cutting off! Here he is, trying to figure out just what went wrong. Maybe it was all the rain?
My neighbors, the Dafoes, won FOUR 50/50 raffle prizes. Wow! They are SO lucky! They wore matching NCPR sweatshirts AND T-shirts this weekend.
That’s Brenda selling 50/50 raffle tickets…
Howard Bonner is my partner in crime for the weekend. He’s a bluegrass radio host on CFRC at Queens University in Kingston, ON. You’ve heard Howard on String Fever at fundraising time. He’s allowed to say stuff on the air that I’m NOT allowed to!
… and here are some MORE pix from the weekend…..
Terry McKendree donated this chainsaw sculpture for raffle...
Sponsors, vendors, and NCPR donated some GREAT prizes! That's me handing them out...
Dave Bevins has a cool blue dobro!
... and Bear Acker just got this new "compact' bass fiddle.
A Fishing Derby rounded out the weekend. It was FREE fishing weekend in New York State too!
It was a fun weekend, no matter how tired my feet were at the end of it! I hope to see YOU there next year! Email me if you’re interested in volunteering at Madrid Bluegrass 2012.
Oh, Barb, what a great report! Made me feel as if I’d been there…next year! And what about that Earl Belile? I swear he’s getting younger…