Post by jptheprofessor on Oct 16, 2007 18:42:24 GMT -5
(Pardon the delay; I know this happened 4 months ago, but better late than never!)
On June 22, the weekend after we gave away our Harley-Davidson motorcycle, Q94 took in some bluegrass fun and festivities, with a remote broadcast from the kickoff of the first annual Crow's Nest Bluegrass Festival at La Ferme Rouge near Prince Gallitzin State Park.
This was my first time checking out La Ferme Rouge; what a beautiful place! It provided a perfect picturesque rural setting to stage a bluegrass festival. Yours truly, Rich the Sales Guy and Calendar Girl Jess enjoyed the setting and the hospitality, as well as a friendly feline guest who showed up towards the end of our broadcast.
Q94 Calendar Girl Jess makes a new friend at La Ferme Rouge.
The music was constant the entire evening, as four different bluegrass groups – Nine Mile Run, Well Strung, Dysart Drive and South Wind – platooned on and off the stage in a successive rotation. The first group I was able to check out once my remote duties concluded was Slippery Rock-based bluegrassers Well Strung, who mixed traditional and non-traditional bluegrass sounds. Singer/guitarist/mandolin player Matt French, mandolin player/guitarist/singer Keith Ondriezek, upright bass player Jeff Scheller and banjo/harmonica player and singer Tom St. John played traditional bluegrass numbers such as Flatt & Scruggs' "Salty Dog Blues," their banjo and bass instrumental "Grandfather's Clock," and their grass adaptation of "Wagon Wheels." But they also grassed up renditions of John Denver's "Take Me Home Country Roads," Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Mr. Bojangles" and Eric Clapton's "Lay Down Sally."
From Slippery Rock, Well Strung.
Stepping up next was Dysart Drive, actually a duo featuring festival organizer Ron Schinkle on guitar, and young fiddling prodigy Lindsey Lefort from Philipsburg-Osceola High School. The pair did a variety of bluegrass, country and fiddle songs, including traditional numbers like "Ragtime Annie," "Devil's Dream" and "Westphalia Waltz;" Bill Monroe's "Road to Columbus," "Orange Blossom Special" and more. Ron constantly deferred attention to Lindsey's stellar fiddle playing, which brought increased cheers from the audience as their set progressed. An older gentleman named Roy was invited up to the stage to sing lead on the song "Red Wing."
Ron Schinkle and Lindsey Lefort of Dysart Drive.
Then from the Pittsburgh area, Nine Mile Run was next. Five members strong, this group offered a mixture of traditional and gospel bluegrass. Some of their song selections included traditional numbers such as "Feast Here Tonight" and "Take Your Shoes Off Moses," Flatt & Scruggs' "Get In Line Brother," Mac Martin & the Dixie Travelers' "Dark Starless Night," and their own spin on "Grandfather's Clock" (done earlier by Well Strung). This group, too, was skilled on their instruments and executed smoothly, plus generated good vocal harmonies as they went.
Nine Mile Run.
Following Nine Mile Run was South Wind. Not to be confused with another Pittsburgh-based folk duo of the same name, this South Wind also featured members from western Pennsylvania and the local area. Festival organizer Ron Schinkle played mandolin, while Jay Fleming played banjo, Laura Fleming played upright bass, and Sheryl Thomas sang and played guitar. This South Wind blended bluegrass, folk, early country and gospel sounds. Their interesting song selection included such numbers as Bob Dylan's "Nashville Skyline Rag," Bill Monroe's "On My Way Back to the Old Home," the instrumental "Amanda Lynn," the gospel number "A God Before Us Who Can Be Against Us," plus a Vince Gill number. The group also honored a few audience requests, doing grassed-up versions of "Ice Cream Man" and Skynyrd's "Free Bird." South Wind's presentation ranged from reverent to playful, and had the mood of friends getting together on the porch and having musical fun.
South Wind.
The rotation of bands continued with Well Strung returning to the stage. Again, this group did the unexpected in their bluegrass selection, performing bluegrass renditions of such songs as the Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil," Steve Miller Band's "Dance Dance Dance," John Prine's "Hobo Song," the traditional "Barefoot Nellie" and more. The group also introduced their own original song, "Can't Hear the Fish." Well Strung's playful vibe caught on with the audience, and the stage front lawn saw its first dance action of the night.
By this time, the nighttime mountain air was getting a bit chilly for my attire of a T-shirt and shorts, and I departed the festival. A number of folks, though, had brought warm clothing and camping gear, and were there for the duration to enjoy bluegrass music around the campfires long after the main stage entertainment wound down for the night. What I experienced of the inaugural Crow's Next Bluegrass Festival was a good time, and it was good to see this new event off to a good start.
On June 22, the weekend after we gave away our Harley-Davidson motorcycle, Q94 took in some bluegrass fun and festivities, with a remote broadcast from the kickoff of the first annual Crow's Nest Bluegrass Festival at La Ferme Rouge near Prince Gallitzin State Park.
This was my first time checking out La Ferme Rouge; what a beautiful place! It provided a perfect picturesque rural setting to stage a bluegrass festival. Yours truly, Rich the Sales Guy and Calendar Girl Jess enjoyed the setting and the hospitality, as well as a friendly feline guest who showed up towards the end of our broadcast.
Q94 Calendar Girl Jess makes a new friend at La Ferme Rouge.
The music was constant the entire evening, as four different bluegrass groups – Nine Mile Run, Well Strung, Dysart Drive and South Wind – platooned on and off the stage in a successive rotation. The first group I was able to check out once my remote duties concluded was Slippery Rock-based bluegrassers Well Strung, who mixed traditional and non-traditional bluegrass sounds. Singer/guitarist/mandolin player Matt French, mandolin player/guitarist/singer Keith Ondriezek, upright bass player Jeff Scheller and banjo/harmonica player and singer Tom St. John played traditional bluegrass numbers such as Flatt & Scruggs' "Salty Dog Blues," their banjo and bass instrumental "Grandfather's Clock," and their grass adaptation of "Wagon Wheels." But they also grassed up renditions of John Denver's "Take Me Home Country Roads," Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Mr. Bojangles" and Eric Clapton's "Lay Down Sally."
From Slippery Rock, Well Strung.
Stepping up next was Dysart Drive, actually a duo featuring festival organizer Ron Schinkle on guitar, and young fiddling prodigy Lindsey Lefort from Philipsburg-Osceola High School. The pair did a variety of bluegrass, country and fiddle songs, including traditional numbers like "Ragtime Annie," "Devil's Dream" and "Westphalia Waltz;" Bill Monroe's "Road to Columbus," "Orange Blossom Special" and more. Ron constantly deferred attention to Lindsey's stellar fiddle playing, which brought increased cheers from the audience as their set progressed. An older gentleman named Roy was invited up to the stage to sing lead on the song "Red Wing."
Ron Schinkle and Lindsey Lefort of Dysart Drive.
Then from the Pittsburgh area, Nine Mile Run was next. Five members strong, this group offered a mixture of traditional and gospel bluegrass. Some of their song selections included traditional numbers such as "Feast Here Tonight" and "Take Your Shoes Off Moses," Flatt & Scruggs' "Get In Line Brother," Mac Martin & the Dixie Travelers' "Dark Starless Night," and their own spin on "Grandfather's Clock" (done earlier by Well Strung). This group, too, was skilled on their instruments and executed smoothly, plus generated good vocal harmonies as they went.
Nine Mile Run.
Following Nine Mile Run was South Wind. Not to be confused with another Pittsburgh-based folk duo of the same name, this South Wind also featured members from western Pennsylvania and the local area. Festival organizer Ron Schinkle played mandolin, while Jay Fleming played banjo, Laura Fleming played upright bass, and Sheryl Thomas sang and played guitar. This South Wind blended bluegrass, folk, early country and gospel sounds. Their interesting song selection included such numbers as Bob Dylan's "Nashville Skyline Rag," Bill Monroe's "On My Way Back to the Old Home," the instrumental "Amanda Lynn," the gospel number "A God Before Us Who Can Be Against Us," plus a Vince Gill number. The group also honored a few audience requests, doing grassed-up versions of "Ice Cream Man" and Skynyrd's "Free Bird." South Wind's presentation ranged from reverent to playful, and had the mood of friends getting together on the porch and having musical fun.
South Wind.
The rotation of bands continued with Well Strung returning to the stage. Again, this group did the unexpected in their bluegrass selection, performing bluegrass renditions of such songs as the Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil," Steve Miller Band's "Dance Dance Dance," John Prine's "Hobo Song," the traditional "Barefoot Nellie" and more. The group also introduced their own original song, "Can't Hear the Fish." Well Strung's playful vibe caught on with the audience, and the stage front lawn saw its first dance action of the night.
By this time, the nighttime mountain air was getting a bit chilly for my attire of a T-shirt and shorts, and I departed the festival. A number of folks, though, had brought warm clothing and camping gear, and were there for the duration to enjoy bluegrass music around the campfires long after the main stage entertainment wound down for the night. What I experienced of the inaugural Crow's Next Bluegrass Festival was a good time, and it was good to see this new event off to a good start.