Micah 6:8
Psalm 107:1-3
Yes, your life matters.
Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?
What a wonderful festival it was, and not simply because we finally got to go out with lots of people and enjoy music in a beautiful setting - the bands really were very good and our fellow audience members were as well. That's the Milan Bluegrass Festival by the way - here in Michigan, not in Italy, just to be clear.
We discovered some bands we didn't know and now like a lot. We got to hear some favourites from past festivals. We got to hear a band in person for the first time whom we were eagerly anticipating - and were not at all disappointed (and getting a shout-out from the stage is always fun, no?).
New discoveries?
The Tennessee Bluegrass Band. They don't have a CD out yet, but my goodness they were tight and polished and just plain good. I'll be stunned if they don't get a deal with a label right quick and hit the national stage running.
Fast Track. This is sort of a superstar band, mostly of guys who've played with the Parmleys / Bluegrass Cardinals, but with Duane Sparks (formerly of the Radio Ramblers!) on guitar and vocals, but not being featured enough. We had heard a couple songs from them, but didn't really realize who they all were.
Steve Thomas and the Time Machine. We had heard several of their songs on the radio, and they were a fun band to see live, especially as they navigated the (thankfully infrequent) sound system problems.
Old favourites?
Breaking Grass. Wow, the songwriting, the harmony singing, the instrumentals, and the fun they all had onstage together was just as great as the first time we saw them a couple years ago.
The Malpass Brothers. OK, we're still not clear on why they're at a Bluegrass festival with the electric guitar, pedal steel, and (small) drum set, but they really entertain, and nobody does Classic Country any better than these guys these days.
The Lonesome River Band. Sammy was the coolest guy on the stage all weekend, and had a wonderful time with a little tyke who's going to grow up to be a drummer or bass player if his sense of rhythm is any indication.
Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers. We feel like we've been their good friends for years, and hearing them is always a treat, even with lineup changes.
Anticipated band?
High Fidelity. Oh my goodness but they were fine. We've loved their sound as long as we've heard them on the radio, and they were at least as good in person. They're a five-member band who generally only has four members when they play out, and listening closely to how they covered missing parts was amazing. I'm pretty sure Jeremy was covering two vocal lines (jumping between them, not at the same time) in one of the gospel tunes they did so none of the important moving parts got missed. Very impressive musicianship.
Bands we missed?
Yes, there were some who weren't there this year whom we've seen there in years past:
IIId Tyme Out - a great band, and really fun people on and off stage.
Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver - the class of Bluegrass for a ton of years.
Becky Buller - great songwriting, singing, and playing - plus we hear Ned on the radio a lot!
Chasing Steel - a Michigan band we knew nothing about until they played and made us like them immediately.
Detour - another Michigan band who's been around off and on for a long time - another band with great songwriting, singing, and playing.
In spite of missing those few, it really was a great festival, and we hardly got any of the rain everyone's phones kept warning was about to start!
Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.
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