Bluegrass, blues, a little swing, beer and of course, the fruit of the agave, are just a few of the topics I’ll hit on this month. I might even mention my bass a couple of times. You’re right nothing new here. Ah, but it is my job to make it interesting, Let’s see if I’m up to the challenge
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I can’t believe that it is August. Summer is dang near over, days are already getting shorter and I have only played two gigs, if you can call them that. Both were very casual affairs with my rocket scientist jam group but fun nonetheless. Summer is supposed to be the busy season but it hasn’t been the case for me for a couple of years now. There was the week I spent in Grass Valley and I did get a bunch of playing in that week. Also, this year I got many more takers on my annual invite to stop by Vern’s and have me buy a beer for anyone who tells me they read my June column, even a few strangers stopped by this year. The second invite for tequila sipping at my campsite was also fairly popular with the tequila aficionados, all three of them.
I got my bass walking in that week taking my dirty blonde beauty in for a check up with the Bass Doctor in the Luthier’s pavilion. She got a clean bill of health, for the old lady she is.
As my sons say, that was all good, but still no real gigs.
For a time a few years back, I was fortunate enough most years to play at the GOF but it has been 2 years since my last opportunity to play there. It is coming up and I hope to get there for some jamming but I’m not much of a camper these days since I sold my motor home. So we’ll have to see.
One thing I have going though, is a gig at the International Jug Band festival in Sutter Creek on Saturday August 17. I’ll be playing with old friends (again you can take the old to mean the friends or the length of time we’ve been friends, both work).
The festival itself features music that is not what you would call Bill’s bluegrass but could kindly call it a second or third cousin (it’s a hillbilly thing.) It should be noted here that Bill (Brad) Keith and Richard Greene both played in Jim Kweskin’s Jug Band after leaving Bill’s Bluegrass Boys. I have heard Kweskin acknowledge that Bill trained them well for his band.
In Bill’s words though, our set at this festival “ain’t no part of nothin” … in regards to bluegrass what it does have is some good swinging acoustic music, a few blues tunes and some blues originals. I’m looking forward to it. Our set is at 6:00 (prime time for this festival). Hey, because it worked so well at FDF, I’m extending the offer again. Show up and say you heard about the festival from reading this column and I’ll buy you a beer (Lagunitas) and if you need more you can have a pull of tequila from my flask.
Our band, in a few different configurations has played this festival multiple times. This year we are playing as a Quintet. In the past we have had as many as eight players. The big band is the same one that played the GOF 3 or 4 times over the past few years.
Did I mention that the International Jug Band Festival is free? Nine bands beginning at 11:00 on Saturday August 17 in downtown Sutter Creek next to the Sutter Creek Inn on Main St. Our set is at 6:00.
Lagunitas is a co-sponsor for the festival and will have a number of their beers for sale on site and as for the tequila, you’ll need to find me and I’ll take care of you…if you are an aficionado.
Come early avoid the rush.
