Bluegrass to the Rescue!

by | Jul 25, 2011 | Welcome Column

I’m sure many of you know by now of the fire that devastated the home of three San Francisco musicians. The two-unit building in the Lower Haight neighborhood was the home of Pam Brandon, Tom Drohan, and Gayle Schmitt. Pam Brandon aka Belle Monroe is a longtime CBA...

Bluegrass Women and Their Surprises

by | Jul 7, 2013 | Welcome Column

It’s 9:30 A.M., and my windows are still open with a gentle breeze lightly lifting the sheers. This is a welcome relief to the Valley heat that has left the mind feverish and the body languid. I didn’t think it would ever cool down at all (a mere 96 degrees today) and...

Bluegrass, An Admiring Mantis, and Lots of Dough

by | Jul 21, 2018 | Welcome Column

The last time I attended Strawberry Music Festival, the only things I recall are running around the meadow naked, and being covered in face paint. Now, admittedly those of you who know me might wonder if this was a recent event, but no, I was a little dude at the...

Bluegrass, Banjos and Barbecue

by | Nov 8, 2007 | Welcome Column

We’ve had a few posts lately about Rosine, KY. It brought back memories of a visit my wife Barbara and I made there shortly after Bill Monroe’s death. I poked around in the archives and found this story I had written for the August, 1998, Breakdown. The headline was:...

Bluegrass, Lasers, and Flashing Shoelaces

by | Aug 17, 2019 | Welcome Column

One thing you can count on with bluegrass musicians is they have a guaranteed and bonafide calico quilt of a musical pedigree. It seems like the more talented the player, the more diverse their roots. At any given bluegrass festival, usually if you stay up late...