What Do the Animals Hear?

Last month at the campout in Turlock, we brought along our young cat Vern, who was suffering from what turned out to be an incurable illness. That illness claimed his life last Monday, but we’ll always have fond memories and photos of Vern enjoying a bluegrass jam...

What Do You Keep in Your Instrument Case?

Back in the 1980s there was a running joke in the magazine of the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association (MBOTMA). Musicians would be asked “What do you keep in your instrument case, as well as your instrument?” I may be an unduly suspicious...

What Do You Know about California Bluegrass?

There I was, sitting in one of the Nashville Mellow Mushroom pizzerias after spending 3 days totally geeking out on everything Dobro.  Yep, for the dobro heads reading this I am reporting as a student from the aftermath of that annual apocalyptic event called...

What Does Family Friendly Mean? – Essay

Some people give Milton Harkey and Doyle Lawson credit for creating the “family friendly” bluegrass festival out of the chaos of festivals in the 1970’s. As nearly as I can tell, the first recognizable multi-day bluegrass festival held in Fincastle, VA over...

What have they done to the Old Home Place….

(Editors Note: Dave’s Welcome from back in 2017.  RC)Deadlines are tough when you are the road. I thought this five week month was going to be a piece of cake for putting together my Welcome column but here I am on Labor Day working on a deadline. I have...