by Christine | Mar 11, 2014 | Welcome Column
Bluegrass festivals, especially mid-range and small ones, are facing twin challenges threatening their continued existence. Severe weather accompanied by apparently changing weather patterns and serious under-capitalization are making it difficult or impossible to...
by Christine | Dec 5, 2015 | Welcome Column
Good morning from Whiskey Creek, where we (Lynn, the dogs, the cat, the llamas and, of course moi,) are waiting impatiently for the HEAVY RAIN the weatherman promised us for the day. No sign of it yet. Although he’s not delivered on nearly as many...
by Christine | Feb 18, 2017 | Welcome Column
I went through a spot of time, as a youngster, where I would lie about everything. And worse, I was one of those children who felt confident in holding close to the lies I told, defying anyone to prove me wrong. I can’t even begin to tell you, the trouble...
by Christine | Jan 18, 2016 | Welcome Column
I just changed the strings on the very mandolin that you see here in my photo. What a difference that little change makes! Once the new strings tune in I get a beautiful rich sound from my treasured two point mandolin. This little axe is close to a hundred years old...
by Christine | Aug 2, 2014 | Welcome Column
This is a difficult article for me to write. Some of you might already know, but for those of you that don’t, I am flying to Massachusetts on August 19th to begin my first semester at Clark University. I have already picked my classes, and I am certain that I will...
by Christine | Jun 24, 2011 | Welcome Column
June is an intense month for a professional bluegrass musician. Many of us spend more days away from home than with loved ones this time of year and when we are home, we try to squeeze a week’s worth of chores, bill paying and family time into the space of just two or...
by Christine | Oct 11, 2019 | Welcome Column
It is Tuesday and I need a welcome column by Thursday morning. Even at this late to my deadline date I’m not sure what I am going to write about. This will be my 36th column and I have never missed a deadline although there are some months when I’ve done a better job...
by Christine | May 21, 2019 | Welcome Column
Here I go – retreating to my “Back in the day” description of how things were in the Thirties and Forties. Please bear with me.So how was it back in the olden days? I’ll compare a few things between ancient and now.NOW – TODAYI just gassed up at a station that always...
by Christine | Nov 12, 2008 | Welcome Column
Normally, I don?t advocate cheating, but it?s hard to play bluegrass guitar and next-to-impossible to play bluegrass banjo without a capo, also known as a ?cheater bar?. I first discovered capos when I saw Keith Richard using one with the Stones, so I bought one of...
by Christine | Nov 27, 2009 | Welcome Column
As we count our blessings this holiday season, near the top of the list for all of us should be the opening of the “new” Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse in downtown Berkeley. Have you had the chance to go yet? If you haven’t, you’re missing out on one of the biggest...
