Grand Olympic Opry

Yeah, I’m watching the Olympics. I always watch the Olympics. You can kvetch all you like about the state of amateur athletics, with the doping and judging scandals, but it’s still gripping drama. It’s such a natural thing, to compete, and it’s just as natural to take...

Grand Olympic Opry

Yeah, I’m watching the Olympics. I always watch the Olympics. You can kvetch all you like about the state of amateur athletics, with the doping and judging scandals, but it’s still gripping drama. It’s such a natural thing, to compete, and it’s just as natural to take...

Grandfather’s Pocketwatch

One of the neat surprises that Bluegrass had for me was its embracing the song “Grandfather Clock”. I loved that song as a kid! The melody is simple but catchy, and the lyrics are perfect. Somehow that grandfather clock and its owner are cosmically linked. It weighed...

Grandpa and Johnny Cash

 “You have to be what you are. Whatever you are, you gotta be it.” –Johnny CashDo you ever have those moments, regardless the days, weeks, years, or even decades that something comes up from your past, and suddenly, you’ve gone full circle on a conversation or...

Grass Valley

I’m still basking in the afterglow of our week at Grass Valley. The laundry is finally done, that Grass Valley dirt is stubborn (especially on white socks), and my pant cuffs may never be the same. We arrived at Grass Valley on Monday. We no sooner got parked and...

Grass Valley – Reader’s Digest Version

Man, I came close to missing the Father’s Day Festival altogether. Commitments piled up – the gosh darn day job all week, two gigs on Saturday, and one on Sunday. Thinking feverishly, I spotted a window of opportunity and drove right through it. I left work a...

Grass Valley 09 – In the books, and in our hearts

Today’s column from Bruce Campbell Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Rick asked me to hold off on last Wednesday’s Welcome Column to present Monte’s Thanks to the Volunteers letter. He said, “Just hold whatever you wrote, and post it next Wednesday.” So, I’m looking over...

Grass Valley 2009

(Editor’s Note—Brooks’ column is running a little late; he’s already back from Louisiana and now off to the Pacific North West, all in the name of Fatherhood. Drive safe, pal.) Friends, this column will be a short one. I am flying out to Lafayette, Louisiana...

Grass Valley Bits and Pieces

It has been another week of “memory making” events. I got to see bluegrass groups that I’ve never seen before, made many new friends and reunited and spent time with old friends. My favorite artist this year was Dale Ann Bradley. She has a lovely voice, some beautiful...

Grass Valley Field Guide, Second Edition

Last year, I pointed out that the annual Father’s Day Festival was not just a great place for pickin’ and grinnin’. It’s also a great place to enjoy observing some of the unique fauna only found at Bluegrass Festivals. I presented a handy Field Guide to some of these...