by Christine | Mar 29, 2017 | Welcome Column
(Throwback March – this is one of my favorite columns. Next week, we get back to brand new Welcome Messages)The change in the weather lately has me thinking about the Father’s Day Festival at Grass Valley! This is good time to point out that...
by Christine | Sep 12, 2019 | Welcome Column
(Editor’s Note: Reaching way back to 2010 for his one in deference to the scary night coming up. Marcos, long-retired from column duties now, was one of our best. RC)It’s one of those Saturday nights when I’m sitting before my computer thinking about a topic...
by Christine | Jun 26, 2020 | Welcome Column
As the days turn into weeks, and the weeks into months, there are times when finding things to be happy about is difficult. And face it, bluegrass isn’t known as the happiest genre on earth. If you feel like wallowing in a bit of self-pity, you can find plenty of sad,...
by Christine | Dec 12, 2013 | Welcome Column
Does anybody besides me think the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival has kind of jumped the shark? Looking at the festival web site I count 86 separate acts from October’s show. There are some names (well, quite a few actually) I don’t recognize, but I am pretty...
by Christine | Mar 13, 2020 | Welcome Column
I have a combination of traits that conspire to make me crazy:I hate being bored. I hate missing out on anything. I want to help. I like to be involved. I love playing music. I like playing different kinds of music.The result of this is, occasionally, my calendar...
by Christine | Nov 28, 2020 | Welcome Column
I’ve seen this phenomenon time and time again: You’re in a jam session, someone calls a song, and you know you’ve played some time in the distant past, then the circle begins to play it, and you remain puzzled – drawing a blank. But your hands – on your...
by Christine | Jan 25, 2019 | Welcome Column
It’s nearly Valentine’s Day, when thoughts turn to love and romance, chocolate and roses, and bluegrass? As beautiful as bluegrass is, it isn’t typically associated with romantic music. That said, I set out to put together a playlist of romantic bluegrass tunes for...
by Christine | Feb 22, 2017 | Welcome Column
Everyone has a secret guilty pleasure when it comes to art or music. Popular opinion may decree certain artists or artworks (including music) as “schlock”, and that will drive those who enjoy those things underground, somewhat. In some cases, art scorned as schlock by...
by Christine | Jan 23, 2018 | Welcome Column
Thanksgiving DulcimerWhy do you sigh on this day meant for singing,the time for a feast of the heart and the soul?Remember the songs we should all be a-humming,the songs for all Pilgrims, not weary, still bold?Why is your body so...
by Christine | Jan 16, 2020 | Welcome Column
During the busy run-up to Christmas I became aware that BBC television was putting out a total of eight one-hour programs culled and edited from the Ken Burns ‘County Music’ series, of which I guess you have seen the full version in the States. Saving the programs on...
