Bluegrass, back to my roots...From my lens to yours.

Saturday evening, I had the privilege, once again, to attend the 13th Annual Bluegrass Festival in Jasper, Arkansas.  You couldn't ask for a more perfect setting along the banks of the Little Buffalo at Bradley Park.

People who have a passion for bluegrass come from near and far to listen to this music that originated in the Appalachian mountains. 

Mom, Kathy and I took our lawn chairs and joined the many others gathered to listen to the soulful music of bluegrass. There's nothing more soothing and relaxing than being kicked back, sitting in your lawn chair listening to the harmonious blend of voices. Dueling banjos, mandolins, fiddles, acoustic guitars, dobros, and bass fiddles are all part of this toe tapping, hand clapping, clogging kind of music. 


Bluegrass festivals are great family entertainment.  During a break in the entertainment, we listened to a group who pulled up their lawn chairs "jammin" and we were asked to join in the singing.  It is a great family atmosphere where you never meet a stranger.

 If you missed this year's festival, you can join in next year on Labor Day weekend.  The festival starts on Thursday night and goes through Saturday evening. 

Turkey Track is another great bluegrass festival that is coming up in Waldron.  I remember going to this festival with a friend from college 35 years ago.  I have never forgotten it.  This year, Turkey Track will host it's 37th  annual bluegrass festival October 8-11, 2014.  Kathy, mom and I may have to pack up our lawn chairs and go.


I like all types of music genres, but there will always be a special place in my heart for bluegrass, thanks to my daddy and his love of bluegrass. He grew up in a fiddle playing, guitar picking family.  One of his favorite singers was Bill Monroe, the father of Bluegrass.   Yes, this mountain girl likes the sound of mountain music.  I've said this before, you can take the girl out of the mountains but you can't take the mountains out of the girl.

Somewhere deep down inside this mountain girl is a desire to play the mandolin.  Who knows, maybe some day I will learn to play and will sit and join in a "jammin" session.  Maybe some day, I'll go back to my roots.

May the love of bluegrass be passed down for generations to come.

I hope you get a little glimpse of bluegrass and the camaraderie of folks, thru my lens.

Sherman Mtn. Boys

 

 

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