WMBMA FallFest

Sept. 21, 2008
It was a fine day for a music festival yesterday. As a matter of fact it was down right hot! Max and I were joined by Steve Albert and Johnny (Sky) King performing for Fallfest 2008, sponsored by The West Michigan Bluegrass Music Association in Lowell, MI. As we approached the Kent County Fair Grounds from the south we crossed the Grand River, and it was seriously over its banks and even over part of a road that would normally be the entrance to the grounds. The festival was high and dry though and the weather was fantastic, hardly a cloud in the sky, and nary a puddle in the stage area.

Of course there was lots of bluegrass music. We were especially blown away by a trio of 13 year olds called Cats And The Fiddler. (www.catsandthefiddler.com) These kids are scary good. Check them out if you have the opportunity. We did 2 shows one at 2:15 in the afternoon and the last show of the night starting around 9:15. The day was pretty hot by the time we started the afternoon set, but every once in a while a cool breeze would blow in to cool us off. We enjoyed performing but the waiting in between is no fun. It might have been nice to step out of the stage area to jam a bit, but we also wanted to stay at the CD table to talk to the fans that happened by. The audience that stayed for the late show was kind enough to ask for an encore after our 10 song set. Always a plus for us. There will be some pictures up at the WMBMA web site.

The WMBMA FallFest is a well-run festival. We appreciated the snacks, sandwiches and beverages, especially lots of ice-cold water, that were provided for the bands in the warm-up shed. (otherwise known at the goat barn, but, hey, it’s at the county fair grounds) We’d like to suggest the addition of some local seasonal fruits and vegetables to the food table for the vegetarians among us.

Next Friday, Sept. 26, we’ll be playing at the smoke free Bear Lake Tavern in North Muskegon. Click on the “SCHEDULE” button above for the details. We recommend reservations. It’s sure to be a fun night.

Saturday, Sept. 27, we play a private party for one of Max’s cousins. And Sunday we leave for Nashville and the International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass convention and business conference, certainly one of the coolest events of the year.

August 30, 2008

We slept in this morning not getting to Big Top until about 11. Bill Staines was doing a workshop at that time. I got to do I Don’t Remember A Waltz during that workshop and tell Bill that it is the continuation of his song Roseville Fair. Bill said I had written a great song. He said the chorus was so good that after it was done you wanted to hear the song again. Yeah I was groovin’. Then Michael Smith did his workshop and he was so intense about songwriting. He talked for a solid 2 hours and I wasn’t bored. Toward the end of his presentation he mentioned the songs he had heard during Bill’s workshop and said the only line that stuck with him was, I Don’t Remember A Waltz! Wow, now that was the supreme compliment.
When all the workshopping was over Max and I got out the instruments and traded songs with a couple of the other songwriters who didn’t win. My favorite was Erin. She is an instructor at Michigan Tech and lives in Calumet.
Gotta go! Today’s trip on the Badger was perfect, sunny and unqueazy. I can’t wait to get home.
Ruth

August 29, 2008

What a beautiful morning! On the way into Washburn yesterday we noticed a sign that said “Bloomquist Gallery”. We went to see who this Bloomquist was since we had some time this morning. The house was right on the bay. We honked and out came this tall, slim, grey haired (with streaks of blond) guy. We introduced ourselves and told him why we were there. It turns out that Dave Bloomquist is a painter of outdoor scenes, rather nice pictures. He is also a boogie woogie piano player who worked for Disneyland several years ago. We had a nice chat, took a picture of him and left.
I was beginning to feel nervous about the contest at this time. We cruised up to Big Top and sat in on a workshops with Karn Maal and another with Buddy Mondlock. They were sort of interesting but it was hard for me to concentrate. Bill Staines wandered in and he and I had a nice chat about our sons. The next thing I know someone asks me, “Are you Ruth?” It was Jack Williams! He is always so sweet. His wife Judy was with him too.
Finally the time for the contest was at hand. Jack was back stage most of the time and we were talking some more. It kept my mind off the competition. When my turn came around I sang, Same Old Grind and Daddy Was An Old Man. Those things make me so nervous. The songwriters were all quite good. I didn’t win. Betty Soo won! Her songs were VERY good. OK now the pressure was off. We (the songwriters) were treated to dinner (family members weren’t allowed).
The concert for that evening was Buddy Mondlock, Karen Mol and Bill & Kate Isles as openers, Bill Staines and then Michael Smith. They were all good, but Michael Smith was brilliant!
After the show some of the songwriters got together for a song circle. That was fun and Max finally got to show what he can do. Of course it was a very large circle, maybe 10 or 12 folks so it took quite awhile to get around it. We did 2 turns then stole away into the night about 1 am.
Ruth

August 28, 2008

On the road again! Max and I are travelling today to Washburn, WI to take part in the finals of the Superior Big Top Chautauqua song writer contest. First you must know that we researched how to get here, drive (11 1/2 hours thru Chicago and the same north over “Big Mac”) or take the Badger out of Ludington. Well we opted for the boat. When we arrived at the ferry (at 7am) we were joined by hundreds of Harley Davidson guys. It seems that they were all going to Milwaukee, the home of Harley Davidson, to celebrate the 105th Birthday of the bike. We spoke to one biker from England! Well, Max and I are not very good sailors. There was a breeze from the south that caused a bit of a roll to the boat. (We don’t do carnival rides very well either.) Let’s just say that we were VERY happy to be off that boat. I hope the ride back Sunday is calmer and warmer. (I’ll let you know) When we got off the boat there was a TV guy there recording all the bikes coming off the ferry. And there were folks in lawn chairs waiting for the Harley parade. Cool!
So happily cruising down the road in the stable van we had rather clear sailing. The day was warm and overcast. The Wisconsin landscape is dotted with some of of the prettiest, well kept farms in the Great Lakes area. We got so far north that we hooked up with hwy 2! That’s right the one that runs the length of the U-P. And there in front of us was a black bear crossing the road. I’m glad we’re not camping. It was another 6 hours to Washburn from Manitowoc. So you see it was 11 hrs if you cross the lake. We save 1/2 hour. hmmmmmm
Once we got to our motel we took a ride and found the Big Top and did a bit of sightseeing in the area. It’s quite lovely with lots of water, marinas, B&Bs, and local crafts. A brief thunderstorm swept through and in it’s wake left us a brilliant double rainbow that we enjoyed for a rather long time while eating excellent burgers overlooking the bay. Now we’ll get some rest for tomorrow’s adventure, the contest finals.
Ruth