Mid-West Dahlia Society

We just got home after playing an afterdinner show for the Mid-West Dahlia Society. They're having their annual show and meeting this weekend at Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, MI. It was put on by the Grand Valley Dahlia Society. They were a wonderful audience, and oh my, do they grow some gorgeous blooms. They are all sizes and styles and very colorful. Here's Ruth with one of the big ones at the show, and a few shots of the lovely bouquet that was given to us last year by the president of the local Dahlia Society.

Bluegrass On The Lakeshore

We had a blast playing the festival today. I was proud of us. We were strong and relaxed on stage. Dan and John were on fire. The folks from C&S sound did a fantastic job. Thanks go out to Ron Ballard, John & Ruth Lakatos of the Patchwork Band, MC Terry Grannis, and all who made it happen. The audience was delightful and responsive.

In all these years this was our first ever visit to the Muskegon County Fairgrounds. It is the perfect spot for a bluegrass festival and the organizers are promising some improvements next year. Camping is available and there are showers, though they are a ways away from the camping area. That may be fixed by next year. There is plenty of shade in this wooded area, too. The performance and audience area is covered and the stage is of sufficient size. Reasonable growth could call for expansion of this area next year though. Food venders were adequite and catering for the bands was very good, even to the point of accommodating the vegans among us. There were several semi-secluded and sheltered spots available for those that wanted to jam.

We can only hope that the first year for this festival was successful enough to warrant a second one. The potential for growth is certainly there.

Thanks again to everyone involved.