Bluegrass from the Forest 2013!

Another successful BftF is in the memory books for those who attended. Kristmas Town Kiwanis continues to perfect its execution and staging of the event. After 9 yrs. most of the kinks have been worked out. This year things worked as smooth as butter on a banjo! The regional bands showed excellently compared against the headliners (Special Consensus, Laurie Lewis and the right hands). Runaway Train bade a tearful goodbye with a standing O and long applause for their last set.

Thanks to Greg Linder for his attention to giving young talent a chance to perform. Two bands of young players were well received and appreciated (Top String from east of the mtns. and the Crichton Family Band from Shelton). These kids are way past amateur and well on their way to master player status! We always make sure to attend the 'Chicks Kids' portion of the show on Sunday morning. This year again, we were there in the front row to help cheer them on, only missing the first two kid sets. All the kids were well schooled and each played their part with flare and confidence! Some are repeat offenders at Chicks School of Bluegrass and I recognized faces and increased proficiency in those kids. The smallest kid in the entire group (on mandolin) was just a HOOT! It wasn't right away that it clicked in my mind that this was Jack ! He was just precious. Everything he did seemed to have that certain something; occasional foot tappin,' playin' his turn at a little mando break, strummin' away on his instrument, singin' on the verses, lookin' around at his fellow musicians and finally he was feelin' it, as his shoulders bounced up and down a bit to the beat! I swear this all seemed SO familiar!! Then it dawned on me! That is JACK, Jack Elwell! Nolan Elwell's youngest boy! (mando for RT) Nolan has been cloned! There is another great innate mando player comin' through the ranks with that special father/son lineage! Jack is only just a sprout and will turn 6 at the end of August but already his potential is evident. I think this was his first Chicks Kids. Mom says Nolan hasn't ever worked with him but for sure will be helping Jack along the bluegrass trail from now on. Remember that name and watch for him in the coming years. Thanks once again to K T Kiwanis for a good festival and for my 'ALL TIME' favorite bluegrass memory, Master Jack Elwell!!

Hey! It's Festival Time again!

Spring is here, Wheew! That means, it's festival time 2013! Hope your plans are taking shape. Your calendar is marked! Your gear is swept out and ready to go on the bluegrass circuit this season! It's coming up fast!

First off 2013, is the 9th annual Bluegrass from the Forest in Shelton at the Shelton High School Performing Arts Center and grounds, May 17-19. If you have never been out here to Shelton, it's a fun little festival. The 2013 lineup is again stellar. It can be viewed at the BftF website, linked on the calendar/festival pages here.

The best, but bittersweet reason to attend this year is to bid a fond 'FAREWELL' to the south sound band Runaway Train!

Yep, that's right! After June 30 of 2013, (a 14 year run) RT will be calling it quits. Seems all good things must end and RT has come to the end of its tracks. The reasons we are saying so long to RT are several. Mando player Nolan Elwell said goodbye to the b'grass road in January 2013, with Pete Goodall ably taking that spot in instrumentation and vocal range. And members knew that some day, banjo player extraordinaire Luke Dewhirst would 'grow up' and seek his fortune somewhere in the larger world. That day has come for Luke. He was accepted as a cadet at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. He will 'ship out' to begin his stint of study and service in the U.S. Coast Guard at the end of June 2013. Upon completion of academic requirements and training, Luke will be commissioned as an Ensign in the Guard.

So, if you are a fan/follower or supporter of RT come out for their performances at BftF 'cause this will be the last chance to wave goodbye and give a salute to future Ensign Dewhirst! Nolan has agreed to come to BftF and help the band play 'so long.' Greg Linder on guitar, has said, 'He'd like to take a break from herdin' b'grass cats, but there may be RT reunion gigs in the future.' It's a hard job, that cat herdin.' Greg is always in demand for those infamous pick up band gigs. He is playing some of those already, creating on the spot bands or filling in for absent guitar players. Kent Powell will be at his spot on bass for the last RT gig and is in a new band on the road already doing gigs.

This year will be a melancholy start for the 2013 festival season but still a great kick off. See you in the forest in Shelton.

Our Wintergrass 2013!

Wintergrass 2013 was a big smile for music. There were lots of kids everywhere. What a treat for all these kids!! We attended the Wintergrass Youth Orchestra performance on Sunday morning. It was inspiring to see 128 kids playing together with some legends in music and bluegrass. You may know that we stay close to the heart of bluegrass and hardly ever stray from that at Wintergrass. No chambergrass, or cellograss, or dawggrass for us! This year again we were true b’grassers. We saw those great Spinney Brothers, again! There was a big crowd and lots of clapping for these great guys from Nova Scotia!

IBMA News

Be part of THE STREET TEAM

The International Bluegrass Music Association is looking for dedicated music fans to help spread the word about Wide Open Bluegrass to be held in Raleigh, NC September 27 - 28, 2013! Join the Street Team a fun and exciting grassroots program that allows you the opportunity to earn a FREE ticket to Wide Open Bluegrass!

Street Team members will be part of a large group of like-minded music enthusiasts who will promote the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival taking place this September in Raleigh, N.C.

Street Team members can earn a FREE 2-day pass by distributing posters, flyers and handbills at their local festivals, jams, colleges, music stores, etc. Street Team members must be active on Social Media to be a part of the team.

For more information on how to join this exciting new program, contact Katherine Coe at Katherine@ibma.org

Mt. St Helens Bluegrass Festival Photos

Gazette Schedule Change

Here's a bit of WBA NEWS!

If you have happened to look at the WBA festival page recently, you may have noticed a change in the lineup. WBA had planned on welcoming and enjoying the smooth bluegrass voice and great playing of Charlie Sizemore. Charlie contacted WBA recently to say that, for health reasons, he would have to withdraw from the festival. Festival Director General Cothern made a heroic scramble to find and sign a different headliner for us to enjoy. So folks you read it correctly, the great Don Rigsby will be joining WBA at the Mt. St. Helens festival this August! If you follow bluegrass at all you may know that Don has a new Cd recently released that is getting a bit of airplay. It's titled Doctor's Orders, a tribute to Dr. Ralph Stanley, I'm sure, though I haven't read the liner notes. Dr. Ralph is Don's b'grass hero. I've heard 3 or 4 cuts from this new Cd and it is KILLER. Was thinking this might be one to purchase, now I can have it autographed by Mr. Rigsby himself! So come on out to the 29th annual Mt. St. Helens WBA festival...Doctor's Orders!
Sally B,

Rainier Picker's Festival!

Special Membership Discount

The WBA is offering a special $30 off savings coupon for new or renewing members. Hurry! This offer expires June 1st, 2013.

Northwest Folklife Festival

Special Bluegrass Showcase Concert on Saturday May 25 at the Mural Amphitheatre Outdoor stage, the largest stage at NW Folklife. SPECIAL BLUEGRASS SHOWCASE CONCERT
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Saturday May 25
1:05 pm Pearly Blue
1:50 pm The Weavils
2:35 pm Pickled Okra
3:20 pm Badger Pocket

Volunteers Make it Happen! Volunteers are an essential part of the Northwest Folklife Festival! Every year, over 800 volunteers staff our entrances, information booths, registration and more to make sure we have the most welcoming community arts Festival in the city. Be a part of it! Fill out a Volunteer Application TODAY! Volunteers receive discounted merchandise and other perks. Most importantly, volunteering gives you a great opportunity to give back to your community and meet some amazing people in the process! Please visit the volunteer page of our Festival website for more information!