The Bluegrass Music Association of Canada Newsletter-Volume 2 Issue 3-July 2008
EARL SCRUGGS at BEAN BLOSSOM-2008 We received an unexpected treat when Earl Scruggs appeared as a special guest with "Lizzy Long & Friends" on the Saturday night show on June 14th.
www.bmacc.ca A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
he summer months are blasting by and most of us are so busy T performing or taking in Bluegrass Festivals we hardly have time to unpack the camper before we are off again. The BMACC board has been working on several projects since our last meeting and most are still a work in progress. Your board has taken the necessary first steps in the direction of achieving a Juno category for Bluegrass in Canada. If any one has cut a Bluegrass CD in the past two years please let us know. If you have done a CD it would be nice to make sure it is recognized in the BMACC Notes maybe in our next issue.
We are working on a Bluegrass communications network that will span not only Central Canada but all of Canada.
IBMA offers a reduced instrument insurance rate for members and it is our hope to have the same insurance company offer coverage to our members.
In our constant drive to promote Bluegrass Music BMACC has booked a showcase room at the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals annual conference to be held in Ottawa on October 23, 24, 25, 2008. The exposure we get at one of the largest Folk Festival Conferences, could very well lead to more Bluegrass Music being played at Folk Festivals all over Ontario and Canada. Bands interested in showcasing are responsible for their own travel and related costs. The fee for showcasing, payable to BMACC, is $100 per band for members and $150 for nonmembers. Bands wishing to apply can contact me at [email protected] or Phone 1-519-469-3392. More details will be posted to our web page mid August. The BMACC board has reserved the showcase room for our members at a cost of approximately $1,500.
Special thanks go out to the Country Music News an Ottawa publication offering a Bluegrass section and helping promote BMACC and Bluegrass clubs and events. One more great place to get Bluegrass Music information and advertise your event or band.
We look forward to hearing from our many members and friends as we continue to grow. Bluegrass is really blossoming and wouldn't it be nice to WHAT"S INSIDE see some sold out shows. Spread the word; support your clubs, and From the Membership Chair-Page 3 BMACC. Help us make it happen, we do take all comments and ideas for Membership Form-Page 4 consideration. Rhonda Vincent Comes To Ontario - Page 5 ~iii~. Organizational Memberships - Page 6 10~ Utee,,, ~. tmtAee Bluegrass on the Radio-Page 7 Bean Blossom Experience-Page 8
Out Among the Stars - Page 9 Bluegrass Juno-Page 11 ANN-ECDOTES- Page 12 Festivals-Page 13 GID-R-DONE at Bean Blossom-Page 14 TVBA at the Home County Folk Festival-Page 16 Bean Blossom Foundation-Page 17 Basin Bluegrass Festival-Page 17 Excerpts from MOBS "Dill Pickle Rag" - Page 18/19 Jammin' at Bean Blossom Editorial-Page 22
BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 2 BOARD OF DIRECTORS From the Membership Chair
President- Wayne Uncer MACC was 1 year old on March 31/08. Our membership has reached 294, including 519-469-3392 B18 Bands, 7 Clubs, 4 Festivals, and 5 Organizations. Some bands have already received work from the web-site. Vice-president - Denis Chad bourn If there are individual members of BMACC that belong to a band or other organization, Home: 705-776-7754 you should consider paying an additional $30 and take advantage Work: 705-474-2271 of what BMACC can offer.
Secretary - Wes Lowe Organizational Members will be entitled to: 519-539-8967 A free listing in each issue of the "BMACC Notes" A free listing in the appropriate info section of the BMACC website. Treasurer - Roland Aucoin *List their upcoming events in the BMACC Event Calendar. 905-635-1818 Advertise at a reduced rate in the "BMACC Notes"
Directors at Large *Check out the web site. Current events are listed on the first page. Just click and see more details. It is important that BMACC get this information. Cindy deBoer-Winterbottom All organizational members should submit their events to: Karen May Snell Roland Aucoin 705-788-4362 205 Plains Road W. Unit 84 Burlington, Ontario Steve Pritchard L7T 4H3 raucoin@cogeco,ca or call 905-635-1818 Gord deVries 519-668-0418 Bands, please take note. If you want to have your band picture and details included in the "BANDS" issue this fall, you must be an Amanda-Lynn Stubley organizational member. 519-642-7987
Donald Tarte 888-876-3369 ADVERTISING RATES Publicize your event, band or organization in "NOTES" or Brother Brian Powley on our website. 613-374-3888 BMACC NOTES Single Issue Annual 1/8 Page (Business Card) $26.67 $ 96.01 1/4 Page 33.33 119.99 1/2 Page 53.33 191.99 Full Page 80.00 288.00
Envelope stuffing is lOC per insert
WEBSITE Quarterly Annual 100 px X 250 pixels $20.00 $ 72.00 200 px X 250 pixels 26.67 96.00 400 px X 250 pixels 46.67 168.00
BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 3 MEMBERSHIP FORM
To join BMACC, renew or upgrade your membership, please detach and fill out the form below.
Benefits of Men1bership NEW MEMBERSHIP D RENEWAL D D Individual {$20.00) Individual Nlembers D Organization ($50.00} 0 Subscription to the umvlACC Notcs , a quarterly publication which \\till focus on the bluegrass scene in Central Canada, keeping us D D D D D Band Business Club Promoter Radio informed about the events, festivals, bands. radio shows and other topics and interviews of interest to us all. Name:
The right to attend, and cast votes at B1V1ACC Organization: general meetings. Address:
The right to be elected into the BMACC Address: boa.rd of directors, thereby having a powerful and influential voice in steering the future activities of City: BMACC. Province: Organizational ~Iembers Postal Code:
All the benefits of individual membership plus: Telephone:
L A free listing in each issue of the "BMACC Email: Notcs0 Website:
;£t A free listing in the appropriate info section of the BMACC website. D D Member of a bluegrass band? Yes No
tt<' List upcoming events in the BlVIACC Online If YES, Band Name: event calendar.
x Advertise in the 11 BMACC Notes*', and on the website at reduced advertising rates. Play an Instrument? Please check all that apply. Please mail the form and membership fee to: DDDDDD DD Autoharp Banjo Bass Dobro Fiddle Guitar Mandolin Harmonica Roland Aucoin 205 Plains Road W. Unit 84 Sing? Please check all that apply. Burlington, Ontario D D D D L7T 4H3 lead Tenor Baritone Bass
BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 4 be unable to provide Rhonda and her Rhonda since at some of her RHONDA VINCENT COMES group with the full house they performances in the US report that TO ONTARIO deserve. she would be delighted to return to London. I wonder if Wayne's n May 3rd of this year Rhonda They entertained us with all the fire Mom's homemade apple pies had O Vincent and the Rage played their and skill that they would have anything to do with it? first ever concert in Ontario at Centennial presented to an audience of 10,000. Hall in London. The show was sponsored It was a hard-driving show with a lot by the Thames Valley Bluegrass of humour and sentimentality mixed Association (TVBA). This is another first in. They have a lot of fun up there on for the TVBA. We were the first to bring that stage. Cherryholmes to Ontario back in 2005.
We set up a BMACC/TVBA table in the vendor area and had quite a few people pick up newsletters and membership forms.
It was a fantastic night of bluegrass entertainment at its best.
One of the highlights of the evening was when Rhonda wanted to do a train song and asked if anyone in the audience could do a train whistle. When a whistle sounded in the audience, she asked the whistler to join her on the stage. Turns out it was Steve Piticco from the Ottawa area. Even though we had the date confirmed in Not only does he do an awesome April 2007 and publicized this event train whistle, which blew Rhonda widely, attendance was half of what we away, but he is CCMA Guitar Player Of expected. While the club broke even the Year among his many awards. financially, it was disappointing for us to Dwayne Friesen shouted from the audience for someone to give Steve a guitar because he's the best guitar picker in Canada. Rhonda gave him hers and he played the rest of the set with the band.
Some of us got there early to help set up and so got to visit with the band members. They are all really genuine Check Page 8 of The June/July and friendly people as well as issue of the Country Music News accomplished musicians on a variety for a report and other Bluegrass of instruments. Just listening to them happenings under the Canadian warming up and doing sound checks Bluegrass Music Report banner was a treat. compiled by Larry Delaney.
Some TVBA members who have met fJJJJJ
BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 5 ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS Valley Bluegrass Festival Contact: R. Johnston/Shiela Kirk Acoustical Strings Here is a list of the organizations 613-432-5000 Contact:RogerSpense who have become members of rjohnston@cou ntyofrenfrew. on.ca BMACC: 705-432-2598 Willow Park Jamboree Backwoodsmen Contact: Marvin LaForme Bluegrass Sundays Contact: Lorne Buck 905-768-1448 Contact: Judy Fink 613-475-3740 416-779-2627 C-Denny Band [email protected] Contact: Dennis Chadbourn Campbe111s Corner Music Sales Manitoba Oldtyme Bluegrass 705-776-7754 Contact: Dan Campbell Society Inc. (MOBS) Concession 23 519-371-5037 Contact: John Sawatzky Contact: Nick Strachan/Sherry Philp [email protected] 204-467-2182 819-459-1089/613-623-0779 www.manitobabluegrass.ca Morgan Multi Services [email protected] Conestoga Trail Festival Nipissing Bluegrass Association www .concession23.com Contact: Gerry or Fran Morgan Contact: Denis Chadbourn Crosswind 519-458-4515 705-776-7754 Contact: Roland Aucoin [email protected] [email protected] http://www3.sympatico.ca/gerrfran 905-635-1818 Ottawa Valley Bluegrass Association [email protected] Northern Bluegrass Committee Contact: Donald Tarte www.crosswindbluegrass.ca Contact: Tony deBoer 887-876-3369/613-234-1000 705-758-9049 Foggy Hogtown Boys [email protected] Contact: Chris Coale The Stringman www.valleygrass.ca 416-516-3796 Contact: Gord Devries Queensbush Bluegrass Club www .chriscoole.com 800-587-464 7 Contact: Don Day www.foggyhogtownboys.com [email protected] 519-376-7945 Foxtail www.queensbush.ca FESTIVALS Contact: Gord Devries Skyway Bluegrass Club 519-668-0418 Norwich Family Bluegrass Festival Contact: Roland Aucoin [email protected] Contact: Mike & Maryann Tirellia 905-635-1818 www.foxtail.ca [email protected] 518-783-3154 General Store [email protected] Thames Valley Bluegrass Association Contact: Bill Blance www.norwichfamilybluegrass.com Sally Creek Music Festival 905-451-9077 Palmer Rapids Twin Music Contact: Wayne Uncer [email protected] Contact: Allan Schutt 519-469-3392 The Generation Gap 613-758-2747 [email protected] Contact: Gretchen Lamers [email protected] www.TVBA.ca 519-866-5910 Townships Bluegrass and Old-Tyme Sand Road Sugar Camp [email protected] Contact: Julie or Brian Music Society Gid-R-Done 613-538-2991 Contact: Gordon Cameron Contact: Wayne Uncer www.sandroadsugarcamp.com 450-539-0333 519-469-3392 Tottenham Bluegrass Festival [email protected] Contact: Peter Deveau Grassbackwardz 905-936-4100 Contact: Lee D. Roy 1-888-258-4727 705-669-1945 www.tottenhambluegrass.ca [email protected] www.grassbackwarsz.com
Bobby Osborne (Continued on page 7)
BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 6 (Continued from page 6) Bluegrass on the Radio Jim Marino Honeygrass (please note this section is included as a service to Smokin' Bluegrass Contact: Karen May Snell members who want to listen on the radio or internet [email protected] 705-788-4362 _ subsequent issues will only list DJ's who are mem- CFMU-FM 933 [email protected] bers) http://cfmu.mcmaster.ca www.honeygrass.com Linda Axman and Dan Joseph John and Angel McNaughton with Maria Keslering Ridge Blueridge Express Polillo Contact: Ron Luxton CKRW-FM-98.5-Kitchener The Bluegrass Show 905-623-2828 Wednesday at 7:30-8:30 p.m. [email protected] [email protected] Dan Bieman CKRZ-FM 100.3-www.ckrz.com Lazy John Bluegrass Rules Tuesday 7:00-11:00 p.m. Contact: Shane Crumb AM920 CKNX-www.am920.ca Ron Moores 613-472-5548 [email protected] The Back40 [email protected] 519-357-1310- ext. 446 CKCU FM 93.1-www.ckcufm.com www.myspace.com/lazyjohnband Sundays at 1:00 p.m. [email protected] Northern Sons David Blakeny www.back40.ca Contact: Rory Gardiner Daybreak in Dixie Saturday Noon-1:00 p.m. Evenings - 613-820-6027 CJAM-FM 91.5-www.cjam.ca Brian Powley Days: - 613-829-2176 [email protected] Brother Brian's Bluegrass Show [email protected] Sunday 8:00-10:00 a.m. CFRC 101.9 FM-www.cfrc.ca www .northernsons.com Howard Bonner [email protected] Jan Purcell and Pine Road The Catalogue Parlour Monday 6:00-8:00 p.m. Contact: Jan Purcell CFRC- 101.9 FM-www.cfrc.ca Sunday 8:00-11:00 a.m. 819-459-3362 [email protected] Steve Pritchard [email protected] Fridays - 6:00-8:00 p.m. Radio-Boogie www.pineroadbluegrass.com Brother John's Sunday Morning Gospel CKLN FM 88.1-http://ckln.fm Silverbirch Hour [email protected] Contact: Tom Mccreight www.theislandfm.com Wednesday 10:00-12:00 p.m. 705-228-8426 Sunday 8:00 a.m. [email protected] Other sources: Don Day and Dusty Hill Virginia Ridge Bluegrass Express www.mountainechosradio.com Contact: Susan Wollman [email protected] This site plays some good stuff all the time. 204-268-3714 CKCY 93.7 FM-www.country93.ca Live 365 Internet Radio [email protected] 519-376-2030 http://www.live365.com/cgi-bin/ www.virginiaridge.piczo.com Sundays at 9:00 p.m. directory.cgl ?genre=bluegrass Bill White and White Pine Linda Elliott Saturday- Noon - 1:00 p.m. Contact: Bill White Country and Bluegrass 613-372-2400 CHIP 101.7 FM-www.chipfm.com [email protected] 819-683-3155 - 888-775-3155 [email protected] [email protected] www .billwhiteandwhitepine.aztechdigital.ca Saturday- 5:00-10:00 p.m. The Young Family Band Sunday- 6:00-10.00 p.m. Contact: Brad Young Audrey Lockwood 613-478-3356 Bluegrass Program [email protected] CKOL [email protected] .FJJJJJ Friday 9:00-10:00 p.m .
BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 7 The Bean Blossom jamming, check out the vendors or talk banjo although he plays guitar with the to the entertainers at their tables and group. They look us up every year and Experience you're bound to miss something. we have a few tunes together. Knowing these young men, they're all in their ete & Leona Friesen accompanied me Some of us had a "Plate Mate" late teens, gives me confidence in the Pto Bean Blossom again this year. installed in our guitars by Mitchell future of our music and our countries. They're great company and we always Meadors, one of the many excellent have lots of laughs. We got lost on the vendors present for the week. The way down. I was driving, Pete was "Plate Mate" is a thin brass plate navigating and Leona was napping or installed inside the guitar under the reading so it was her fault. We were on bridge to protect the wood from the 169 and suddenly we were on 194 on our strings. Mitch installed the plate and way to Detroit. After some going around new strings for $30, a real bargain. It in circles we got it sorted out, with made my Martin J-40 a bit brighter Leona's help and finally made it to Bean without sacrificing the heavy bass Blossom. It took us a couple of hours sound I bought it for. longer than normal to make the trip but we did get to see the effects of the For more information on the "Plate massive floods they had just north of Mate", the banjo "Tone Ring Bean Blossom. When we went through Shelbyville, IA there were huge piles of Mate",the new "Mitch Banjo" or household goods and furnishings at the supplies available check out the website: curb and there were high water marks Tommy Wade was there this year and halfway up the sides of the houses. There www.mitchelsplatemate.com, participated in some of our jams. He was still a lot of standing water in the e-mail at [email protected] or: also wound up jamming with a group fields. called Glen Bonham & Southern Mitch Meadors, Tradition an aboriginal group out of We did see Earl Scruggs playing and 5303 Burnett Rd., Oklahoma. Glen (White Cloud) invited singing with Lizzy Long & Friends on the Leavittsburg, OH 44430, Tommy to do a number with them on first Saturday night of the festival. It was Telephone 330-898-7438. the stage the next day. Tommy did a a real treat to see Earl out there doing his fine job. Score one more for us thing. It gives one pause to consider how We have met some really great folks Canucks! many other people, who had such a over the last three years. The profound effect on this music, as we know jamming is always a lot of fun The highlight for me each year is the it, are still with us today: Ralph Stanley, especially when we reconnect with Youth Bluegrass Boot Camp. The kids Jesse McReynolds and Bobby Osborne to some of the young folks we met on start learning on Tuesday morning and name just a few. our first trip and see how they've go through an intensive training progressed instrumentally and vocally. program geared to their individual skill Watch for Lizzy Long in the future. She Two of these young men in particular levels until Thursday. On Thursday, at puts on an excellent show. She plays impress me. We met Josh Coffey and the supper break, they are all paraded fiddle and sings beautifully with a great Aaron Williams, two of the original on stage in matching T-shirts to strut deal of stage presence. She could be an members of the New Old Timers in their stuff. The kids are separated into up and coming Rhonda Vincent. 2005. Josh was already pretty good on beginner, intermediate and senior all the instruments we heard him play groups, not by age but by skill level. The line-up is always top notch with a and he's certainly a pro now. Aaron Each group gives it their all and then style or act to please just about every was just taking up the mandolin and they all get together for the finale. Bluegrass taste from Newgrass to kept borrowing mine to practice on There were sixty-five kids on the stage Traditional. The festival goes on for so when he was with us. He's moved up this year. It would be wonderful to find long and there are so many acts to see to expert now and he still likes to play a way to do something like this in that it's almost impossible to take them my Collings. Now if he would just Canada. all in. You have to decide who you want leave those notes in there. Cody Hill, a to see and try to make it down to the newer member, was with the boys this concert area. Get in a little parking lot year and did a fine job playing the
BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 8 OUT AMONG THE STARS Martin's seamless tradition of quality bluegrass festival promoters as they to this day remain a significant source face what will inevitably prove to be a of pride for my family and all of those difficult couple of years Random Bits of news who are involved in crafting these from the world of Blue ********* extraordinary instruments," said grass Working Girl Blues Martin Guitar Chairman and CEO The Life and Music of Hazel Dickens Christian Frederick Martin IV.
BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 9 (Continued from page 9) traditional arts specialist & advocate Needless to say, having J. D. and Ralph Rinzler, Ralph Epperson, Wayne Walter Murray Chiesa. The National Sonny in the same place at one time Henderson and Sam Love Queen Jr. were Heritage Award includes an award of is going to be legendary! also inducted into the Blue Ridge Hall of $20,000 to support the artists in their ********* Fame on June 13, 2008. individual fields. Wiseman joins the SILVERBIRCH has started to send ranks of previous Heritage Fellows such ********* occasion emails of "Silverbirch as Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, Ralph Lonesome River Band News." If you would like to be Stanley, Jim and Jesse McReynolds, Mike Hargrove is back on the fiddle, and added to the list, send a note to Kenny Baker, Hazel Dickens, Jerry Brandon Rickman is also back on guitar. [email protected]. With Sammy Shelor on banjo, Mike Douglas, Doyle Lawson, Tommy Jarrell, ********* Anglin on electric bass, and Andy Ball on Doc Watson, Lily May Ledford, Wade For a complete list of who played mandolin and tenor vocals, this an Mainer, Ola Belle Reed, Elizabeth with Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass extremely strong and talented line-up. Cotton, The Fairfield Four, Wayne Henderson, Jean Ritchie and Janette Boys go to: ********* Carter. Since 1982, the Endowment has http://doodah.net/bgb/ The Grascals awarded 338 NEA National Heritage ********* The Grascals are also proud to welcome Fellowships. Here's a site with a list of Bill and introduce new fiddle player Jeremy ******** * Monroe's releases along with the Abshire. Due to Dolly Parton's currently J.D. Crowe and Charlie Cushman added year for each: more active schedule, Jimmy Mattingly to NashCamp Banjo Retreat Oct 17-19, http://www.poemhunter.com/ has returned to her band full time. 2008 Bands And A.Llli~LM/Monroe, Jill! ********* Banjo legends J. D. Crowe and Charlie ********* Mac Wiseman to Receive National Cushman have been added to the 60 Legendary Bluegrass Musicians Heritage Award lineup of great teachers and players at to be honoured as Pioneers of The National Endowment for the Arts this year's 8th Annual NashCamp Banjo Bluegrass Music in momentous recently announced that Bluegrass Hall Retreat, October 17-19th at the celebration on June 26. of Fame member Mac Wiseman will be Hachland Hills Vineyard in Joelton, OWENSBORO, KY: - On June 26, The one of eleven recipients of the National Tennessee. International Bluegrass Music Heritage Award, America's highest J. D. and Charlie join Sonny Osborne, Museum in Owensboro, KY honour in the folk and traditional arts. Alan Muncie, Ned Luberecki and Bill honoured 60 legendary musicians Chosen for their artistic excellence and Evans for a weekend of small group known as "Bluegrass Music's First contributions to our nation's cultural instruction, jamming, concerts, great Generation." These iconic artists are heritage, these award recipients food and good times in a beautiful bed coming from coast to coast, even represent a cross-section of ethnic and breakfast retreat located 15 miles from Japan. Each will be recognized cultures, traditions and art forms. The north of Nashville in Joelton, TN. J. D. onstage for their contribution to the 2008 awardees will be recognized in a will be at camp on Friday and Saturday; genre known as bluegrass music. series of events in Washington, DC in Charlie on Sunday. All other teachers Many of the honourees have September, including a banquet at the will be there for all three days. Camp participated in the Museum's Library of Congress, an awards begins at around noon on Friday and ongoing archival project known as presentation on Capitol Hill and a ends at about 4 pm on Sunday. This VOHP, the Video Oral History concert scheduled for Sept. 19, at the camp has sold out a couple of months in Project. Originally the brainchild of Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, advance the last two years, so advance bluegrass legend Sonny Osborne and Maryland. In addition to Wiseman, the registration is recommended. Co championed by the Museum's following individuals will be recognized: directors Sonny Osborne, Cindy Sinclair founder, Terry Woodward and Nez Perce drum maker & singer Horace and Bill Evans try their best to make this others, VOHP's goal is to record the P. Axtell, quilter Bettye Kimbrell; the best music weekend you'll ever life histories, performance styles, saddlemaker Dale Harwood, Peruvian experience! Many folks talk themselves and musical contributions of those retablo maker Jeronimo E. Lozano, the out of camp experiences like this who were among the earliest Oneida Hymn Singers of Wisconsin, because they don't feel that they play practitioners of bluegrass music. To Korean dancer & musician Sue Yeon banjo well enough to keep up with date the histories of 161 pioneers Park, Ethiopian liturgical musician & everyone else. Never fear! Students are have been gathered. The Pioneers scholar Moges Seyoum, Capoeira master grouped according to experience level of Bluegrass Gathering was Jelon Vieira, traditional jazz musician & and no one is left behind at any time. (Continued on page I 1) band leader Dr. Michael White and Learn more at www.nashcamp.com.
BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 10 (Continuedfrom page I O) to ensure that it continues to grow and us know, and be sure to register sponsored by preeminent fiddler and thrive. These are the tenets upon yours with: real estate developer Fletcher Bright of which BMACC is founded. Chattanooga, Tennessee. Library and Archives Canada To learn more about the Museum, visit: One of the stipulations for a Juno Legal Deposit www.bluegrassmuseum.org or call: category, requires that 20 canadian 395 Wellington St. 1-888 MY BANJO . bluegrass recordings per year, must be Ottawa, On ***** **** released for sale, even if just stage KlA ON4 side. Accordingly, we are in the !-866-578-7777 St. John's, Newfoundland will be process of compiling information on E-mail: [email protected] hopping Aug. 3-8, 2008 even more than recordings from 2005 to present.. Our usual as the wind-swept city plays host first stop for gathering this The Bluegrass Music Association of to the North Atlantic Fiddle information brought us to the Central Canada (BMACC) is taking Convention. This is the first time the National Archives of Canada, a branch action on your behalf, to keep world's largest gathering of fiddlers and of our federal government, that bluegrass alive and well, not just fiddle music scholars has crossed the catalogues, among other things, sound regionally, but nationally, and recordings. We were surprised to find internationally. Check out our 1J j J J J that the number of recordings each website ... we encourage you to year, bounced up and down like a become a member. yoyo. This might be attributed to BLUEGRASS JUNO several factors: Warm regards, Denis Chadbourn "Bluegrass de Incorrect categorization: VP BMACC serves its own Because bluegrass music Juno category. n frequently incorporates several JJ rm different styles of music, ranging Denis Chadbourn from gospel and country, to folk and fiddle, it is conceivable that an album1 s content could be misinterpreted, and therefore Dear friends, misfiled. Be specific when registering your music! he influence of bluegrass, in the commercial music we hear today, T Non-registration: is undeniable. Be it country, pop, rock, Okay, it1s confession time ...for Dailey & Vincent or the blues, for instance, all can trace almost two years I buried their roots back to bluegrass. requests from the National However, it is with the exception Archives, for a copy of my ed ... bluegrass, that each of these other then I realized how counter genres has its own Juno category. productive my in-actions were to How is it that the historically the bluegrass cause. On one significant precursor to all these other hand, I firmly believe in musical off-shoots, is relegated to preserving bluegrass music, but being lumped under "Roots Music," on the other I was making it along with several other styles? 111 impossible to do that. 1 have Kids Pickin' with the Clinch Mtn. Boys BMACC believes that Bluegrass now changed my procrastinative- ~------~ deserves its own Juno category, and behavior, and I encourage all you we are currently studying the bands out there, who have feasibility of redressing this problem! released a bluegrass cd since 2005, to register same if you Whether your are a club, a band, a fan, have not already done so. or a promoter, it is in ~of our best interests a) to preserve the historical If you know about any recordings that nature of the Canadian bluegrass may be floating around out there, let The Muellers t radition, and b) to promote bluegrass
BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 11 ANN-ECDOTES harmonys, switching back and forth on last band on Saturday night. What lead and harmony singing. Karen does fun and entertainment to watch. Some thoughts on the some great work on the bass. Ray just The bass player found notes I didn't 2008 edition of the stands there, smiles and picks super even know existed on the bass and Tottenham Festival banjo. Nice to see you dress up for the rest of the band wasn't bad the stage. either. c.By }1.nn Smith "Gold Heart" from Northern Virginia is "The Spinney Brothers" from Nova ottenham Bluegrass Festival a young bluegrass band that features Scotia. Wonderful gospel and nice T celebrated its 25th Anniversary this the Gold sisters. The girls are 18, 15 people. Haven't heard a bad band year with a good line-up of bands and and 12. The twelve year old, Shelby, from the East Coast yet. lots of extras. The Happy Hog had jam plays fiddle and she wowed the crowd. Keep pickin'. sessions from 1:00 to 10:00 PM from Dad plays bass. Monday to Friday and a "free" dinner to Editors Note: }1.nn bands who play for "free". Man of We met these girls at Bean Blossom in Yorke had a jam night on Monday, 2006. They appeared on stage as guests "Silverbirch" on Tuesday and with a couple of groups and later joined "Hometown" on Wednesday. The us in our late night jam sessions. They IJJJJJ Royal Canadian Legion hosted a Band joined us again in 2007. Analise borrowed Showcase from 8:00 to 11:00 PM on my mandolin during a jam last year. They Thursday Night. There was a fiddle are great kids and we certainly wish them every success in the future. workshop on Saturday at 10:00 AM presented by Joe White.
There was also a Children's Talent Contest and the winners were invited to play on the Main Stage on Saturday evening.
Tottenham has a vintage steam train which travels through the rolling hills of the Beeton Creek valley that takes just under one hour. Entertainment on the Bluegrass Train was by "Traditionally Wound" and "Crosswind".
There were some good vendors including "Campbell's Corner", various luthiers with their instruments and jewellery (earrings), T-Shirts, etc. Many people were looking for "The "Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice" is a Stringman" who did not attend this new band out of Virginia. Junior has a year. The arteries got loaded up with voice I would never tire of listening to. lots of fish&chips and funnel cakes I sure hope to hear this band again. (yum, yum). "Bill White & White Pine" always puts I was impressed with "Switchback on a good performance as does Eddie Road", a new band (2006) from Ontario. LeBlanc and Cross Country Grass" was Good musicians and good vocals. I my very first most favourite band at made sure I caught both of their acts. "The Back Forty" in Woodstock in the Donald Tarte & early 80's. I even bought that green Steve Pritchard at "Honeygrass" is a fairly new band made covered album. It's still a good one. up of three women and Ray. The girls, Tottenham Karen, Marie and Elly do a great job on "The Bluegrass Brothers" were the
BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 12 FESTIVALS 2008
July 30-August 3 River Valley The Thorndale Bluegrass Festival originally scheduled for September 6, 2008 has been River Valley Bluegrass Jamboree cancelled due to other matters requiring the Northern Bluegrass Committee promoter's attention. 40 Rochon Road, P.O. Box 148 River Valley, ON POH 2CO September 11-14 Marmora Contact: Tony deBoer 705-758-9049 Marmora Country Jamboree Fax: 705-758-9027 6666 Strirling-Marmora Road < August 15-17 Moose Creek October 23-26 Ottawa, ON Sand Road Bluegrass Festival Ontario Council of Folk Festivals Sand Road Sugar Camp < BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 13 GID-R-DONE at Bean Blossom id-R-Done, a band that had its genesis in the TVBA, Gplayed at the 2008 edition of The Bill Monroe Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival at Bean Blossom, IA in June. It was an honour and privilege to be invited to play at the longest ONTARIO BLUEGRASS CALENDAR continuous running Bluegrass festival in the world. 2008 Available November 2007 Please correct me if I'm wrong but we may be only the second all Canadian group to play this festival. The Dixie Flyers have Filled with photos of your favourite done it twice. bluegrass personalities! We played a set on the Main Stage from 11:40 am. to 12:10 on Friday June 20th. What a blast! I think we did OK. We got Information about Festivals and events in an encore and nobody threw anything. The fans are fantastic your area! at Bean Blossom. There was a lot of cheering and clapping that spurred us on to do our best. We even got to sign the Send $15 plus $2.50 shipping and handling board backstage which will eventually go into the Bluegrass to Judy Fink Museum in the park. It certainly was one of the most exciting 52 7-900 Bogart Mill Trail times in my life and I've had a few. Newmarket, ON L3Y 8V5 We also played for an hour starting at 5:00 pm on Saturday on Please make cheques payable to Judy the Workshop/Showcase Stage. We invited people who had been jamming with us all week to come up and join us for a Fink. jam onstage. This was well received by the audience and all the participants seemed to enjoy it. We even made it into an article on the festival in "Our Brown County" a free publication reporting on activities in Brown County. Check it out at OurBrownCounty.com under Back Issues - June 2008. We all agreed we'd love to do it all over again. If you like har.mony, you'll love HoneyGrassf El<2anor Bell - guitar, lead o.nd harmony vocals Marie Gustafson - guitar, mand.ol in, l2ad and ho.rmony vocals KarQn SnQH - bass, hiad and harmony voco.ls Ray Wint.arstein - banjo Contact us at {705) 472-1629 or (705) 788-4362. 2007 CCBA "Mo~t Promi!:ing Group" www. hone1ygrG$~ . com. Pete with Martin Tattoo BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 14 Photos Courtesy of Jim Riddle Bluegrass Pies BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 15 TVBA at the Home County Folk Festival n our continuing efforts to have Bluegrass become an integral part of the Folk Music genre, the Thames Valley Bluegrass IAssociation participated again in this year's edition of the Home County Folk Festival in London, ON. Some members of the club, including most of Gid-R-Done played two sets during Saturday and Sunday as well as backing up people on the Open Stage from time to time. We set up a table to represent both TVBA and BMACC near the Open Stage and left promotional materials at the Information Booth. It was a fun weekend even during the rain on Saturday that varied all the way from sprinkles to deluges. On Saturday, we were sandwiched between two Blues groups on the North Stage. On Sunday, we followed a Klezmer Band with a Greek ensemble following us on the South Stage. We have heard everything from Celtic, Jazz, Dixieland and Cajun with occasional Bluegrass thrown in. We were really well received on all three stages and we're hoping that our music will become a much greater part of this annual festival. Wes BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 16 BEAN BLOSSOM JAMBOREE others in the US. Who knows, maybe festival itself is incredibly beautiful, FOUNDATION Canadian bands could become a regular as it is located in a flat basin which is feature each year. situated between three mountain s reported in our April 2008 peaks. From the festival site, there A Newsletter, The Bean Blossom ",, are mountains in every direction you Festival Park is for sale. When it was . look, and the night sky is ~~eau 1Blossom about to become a housing development spectacular. There are trails you can in 1998, Dwight Dillman stepped in, Bro~'County climb to get a better view from bought the park and saved it. Dwight has " higher up the mountain, and the Jmnboree- sounds of the music can be heard accomplished what he set out to do and is • . now ready to sell. He is reluctant to sell Preservation drifting up from the stage. There are the property to anyone who would not jfmtttbation ]nr.™ plenty of vendors and three covered - tents from which to enjoy the guarantee to preserve the park as a venue for festivals. This park has a long history shows. of providing entertainment starting with www.BBJFoundation.org local shows in 1940 and gradually --- There were over 700 RVs in developing into the international attendance this year, drawn by a entertainment and camping facility that it line up that included Tim Graves and is today. There is something going on in Cherokee (AL - Uncle Josh's Bean Blossom every weekend from early nephew), The Atkinson Family (NY), spring well into the fall. Adam Dewey and Crazy Creek (MA), Acoustic Blue (MA), Cabin Fever For more details go to: To preserve this legacy, a not-for-profit (NY), Smokey Greene (NY), Dave www.BBJFoundation.org corporation has been formed, known as Nichols and Spare Change (NY), Cold the Bean Blossom Brown County Country (VT), Cannonball Express There is a lot of good information, history Jamboree Preservation Foundation, Inc. (MA), and our very own award and a detailed Mission Statement on this doing business as Bean Blossom Jamboree winning Canadian band from Nova site. Just for the record, Wayne & Jane Foundation, or BBJF. In a nutshell this Scotia, Blue Horizon. and yours truly joined the foundation. foundation intends to preserve and maintain the park for musical festivals, I first met Blue Horizon at SPBGMA particularly Bluegrass Music, in perpetuity in Nashville last winter, where they came in ih in the band competition. so that our grandchildren and great .g j J J J grandchildren will be able to enjoy the Not only are they great ambassadors natural beauty of the park and the for our Canadian Bluegrass scene entertainment as we know it today. with their hot instrumentation and Basin tight harmonies, but they are super The "For Sale" sign has been taken down Bluegrass people who are a lot of fun to jam to give the foundation an opportunity to with. In Brandon, they "brought the raise the money to make the purchase. Festival house down" and received double There are a number of bluegrass standing O's. Definitely a band to musicians on the Board of Directors as 6y 'l(p.ren Sne{[ check out! I am hoping to convince well as others prominent in the business. them to come to Central Canada sometime in the future to share There are a number of membership had the opportunity to attend the their sound here. options available. I Basin Bluegrass Festival in Vermont in July. This growing festival, now in its 14th Thanks to Linda and Dudley and the The Bill Monroe Bean Blossom Bluegrass year, is held in the Green Mountains near team at Basin Bluegrass Festival for Festival has become a truly international the beautiful little town of Brandon, the warm hospitality, and the icon of the Bluegrass world. It is the Vermont. About four hours south-east of opportunity to make new bluegrass Grand Ole Opry of Bluegrass and has the border at Cornwall, the drive to get friends! attracted bands from Canada, Europe and there takes you through rolling farmland even Japan. I think it would serve us very in Upstate New York, and increasingly well here in Canada to support this mountainous terrain as you approach the foundation as we support the IBMA and Vermont border. The setting for the -OJJJJ BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 17 Page 5 Dill Pickle Rag July os ' . • .·... , ... [Ipco1ni1{g Eventsjor 2008 LOCAL More information to follow in the August ""orkshop Camp: August 12-15, 2008 Slim Chance and The Can~t Hardly newsletter_ (Must register in ad\·a11ce for ,,.-orkshops) Play Boys From more 1nfon11ation e-mail: l\'eepawa Lily Fest i11fo@)1orl/Jernliglttshl11egrass.ca Saturday, July 19~ 2008-4:30 l\IOBS Jam & Get-Together \Vebsite~ http://www. l\'ild Oaks Campground nortlternliglltsbluegrass.cali11dex.html Richer, MB The 27th Annual Cripple Creek Music September 12-14, 2008 Festival More information to follow in the August Bluegrass Jam at Broad,Yay Farm :Morden, MB newsletter. August 29, 30, 31& Sept 01, 2008 July 27, 2008 -10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. A week-end of jamming and bluegrass Featuring Borderlifle Drfre, Stu Claytou, OUT OF PROVINCE music activities. Stage show on Saturday Dale JfcKaJ\ Ca11adia11 Co1111lrJ 0 Sisters, The Great Canadian Barn Dance evening -..vith Ban,· Luft and featuring Ho111ela11d Harmouy, Cripple Creek 5th Annual Blue Grass & Classic The Cra~f Bones Sting Band (,,•,rn•. Band and many more. FREE admission. Country xlusic Festival crazybo11esstri1lgba11tl.ca/ ) Bring your own lmvn chair and enjoyH Hill Spring, AB Camping Fee: Located 1 mile East of Morden (at the July 25-27, 2008 $25.00 for whole weekend (rough UGG/Leisnre Vans Distribution Centre Three Days of Incredible Music on our camping). and 6.5 miles south or 7 miles South of outdoor stage, in the parking lots, and For information call Rosemary and Winkler of H\vy 32, 6 miles West on around the campfire. Our 5th Annual Arnold at 403-625-5226 or send e-mail to HWY 201 and .5 mile North. For more festival will be a weekend of great music n-irmaw(jj)1el11s.11et information, contact George Elias. and great food. Work shops ,vill be held Phone: (204)325-4653. Saturday morning with the open mic to follow. Arts & Crnfts, games for the kids 21st A~IXUAL Chilliwack Blueg1·ass and a whole bunch of family hospitality Festixal MOBS Thank You Campout will make this a must event to attend. Chilliwack Heritage Park Great \Voods Campground Chiliwack1 BC Beausejour} )IB \Ve are honoured, again, to have the Hwy. One at Lickman Road - Exit #ll6 August 01-04, 2008 incredible bluegrass talents of The August 29 to 31, 2008 Relaxing camping/jamming ,11,·eekend at Abrams Brotlters, \vho ha\·e captivated Featuring: Special Co11se11sus, ~Widnigllt the Great Woods Campground. Nashville audiences and performed for Flight, T owu 1l101111tai11, Digger Dm•is Activities \Vil! depend on attendance and packed venues in four European aud To111bs1011e, Tlte Breakmeu, Stay \,Vill be pla.nned on site. countries. They ·will also be here after the Tuned, Borderliue Dri·ve, Q11ee11 's Book your site early. festival for our first Great Canadian Bluegrass. Call: (204) 26&-2&14 Acoustic Music Camp, July 27-30. Weekend $60 / Friday $15 / Saturday E-mail: [email protected] Othe:r great bluegrass groups include: $25 J Sw1day $25. Weekend Camping Alberta's own, Dow11 To T!te u-rootland $10 per unit per night or $20 per unit for the Wootlbeml Bluegrass Band. the \Veekend. Camping with electrical Fred Eaglesmith Admission Prices: hookup $17 .50 or $35 for the weekend The Park TI1eatre Weekend Pass - $60.00/person Purchase Eady Bird Tickets before June 698 Osborne Street Day Passes -Friday: $25.00; 30, 2008 and receive free dryland \Vinnipeg, ~IB. Canada Saturday: $40.00; Sunday: $15.00 campmg Thursday, August 7~ 2008 Youth (10-17) %20 off Phone: 604-792-2069. Fax: 604-792- Show 8 pm, doors 7:15 pm Adult Tickets Go On Sale March 14th. 2640 $22 in advance at T icketmaster 2008 at TICKETh1ASTER.COM E-mail: info@;cl, illfo·ackartsco1mcil. com and WECC {101-583 Ellice Ave.) or phone (403)-777-0000 \Vebsite: http://www. chillin·llckarlsco1111cil.comli11de.\".php? id=50 MOBS Fall Campout & General Xortbern Lights & Old Tyme ~-Iusic l\-Ieeting Festh-al SOlJTH OF THE BORDER August 29 - September Ol, 2007 Xear Big Riwr , SK The )linne-sota Bluegra5s & 01 d- Time Shady Oaks Campground August 15-17, 2008 Music F estfral Box. 149, Sidney, Manitoba Featuring Hungry Hill, Barley Wik, El Rancho lhiiaua, Richmond, :\IN ROH lLO Endless Trai11, Knee Deep, Loue Tree August 7-10 2008 Phone: (204)466-2777 Road and more. Sunday Morning Gospel E-mail: shadyoak,;[email protected]. with In•ill A1111111rlso11 !Continued on page 6) BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 18 Page 6 Dill Pickle Rag July 08 Baf!:fo Corner 1!Y Ed ~yard Finally sununer is here, and I am off to then this is ,vhere to start. There is nothing ,vrong with asking \.vhat Shady Oaks for the weekend, where I key the tune is in, and if there are any hope to do a lot of jamming around the 2. Judge the size and composition of a weird chords in it, so that you can try to firepits with familiar friends, folks I only jam. If there are already 3 banjos play along in the background, and to store see once or nvice a year, and m aybe with thrashing away. your presence will be this info away for later when you sit down some new pickers. This is the joy of an superfluous, so look for another jam. Rule to learn the tune. event like Shady Oaks--lots of music, of thumb : if there is already one, or at meeting new people, and, well, having the most two, of every instrument in the jam, 6. Resist the urge to show off obscure odd amber nectar ..... but I digress. The it is big enough. tunes that you llaYe just learned. OK, it point of this edition of the Comer is to has been a lot of work to learn Mozart's give all you banjo pickers out there some 3. :\fake sure that the group you come Opus 69 in B flat major on the banjo, and reminders about jamming protocol, and across is actually a jam, not a band you want to play it, but chances are no thus to avoid the steely, disapproving rehearsing a set. Especially at one else v,·ill knmv it_ let alone be able to gaze of Tim Verwey, jam meister campground jamming events, this mistake play along_ Jams should ht" occasions to extraordinaire. can happen. play standard tunes that most members of the jam know. A jam is, as the name suggests, can be OK, so now you have found a jam of the tasty and s,veet, but it can also be right size and level of play, you have 7. Han fun!! Above all, jamming is the disagreeable and sour. The French aptly taken out your banjo, and are in the circle. trne reason that 99% of bluegrass players use the noun boeuf for a jam-this Now what? are so dedicated to the music. In a good translates roughly to '\,tev,,", a mix of jam, you will hear both familiar and nev,: several ingredients to make a satisfying 4. Take your turn to play. Most jams tunes, you 1.vill see other players' meal. So, ho,v do we make jams \Vork? are a circle of players, and each selects a interpretations of breaks that you can tune. That person will kick off the tune, absorb and incorporate into your own A jam is a participatory exercise--you or ask someone to kick it off for them. playing, you will make new friends, and ariive at a group of players, and you ,vill Banjos have breaks or lead parts in many maybe even absorb the odd amber need to join in with your 1nstrnment to tunes, but this does not mean to play them nectar ______! really have fun. Folks new to jamming all the time, especially over vocal parts. are often shy to join in, or simply want to \Vat.ch to see if it is your tum t.o play- So, I am off to Shady Oaks to enjoy as stand around the edge of a jam for a while othen.vise chord along quietly on the off much jamming as I can. Hope I see you to listen and enjoy. This is fine, but, at beats. Quietly is the operative \vor-d there. some point, you will want to join in. here-as Greg Cahill once told me_ "If Good-now, here are three tips to you can't hear the vocals over your As usual. beef and bouquets to e. indicate if the jam you are standing at :is picking from behind the banjo, for sure no [email protected] or 204 257 0919. the one for you: one else will be able to bear the vocals from out frontl !'" 1. Know your lewl of playing. If the This month's banjo joke: jam session yon have been watching is 5. If you don't know the tune, stay out concert level playing, and yon are a of it,. or quietly chord along. This is Q: What has a G-string~ a head~ beginner, then maybe you are going to be \vhy you jam, to learn new tunes. But and a nut?? in over your head. Many folks like to jam jams are not rehearsals -add this tune to at "'slow-pitch" level and have a great your '·-to-do" list to learn for the next j am, A: A partially castrated time doing it, so if you are a beginner, where you can trot out your new break. Chippendale dancer. (Continuedfi-orn page 5) Poor Be1111y (Sat & Sun), Imry Bridge [email protected]. Features ..tl1!01111tai11 Heart (Sat & Sun), (Fri & Sat), Jforga11s R1111 (Sat & Sun), Gr115s/ow11e (Fri & Sat), Cadillac Sky The Bag O'Dirt Band (Thu & Fri), Bill & (Thur), The Dirk Powell Band (Fri & Kate Isles (Sat & Sun), Bre11ne11 Leigh Bisman:-k Blue-g1·ass Festival and Sat), Ba/fa T 011jo11rs (Fri & Sat). 1.Uike (Fri & Sat), and T/Je Roe Fami(r Singers Bluegrass Academy Seeger (Fri-Sun), The Stairwell Sisters (Sat & Sun). Sleepy HollmY Arts Park, (Thu-Sat), J,fichael Cleveland & For further information, check web site at Bismarck, ND Flamekeeper (Fri). ]:fouroe Crossing http:t 1www.mi1111esotabl11egrf1ss.org/ August 15&16} 2008 (Thur-Sun), S'awtooth Bluegrass Bn11d calendnrl mbotmf!iudex. .html or call 800- For more information call: (Sat & Sun)_ The DitcltLilies (Thu & Fri), 635-3037 or email: 701-255-1768 BMACC Notes- July 2008 Page 19 Youth Bluegrass Boot Camp Some Bean Blossom Tommy Wade's Guest Appearance Memories with Glen Bonham & Southern Tradition BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 20 The Thorne:> Volle~ Blu~ rn:s, fb~atiort" PRESENTS ,.. 'IBEBlmMNUI. . ... ~ ! ·,·. . Canada's Outdoor Park Leavin' Train Three Fox Drive The Foggy Hogtown Boys James King Lonesome River Band Nothin' Fancy Spanky Moore New Cumberland The Northern Sons Foxtail Gid-R-Done SECOND STAGE FESTIVAL FEATURES Showcase Bands Food Concessions Crafts Workshops on Banjo. Cfothing Guitar, Dobro, Mandolin, Instruments Fiddle. Bass. & Vocals by CD and DVD Sales the Professionals Large Camp Sites Special Children's and Day Parking & Shopping in Nearby Youth Sessions Katherine Wheatley & Wendell Ferguson This is a Family Event Woodstock Advance Weekend Pass $75. At the Gate $85. Children 16 and under free accompan ied For tickets and information call: by an Adult. DaHy admission Friday Only $30. Saturday Only $40. Sunday Only $30. 1-888-288-4423 Pr ices quoted include all applicable taxes. Reserved Dry Camping is included with ticket or go to: purchase. www .saUycreekmusicfestivaLca www.tvba.ca Tickets and Campsite Reservations are available now. Sound by John Cameron EDITORIAL I just have a few more things that I want to mention. First, if any of you reading this newsletter want to submit articles for publication please do so. The newsletter is supposed to be a source of information for association members so the more input the better. I thought, for a while, that this would almost be a "Bean Blossom" issue except for the always informative "Out Among The Stars" column by Tom Mccreight. Fortunately a couple of people came to my rescue. Ann Smith submitted an article on Tottenham in her "ANN-ECDOTES" column and the Karen Snell submitted an article on the Basin Bluegrass Festival in Vermont. Anyone attending festivals or any other events is hereby invited to send their impressions, highlights and pictures to me by e-mail or snail mail. I can't promise to get everything in each issue because we are currently limited to the number of pages we can produce because of cost constraints. However, we do have a plan in mind which may allow us to produce a larger newsletter. So all you budding writers out there sharpen your pencils and keyboards and get published. Some members have indicated that they would prefer to receive "NOTES" electronically. After some discussion among the board members it was decided to give it a try for the next issue. This will allow us to produce a full colour issue with more content at less cost and hopefully save some trees. The snail mail copies will still be in greyscale because the cost of colour printing is prohibitive. If you want to receive your next issue electronically, please send me your current email address. I have some but they are probably out of date. I also want to put in a plug for the "Country Music News" a very informative publication covering everything Country including Bluegrass. The Canadian Bluegrass Report compiled by Larry Delaney includes reports on various festivals, events and happenings across the country. If you want to get into this column, please send your input to: [email protected] or Country Music News, P.O. Box 7323 (Vanier Terminal), Ottawa, ON, Kll 8E4, Phone: 613-745-6006, Fax: 613-745-0576. Check out their website at www.countrymusicnews.ca. The subscription rate is $28.00 yearly (12 issues). This is a worthwhile publication deserving of our support. That's about all I have to say for now except to ask again; let's make this newsletter a two way effort. Get your thoughts out to the membership. Let the Board of Directors know what's going on in the field. You are many; we are few. We can use your help. My contact information follows: Wes Lowe 339 Wellington St. N. Woodstock, ON N4S 656 Phone: 519-539-8967 Email: [email protected] Let's hear from you. Thanks, BMACC Notes-July 2008 Page 22