Volume 28 • Number 4 ‘08 Summer Calendar Pullout! July - August Peanut Butter Cookies! Stevenson Festival! 2008 Pickathon 2008! Bluegrass Expresswww.oregonbluegrass.org “To promote, encourage, foster and cultivate the preservation, appreciation and understanding, enjoyment, support and performance of bluegrass and other closely related music of the United States.” - The purpose of the Oregon Bluegrass Association, from the articles of incorporationIncorporation Why Create Story by Claire Levine theOBA Why create the OBA? and ask what was on the minds of one had heard of the ?Internet. “To promote, encourage, foster and those who started the organization. In the early 80s, bluegrass was just ?cultivate the preservation,? apprecia- Although the OBA? began more than beginning ?to take off in Oregon and tion and understanding, enjoyment, 25 years ago, many of its founders are Southwest Washington. Stew Dodge support and performance of bluegrass still active in bluegrass music and in was running a festival in Clark Coun- and other closely related music of the the larger musical community. The ty and George Rellis was putting on United States.” Express talked to two of those found- events in Eugene, but there was little The purpose of the Oregon Bluegrass ers: Steve Reischman, the first presi- continuity. From Steve Waller’s per- Association, from the articles of In- dent, who was a long-time member of spective, the OBA was all about com- corporation Eugene’s Good n’ Country and begin- munication. Besides picking, singing and listen- ning to promote musical events, and “We’d see each other at festivals, and ing to music, it seems that Oregon Steve Waller, who has performed clas- there were some pickin’ parties, I had bluegrass fans have two favorite pas- sic bluegrass for nearly 40 years as some of the earliest. People were just times. a member of the Sawtooth Mountain getting to know each other. We were One is arguing about what bluegrass Boys. doing what today you’d call network- is. The other is arguing about what the Just as today’s OBA members have ing. Often, we’d run into people who Oregon Bluegrass Association should different perspective on the organiza- would say, ‘I like bluegrass, and I’d be doing. tion, the founders had different visions like to know more about it, but I don’t The two questions are somewhat re- as well. They also had strong passions know how to find anybody who plays lated – and neither has an answer that about the music, a lot of energy – and it.” will satisfy everyone. But to consider the skills and talent to create a healthy So, he said, the group of musicians the second, it may be worthwhile to organization with an excellent com- who also were becoming friends look back at the origins of the OBA munication network, long before any- agreed they needed a more formal way continued on page 7 5th Annual Presented by Two Stages Grammy Winning National Bands Your Favorite A Benefit for Regional Bands Ethos Music Center Workshops Jamming Everywhere January 9, 10 & 11, 2009 Oregon Convention Center, Portland www.rivercitybluegrass.com Dailey & Vincent Dailey & Vincent Sierra Hull Ralph Stanley Plus: The Jim Kweskin Jug Band featuring Bill Keith and the Barbeque Orchestra, The Kruger Brothers, J.D. Crowe & The New South, The Whites featuring Jerry Douglas, The Dan Tyminski Band, The Fairfield Four, Longview, Cadillac Sky and more to come! Plus Youth programs, workshops, dancing, music vendors, activities Early-bird tickets on-sale NOW! Call us at (503)282-0877 or order at www.rivercitybluegrass.com For continuing lineup information please visit the website Table of Contents Proud Member of: 5th Annual Presented by July / August 2008 • Volume 28 / Number 4 • Newsletter of the Oregon Bluegrass Association • www.oregonbluegrass.org Two Stages July - Aug. 2008 Vol.28 No. 4 Grammy Winning This Issues Features www.oregonbluegrass.org National Bands How the OBA Came to Be: by Claire Levine Cover Bluegrass Express Your Favorite OBA Treasurers Report: Profit & Loss Statement 6 A Benefit for Bluegrass Express is a bi-monthly Regional Bands Pickathon 2008 11 Ethos Music Center newsletter dedicated to informing Workshops A Recipe From the Cookie Lady: by Fern Anderson 12 members of the Oregon Bluegrass Jamming Sound Advice: by Mark Gensman 18 Association about local, regional Everywhere Sharp or Flatt? by Chick Rose 21 and national bluegrass issues, events and opportunities. From Old Things, To Old-Time Music 25 Columns & Commentary Bluegrass Express Staff Membership, Ad & Publication Information 4 Publisher and Editors January 9, 10 & 11, 2009 OBA President’s Letter: Welcome Chip Russell 5 Colby Buswell (50) 4-6806 | [email protected] OBA Around the State: Southern Oregon News 9 Christine Palmer Oregon Convention Center, Portland (50) 282-0877 | [email protected] www.rivercitybluegrass.com Calendars, Lists & Info Contributing Editor Local Radio Time Listings 5 Claire Levine [email protected] Contributing Business Sponsors Dailey & 11 Copy Editor Vincent 2008 Concert & Festival Pullout Calendar 1 Kathy Boyd Scheduled Jams Around the Northwest 19 [email protected] Supporting Performer Listings 26 Webmasters & Web Content Tony McCormick (50) 0-229 | [email protected] Jon Ostrom Dailey & Vincent (50) 18-8268 | [email protected] Advertising Mark Gensman Sierra Hull Ralph Stanley (50) 691-1177 | [email protected] Calendar Chip Russell Plus: The Jim Kweskin Jug Band featuring Bill Keith and the Barbeque Orchestra, (50) 29-6599 | [email protected] The Kruger Brothers, J.D. Crowe & The New South, The Whites featuring Jerry Douglas, Contact the OBA Regarding membership The Dan Tyminski Band, The Fairfield Four, Longview, Cadillac Sky and more to come! [email protected] The Oregon Bluegrass Association (OBA) Plus Youth programs, workshops, dancing, music vendors, activities PO Box 1115, Portland, OR 97207 is a 50(c)() non-profit corporation founded in 1982. It’s pur- Early-bird tickets on-sale NOW! pose is to promote,encourage, foster and cultivate the preservation, appreciation, understanding, Call us at (503)282-0877 or order at www.rivercitybluegrass.com Early covers of the Bluegrass Express. The Express has been in publication since the early ‘80’s. enjoyment, support and performance of bluegrass and other closely related music. The Bluegrass Express is printed on 0% post-consumer For continuing lineup information please visit the website Visit www.oregonbluegrass.org today for tons of bluegrass information. recycled paper. OBA Bluegrass Express - July / August 2008 Oregon Bluegrass Association Board Membership Information Advertising The OBA Board of Directors invites Your Express advertising will di- you to join the OBA and to participate rectly reach over 600 households of The OBA Board in its many activities.Our membership bluegrass enthusiasts while helping Contact the OBA: 503 321-5077 benefits include a subscription to the OBA to keep publishing this valuable bi •monthly Bluegrass Express, fre- resource. Tear sheets or extra copies of www.oregonbluegrass.org quent mailings about events, and tick- the Express are available. We appreci- et discounts to Northwest bluegrass ate your support of the Oregon Blue- Chip Russell - President events. Annual membership dues are grass Association. [email protected] $20 for a General Member, $50 for Supporting Performers and $100 for Submissions Colby Buswell - Vice President a Contributing Business Sponsor (see [email protected] Please contact Mark Gensman via page 7), as well as other options. To e-mail at [email protected] for join, complete the application on the David Hausner - Treasurer information about placing an ad for dave.hausner@nrdsi,com back cover and mail with your check your music related business in the to: Oregon Bluegrass Association, OBA Bluegrass Express. Larry Wilder - Secretary P.O. Box 1115, Portland, OR 97207. [email protected] Payment Web Site Lisa Remmer - Membership The OBA prefers to receive adver- [email protected] Features include a calendar, excerpts tising payment in advance. We would from the current issue of the Express, like one year contracts six months in and links for local bands. Come visit Volunteer Coordinators advance, and we will bill for the next us online! Visit the OBA web page to- six months. Chris Standridge day! www.oregonbluegrass.org. Please make checks payable to: [email protected] The Oregon Bluegrass Association, Sponsored Jams Holly Wyman mail to PO Box 1115, [email protected] The OBA sponsors jam sessions in Portland, Oregon 97207. Portland, Coburg, Roseburg, as well as Pendleton. Check the Scheduled Members at Large Bluegrass Express Advertising Rates Jams section of this issue for a com- Fred Coates plete listing of these and other jams [email protected] througout Oregon. If you are interested (size) (dimension) (two + issues) in organizing an OBA-sponsored jam, Matt Snook contact any of the Board members or [email protected] Express Staff at the phone numbers or Full Page 8x10” $110.00 $99.00 Cleve Friedman e-mail addresses listed on this page Half Page 8x5’’ $65.00 $58.00 [email protected] and on page . Quarter Page 35/8x5’’ $45.00 $40.00 Tony McCormick [email protected] Articles & Editorial Deadlines Eighth Page 31/2x2 5/8’’ $25.00 $20.00 Charles Davis The OBA Board invites you to submit Business Card 31/2x2’’ $25.00 $20.00 [email protected] letters, stories, photos and articles to the Bluegrass Express.Published files Add 3% for late payment. remain in our archives and art is re- turned upon request. Deadlines for all art and copy: December 1st for the Ad Specs: January and February issue; Febru- When submitting an advertisment to The OBA holds board elections each April as ary 1st, for the March and April issue; be in the Bluegrass Express, please be individual terms expire. The Board of Direc- April 1st for the May and June issue; sure the file is black and white, 300 tors invites you to join our monthly meetings.