1 COPYRIGHT © CENTRAL TEXAS BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION Central IBMA Member Vol. 32 No. 11 Texas Bluegrass Nov 1, 2010 Copyright © 2010 by Central Texas Bluegrass Association CTBA Celebrates the 10 Year Anniversary of “O’Brother” with Special Screening The Central Texas Bluegrass Association is pleased to host a screening of the award win- ning film, O’Brother, Where Art Thou? In cel- ebration of the film’s 10-year anniversary, this event will combine outstanding live bluegrass/ old time music featuring local all-star pickers with a screening of the film that inspired a re- vival of these genres. The film is rated PG-13. Order a drink or dinner or both and enjoy an afternoon of festive entertainment. (on South Lamar) Saturday, November 6, 2010 3:00 to 6:00pm Tickets are $15 and will be available at the door, or reserve online (www.drafthouse.com). Tickets are limited to the first 100 patrons and are on sale NOW! Don’t get caught sleeping with the toads.... Child Policy: Children 6 & up will be allowed only with a parent or guardian. No children un- der the age of 6 will be allowed. The Fiddler’s Green Music Shop has gener- ously donated an instrument to be raffled off the night of the event. Proceeds from the raffle will go to HAAM, the Health Alliance for Aus- tin Musicians. 2 COPYRIGHT © CENTRAL TEXAS BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION The Listening Post The Listening Post is a forum established to monitor bluegrass musical recordings, live performances, or events in Texas. Our mailbox sometimes contains CDs for us to review. Here is where you will find reviews of the CD’s Central Texas Bluegrass Association receives as well as reviews of live performances or workshops. Paluxy River Bluegrass Festival - Glen Rose - 10/2/10 Della Mae - EP Each year the organizers at IBMA mix in new talent with the old guard. Two bands caught our atten- tion right away. One was Rocking Acoustic Circus from Oklahoma and the other was the five woman band of Della Mae. Now I need to tell you, these aren’t just a group of friends that met at school and decided to start a band. This is a group of young, but seasoned vet- erans. The band features the multiple contest win- ning fiddling of Kimber Who are those young guys playing music with Sammy Shelor? Oh, that’s Ludiker who dazzled the the Lonesome River Band playing at the Paluxy River Bluegrass Festival IBMA audiences. The in- that was held in Glen Rose September 30th - October 2nd. LRB just doesn’t credible flatpicking of seem the same without Ronnie Bow- Arvil Smith, the flaw- man, Don Rigsby, and Kenny Smith less banjo of Grace Van’t (all having great careers after LRB). I’m Hof, the hypnotic enthu- sure the audiences were pleased too. siasm of bassist Aman- I saw this version of LRB at IBMA and da Kawalski, and then even through a bad sound system there is the beauty, the they were amazing. Paluxy also had great voice and awesome the great sounds of Audie Blaylock songwriting of Jenni Lyn and Redline (pictured right). Bands Gardner. This band is from Texas performing were Digger turning heads alright but Davis, Bluefield, Salt Grass, Joe Bass not just with their youth- & Double Mountain, and Lonesome ful beauty. These girls can Prairie. Thanks to Ken Brown who flat knock your socks off took these great photos and a big with awesome picking. thank you to the City of Glen Rose! 3 COPYRIGHT © CENTRAL TEXAS BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION CTBA President Jami Hampton Paints Bright Future Blind But Now I See Kent Gustafson provides a very well researched bi- ography of one of Blue- grass and Old Time mu- sic’s greatest guitar icons. The story of Doc Watson’s life is one of tragedy and success. Kent provides a vivid image of Doc’s early The last week in September, Jami Hampton called together members of Cen- childhood as the young tral Texas Bluegrass for the Annual Meeting. Was it just two years ago when man who quit the Raleigh CTBA was on the ropes, gasping for air, and considering shutting down? School for the Blind at a Maybe so. One thing for sure is that under Jami Hampton’s leadership and very early age and began with a re-energized Board, CTBA is once again thriving and doing good for down the path as a musi- the bluegrass community. The scholarships awarded this year were the larg- cian busking for attention est ever given out by CTBA. Then there is the support of Old Settlers Mu- and money. He even tells sic Fest, KOOP radio, HAAM, the International Bluegrass Music Museum, and the story of how Doc’s IBMA. Your member dollars are going a long way towards providing support brother killed the 16 year to these fine organizations as well as seeing to it that the future of bluegrass old cat (with Mother’s is going strong through CTBA’s support of the education of young people. permission) so they could Thank you for your support of CTBA and keep on picking! use the hide to make a banjo head. He relives Doc’s years with Merle AFTM’s Fall Festival & a FREE Bluegrass Fest in Dallas! and gravely describes the impact of Merle’s untime- How do you decide which event to go to when both are held on the same ly death. weekend? The Austin Friends of Traditional Music (AFTM) had an outstand- The book is an easy read ing lineup this year at Camp Ben, October 15 & 16. Everyone attending had and one that is hard to a great time. The music was fabulous and the jamming went on until the put down once you get “weeee hours of the morn”. past the first few chapters. At the same time was the fine FREE bluegrass festival inFarmers Branch, just I learned many things north of Dallas. Audiences were treated with Dan Tyminski, Rhonda Vin- about Doc and his wife cent, The Seldom Scene, J.D. Crowe, Jim Hurst, the Boxcars (Adam Steffy of over 60 years, Rosa Lee & Ron Stewart), The Traveling McCoury’s, the Claire Lynch Band and oth- Carlton. I highly recom- ers. The music was outstanding and the fireworks display was phenomenal mend that you pick this but that’s not why most folks go to festivals. They go for the jamming...which book up. It’s a good ‘un. was sparse. 4 COPYRIGHT © CENTRAL TEXAS BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION Bluegrass/Old Time Jam Session New Heart of Texas Jam Session Location (located 20 miles west off of Interstate Hwy I-35 half way between Dallas and San Antonio) Sunday Nov 20, 2010 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. A Killeen Texas Historic Marker site An outdoor acoustic bluegrass jam session in the park next to the Blackburn Log Cabin next to the Killeen, Texas Community Center at 2201 E. Veterans Memorial Blvd, Killeen, Texas (corner of W. S. Young and Veterans Memorial Blvd) - across from McDonald’s Players bring chairs if you need them. Visitors bring lawn chairs Bring your guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, other string instruments 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. - Children’s session 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. - Beginners/Intermediate session - Blue Grass for More information contact [email protected] or goto www.mecatx.ning.com - sheet music will be provided for beginners Every Sunday 3:00 p.m. CDT - Watch/participate in a beginners practice jam session on www.Ustream.tv channel - dfkott 5 COPYRIGHT © CENTRAL TEXAS BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION From the Mailbox.... So, we ask people to tell us what they think and guess what? Some folks actually take us up on it. We always love to hear from you. It’s good to find out about new events, changing venues or locations, pick- ers that have passed on or those that need our prayers. Listen here though. If there is something on your mind, go ahead and get it out. I mean really! There’s no reason to keep this sort of thing bottled up! You’ve got to SHARE, people!!!! Some of this is too good not to share.... Another great newsletter, but...seriously y’all? I see that misspelled all the time but a newsletter, in Texas no less, should get it right. It was used twice in the (Oct 2010) edition, and twice misspelled. It’s basic contraction rules: ya’ll = ya will y’all = you all (and is NOT singular as a frequent junk mail states) - Sheryl Sultenfuss (Editor: Ya’ll pay close attention when y’all will). Best (IBMA) memory: Playing banjo along with Ian Perry and Mike Kropp of Banjo Newsletter and Austin’s own Dave Seeman. We were on the 9th floor of the hotel when the police came and said “no jamming here,” and they were serious! Who knew there really is such a thing as the Bluegrass Police! - Eddie Collins Hello, I’ll be staying near Bandera this winter and see that the Bandera Jam is on break for November and De- cember. Are there other jams happening close by? I play upright bass, banjo and sing. I like the traditional blue- grass tunes and some of the old classic country. My wife and I hope to meet some bluegrass people while we are in Texas. - Garry & Theresa Gerossie, Canterbury, NH (603) 783-0037 (Editor: Ya’ll make them welcome, won’t y’all?) A jam is starting on the 3rd Saturday of the month, starting November 20.