Podunk Bluegrass Festival Weekend

All good things come to an end, so the saying goes, and although Podunk came to an end last Sunday the memories linger. It was wonderful. The festival was so organized and well run I don't think you could ask for more either from the fans view or that of the performers, everything was done right, the campground was clean and well groomed, the vendors were friendly, the food was good and diverse and of course the music was the best. All the bands it seems cranked it up a notch and all received robust applause and there were many encores. The Tony Trischka Band performed for two hours Saturday night and folks were still clamoring for more, that set, with banjo superstars: Marc Johnson, Bill Keith, Joe Mullins, Alan Munde, Ron Block, Pete Wernick and Ned Luberecki showing off their talent was just superlunary. Danny Paisley gave us his usual outstanding lead vocals and the band, Southern Grass was on the mark.

Danny Paisley

Donnie Eldreth Dan and Bobby Lundy

Blue Moon Rising, a young band of talented singers and songwriters pleased the crowd with their original material and fine pickin. Bandmembers are: Keith Garrett, mandolin; Chris West, guitar; Justin Jenks, banjo and Harold Nixon on bass.

Keith Garrett

Chris West and Justin Jenks on banjo

Michael Daves handled the vocals for the Trischka band and he did it well and he also played blistering guitar solos.

Tony Trischka Band

Ned Luberecki

Joe Mullins

Pete Wernick

Jon Weisberger

Ron Block

Bill Keith

A super picker, Michael sings like a mountain man

Michael Daves

Marc Johnson

Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle and Jerry Salley, singer, songwriters with more hits than you can shake a stick at thrilled the crowd with a bonanza of wonderful songs they have written over the years.

Jackson,Cordle and Salley

Larry Cordle and Jerry Salley

Carl Jackson

The Larry Stephenson Band

Jason Barie Kristin Benson Kyle Perkins

Four time winner of SPBGMA's "Male Vocalist of the Year", Larry Stephenson's fine tenor voice was a treat for the senses. Backed up by the talented band of : Dustin Benson, Klye Perkins, Kristin Scott Benson and Jason Brie.

Larry and Dustin Benson

The Steeldrivers rocked the crowd with their blend of edgy bluegrass and bluesy country. Each member of the band has played with the best of both country and bluegrass bands. They know how to entertain and did.

Tammy Rogers,Mike Fleming and Chris Stapleton

Mike,Tammy and Chris

The Muellers are another young band (except for Mom Karen, on bass, and Pop, Curt, on banjo)that display talent beyond their years. They feature twin and triple fiddling good vocals and musicianship.

Laurah Mueller

Laurah and Sarah Mueller

A very popular event at the Podunk Festival is the Kids Academy that brings together young folks who have never played together and in fact are at different skill levels and melds them into a functioning band in only two days. The Director, Tim St.Jean is assisted by talented musicians: Vicki Baker, Gail Wade, Cathy Day, Peggy Harvey, and Dave Dick.

Kids Academy

Tim St.Jean

The always entertaining Karl Shiflett and Big Country gave us their blend of early Country and Bluegrass, fans love em

Karl Shiflett and Big Country

Claire Lynch can't be beat, with that mesmerizing, smooth, clear voice that you just can't get enough of and she's surrounded herself with top shelf musicians: Jim Hurst with his rapid solos up and down the neck of his guitar that are not just fast but they sound good too, Jason Thomas, also a virtuoso playing fiddle, and Mark Schatz who is a master of the base and can hambone with the best of them, and did I mention, he clogs as well.

Jason Thomas

Claire and Mark Schatz

Jim Hurst

Claire Lynch

Podunk Day One

Rain and thunder turned into sunny and warm thursday at show time.A good crowd on hand for the opening of the Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival, a very well organized program that has taken all the needs of the artists and fans into consideration. For the present I'll just post some photos as time is not on my side.

Bryan Simpson of Cadillac Sky

A super high energy set by these cutting edge musicians.

Ross Holmes

Mike Jump

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Matt Menefee

Cadillac Sky

Gravity from Sweden

Dale Ann Bradley

Getting Ready

After a 10 hour drive from Virginia the band, Nothin Fancy, still had enough energy to thrill the fans with their routine of songs, jokes, songs and more jokes. These folks are entertainers in every sense of the word.

Mike Andes of Nothin Fancy

Tony Shorter

Chris Sexton

Mitchell Davis

Tim D'Emore

Tim sat in for guitarist Gary Ferris who lost a family member

PineCone Bluegrass Blast

PineCone, a part of the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music is a non-profit organization formed in 1984 as a vehicle to honor traditional and “old time music” which is a large part of North Carolina’s heritage. In an effort to raise 5,000 dollars to help support its concert series PineCone will present its first ever “ Bluegrass Blast and Silent Auction” at Lake Benson Park in Garner, NC on August 16. The Gibson Brothers, International Bluegrass Music Association’s “Emerging Artist of the Year," 1998, have been invited to perform their mix of traditonal and original bluegrass. The folks at Garner will be treated to wonderful brother harmonies as well as exciting, masterful picking by Leigh Gibson on flattop guitar, Eric Gibson on banjo, Rickey Hayes on his own "Hayes" mandolin, Clayton Campbell on fiddle and Mike Barber on bass. The Gibson's are always a joy to hear.

Eric and Leigh Gibson

Mike Barber and Rick Hayes

Clayton Campbell

Mike Barber

Eric Gibson

PineCone is supported by the United Arts Council of Raleigh and the City of Raleigh as well as the North Carolina Arts Council. Garner, is located in the north central section of NC known as the “Triangle” ( anchored by the cities of Chapel Hill; Raleigh and Durham.)