Spectacular Christmas Lights

The Amarante family begins stringing lights and assembling animations way back on labor day hoping to be ready to light up Winter Wonderland by thanksgiving eve. With great effort they manage to have the 185 thousand bulbs sparkling on time to greet the thousands of visitors who will walk the marvelous paths of the Wonderland that is open until New Years day. The Wonderland is located on route 101 in Killingly, Ct. Here's a few video clips for you to enjoy. check out my You Tube channel at John Holland@bluegrassers

Blueridge Parkway Visit

I love Bluegrass, stringband and old time mountain music So when I had the opportunity to spend a week in Southwesten Virginia and Western North Carolina I packed up and headed south. I used a book written by Joe Wilson titled "A Guide to the Crooked Road" to find places to hear the music I favor. The book points out dates, locations, and interesting information about jams, concerts and festivals along Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. I got to see and hear some great performances but I also took side trips to places of interest off the Blueridge Parkway. I've inserted some images here, hope you enjoy. Joe's book can be purchased on Amazon.

Bluegrass Grammy's

Bluegrasstoday.com announced nominees for the 2024 Bluegrass awards to be held in February They are: Radio John: Songs of John Hartford- Sam Bush Lovin' of the Game- Michael Cleveland Mighty Poplar- Mighty Poplar Bluegrass- Willie Nelson Me And Dad- Billy Strings City of Gold- Mollie Tuttle and Golden Highway

Smokey Greene Passes

I think most of us hate change, we resist change, when it comes to my Bluegrass passion i just can't deal with change. whether it's in a bands lineup or maybe a festival moving to a new venue or ceasing to exist. I get pleasure out of remembering my time listening to a particular band or in knowing a place will look the same, have the same feeling. i'll be anticipating seeing familiar faces, hearing remembered music, eating festival food and feeling this is where I belong. So I'm saddened to know change has happened once again with the passing of one of the great gentlemen of Bluegrass, Smokey Greene. He wrote songs everyone could relate too and learn from. He had a decades long career and could be counted on to move you to tears, smiles, laughs and a good feeling overall. I know for me Jenny Brook just won't be the same without him. But change is constant so i'll have to deal with it and remember Smokey as he was up there on the stage giving it his best for all of us.