The Weekend at Joe Val

The 25th. Annual Joe Val had everything a first class festival needs, a top rate lineup, a clean well layed out space, organized, knowledgeable, and courteous volunteers, good dining services, plenty of work shops, (50) covering all aspects of the genre, a good assortment of vendors, and plenty of space to jam. It's easy to understand why it was named Bluegrass event of the year by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2006. Moreover, the artists I talked to were very impressed with the accommodations and general treatment they received.
Pictured below are some of the bands that performed over the weekend. I missed several because of attending workshops and jamming but from what I saw personally and what I heard from those who saw all the bands they all exceeded expectations.

Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out showed how wonderful harmony vocals can be as they did several a capella in their set and Steve Dilling (banjo) filled the spots between songs with hilarious "down home" humor.

Russell Moore

Justen Haynes,Steve Dilling, and Russell

Rabbit in a Log, the duet of Skip Gorman and Richard Starkey performed old time Bluegrass and showed their pickin skills as well.

Skip Gorman and Richard Starkey

The Gibson Brothers have three songs on the Top 30 Songs list published by Bluegrass Unlimited and their hit album "Ring the Bell" is currently number one and has been for three months running, always a hit when they come to the Joe Val.

Joe Walsh

center>

Eric Gibson

Leigh Gibson

Ryan Roberts is another fine vocalist from Canada, doing much of the lead singing with Special Consensus.

Ryan Roberts

Greg Cahill

The Spinney Brothers put on a fine set of traditional Bluegrass and received well deserved applause throughout the set. They announced they would be touring full time now as they've sold their mink farm and have decided to live their dream.

Rick Spinney and Gary Dalrymple

Gary and Allen Spinney

Joe Val Friday

Dan Paisley and Southern Grass performed as expected, just Great, even though missing regular fiddler T.J.Lundy who injured his hand and had to miss the trip north, fortunately Dan's friend, Scott Eager filled in wonderfully. Dan sang crowd favorites like "The Room Over Mine" and IBMA Song of the Year, "Don't Throw Mama's Flowers Away," and was asked back for more, they just love him.

Michael and Danny Paisley

Scott Eager

Bobby Lundy

The Josh Williams Band with the deep resonant voice of its leader was another hit of the night. Really top shelf musicians and singers.

Josh Williams

Randy and Ashby Frank

Randy Barnes

Jason McKendree

Buddy Merriam and Back Roads gave us some driving traditional grass and the highlight of the set was Buddy teaming up with Mike Sassano for some harmony mandolin tunes that really entertained, they were sensational.

Mike Sassano and Buddy Merriam

Jerry Oland

Ernie Sykes Jr.

Buddy Merriam

Kathy DeVine

Bob Harris

Acoustic Blue always brings energy to the stage, strong vocals, tight harmony, and a desire to entertain is the trademark of this band, they hit a homerun tonight.

Corey Zink

T. Shaun Batho

Bear Aker and Mike VanAlstyne

The Berklee Bluegrass Allstars kicked off the weekend of music at the 25th.annual Joe Val Festival held at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel this weekend. This group of talented musicians really got the audience in a positive mood. Completely at ease on stage they poured out some fine vocals and superb pickin and Dr. Hollander looked to be very pleased with his charges.

Duncan Wickle

Melissa Wright

Lucas Poole

Courtney Hartmann

Trent Freeman and Sierra Hull

Joe Val Thursday

A bunch of Bluegrassers are here a day early to take advantage of the Master Classes offered on Friday before the main event kicks off at 5 p.m. with a welcoming reception. They're jamming in the lower lobby this evening. Harry Grant and crew are setting up the stage and sound system at this very moment. Things are coming together.

Getting Closer

I'm really worried about this storm headed for New England. I've got visions of being snowbound, desperately trying to dig out and finally succeeding at about the time the last act hits the stage at the Joe Val. So, for my sake let's hope it turns out to be a big nothing.

Connecticut's long time Bluegrass band, The Grass Routes Band will be showcased at the Festival this year. The group has jammed there many times in the past so now they'll be getting a closer look by a larger audience and that's good, they make great traditional music. They're fronted by Bill Reveley, vocals, fiddle, and mandolin and Marilyn Toback- Reveley harmony and rhythm guitar, also new member,veteran singer and guitarist, Dave Orlomoski, and on bass Joe DeLillo, with banjoist Joe Lemeris rounding out the band.

The Grass Routes Band

Acoustic Blue will be appearing on the main stage at Joe Val on Friday night, I've seen this band several times and they always impress me with their songwriting skills and their strong vocals and polished appearance.

T. Shaun Batho

Corey Zink

Bear Aker and Mike VanAlstyne

Joe Val in Four Days

The Gibson Brothers said they just can't wait for the Joe Val Festival to begin, me too. And it's just four days away, Yeah. I get a kick out of watching fans arrive, loaded down with instruments, carrying mini- refrigerators, hot plates, lots of food, it’s like an indoor campground. And then the "pickin" begins minutes after the folks arrive, every nook and cranny’s filled with music. For some it’s family reunion time, old friends renew that bond ,that camaraderie that the love of Bluegrass brings about. At the same time volunteers are busily setting up lighting, sound, staging, chairs and all the other chores that must get done. Stan Zdonick and Gerry Katz can be seen hustling back and forth almost at a run tending to the business that needs to be finished to keep the Festival running smoothly. It’s a very busy and exciting little camp for three days that seem to end to soon.

Leigh and Eric Gibson

Here's pics of just a few groups performing, for a complete list go tothe BBU website

Greg Cahill

Josh Williams

Dan Paisley

Michael Cleveland

Past Joe Val Workshops and Jams

One of the highlights of every Joe Val Festival is the workshop. They take place for several hours of each Saturday and Sunday and they’re always full. They are led by faculty members from local Colleges and University’s as well as some of the artists of national touring bands. Always a learning experience and often quite rewarding the classes range from musicians health to harmony vocals to lead instrumental creation, song writing, instrument setup and much more. If that isn’t worth the price of admission then how about round the clock jamming, sometimes with the stars themselves. Indeed many attendees never get to see the performances, they’re jamming all over the place and that’s just fine with them. There truly is something for everyone at Joe Val.

Michael Cleveland

Bobby Hicks

Been jamming all night, no problem, you can find relief in the downstairs lobby

Alecia Nugent