Ginny from the Blog

I’ve always enjoyed Bluegrass, but I’ve really been getting into this banjo picking, fiddle wielding music lately. It’s probably because my weekend at the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival was so lovely, that every time I hear Bluegrass now my mind wanders back to the music-filled campgrounds.

1. It’s easy to enjoy Bluegrass music in the Triangle. I recently discovered the Pinecone Bluegrass Show, which airs at 6 p.m. every Sunday on 94.7 WQDR. The three hour show is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and provides a relaxing soundtrack to Sunday chores.

Pinecone is a local nonprofit dedicated to preserving, presenting and promoting traditional music. From their website:

Traditional music includes fiddle tunes, ballads, bluegrass, blues, gospel, swing, folk, and all the variations and derivations that our culture has nurtured. It is the folk product of community heritage and spirit. it is the musical spice that gives North Carolina its own taste. It is music that increases the attractivenes of our community and contributes a cohesive cultural identity. Its performers learned from their families or community or deliberately sought teachers from a traditional musical heritage.

2. PineCone presents several concert series around the Triangle. The next concert is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Joyner Park in Wake Forest. Big Fat Gap, a back porch bluegrass band, will christen the new town park.

Joyner Park sounds like a pretty cool spot for Wake Forest residents. The 117-acre park includes a 1,000 lawn seat amphitheatre, three miles of walking trails, and more. Big Fat Gap’s show will be the first concert in the park.

3. And I’m also looking forward to the Hoppin’ John Old Time and Bluegrass Fiddlers’ Convention on Sept. 18 and 19 in Chatham County.

Let me know if you have any other suggestions of how I can get my Bluegrass on in the Triangle.

Sometimes you just have to ditch your laptop and your phone and get in touch with music and nature. But since I can never seem to afford and/or get the time off for Bonnaroo, I have to look for options closer to home. That’s why I’m trilled about this weekend’s Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival.

The four-day family-friendly festival in Chatham County features 40 bands performing on 4 stages and BEST OF ALL you can campout there. The festival holds a special place in my heart because in 2005, it’s where I was first introduced to the Avett Brothers.

There are children’s activities — ranging from crafts, story time and skits — and plenty for us big kids to do too. From dance workshops (maybe I’ll finally learn how to hoop like Brandy) … to music workshops (maybe I’ll learn the art of West African drumming) … to movement workshops (finally time for some yoga). There are even plans for a grown-up game of Capture the Flag, basketmaking, pottery and more. You can see all the wonderful random happenings here. Photos courtesy of Todd E. Gaul and Shakori Hills website.

There will also be a sustainability fair, featuring all sorts of lectures and forums.

But best of all, the festival will be packed with incredible performers. I had Jake, the MyNC music guru, look over the list of bands to let me know who I needed to be sure to see, here’s how he responded:

Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, Justin Townes Earle, Lunch Money, Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Horse Flies, Todd Snider

Locals:
Big Fat Gap*
Birds and Arrows
Butterflies*
Colors of Flying
Des Ark (solo)*
Firehouse Rhythm Kings
Greg Humphreys*
Hobex (a Greg Humphreys band)*
Lafcadio*
Lost in the Trees*
Midtown Dickens*
Northwood Jazz Ensemble
Old 86
Orquesta GarDel
Rootzie
Sweet By & By
The Beast
The Old Ceremony*

*best of the best locals

Lafcadio album release party slideshow:
http://music.mync.com/2009/01/slideshow-chapel-hills-lafcadio-opens-for-sunfold-at-506/

Lost in the Trees performance video from DBB6:
http://music.mync.com/2009/03/lost-in-the-trees-performs-at-double-barrel-benefit-6/

The Old Ceremony on Sessions at Studio B:
http://music.mync.com/2009/02/sessions-at-studio-b-with-the-old-ceremony/

Greg Humphrey’s will be on Sessions at Studio B on April 23 at 4 p.m.

So with Jake’s musical advice in hand and a weekend weather forecast that seems too good to be true, you can bet you’ll see me disappear into the woods for a while.