Piecing a Life: 23rd Annual Blythe Bluegrass Festival

Sure do wish I could play the mandolin or the stand-up bass or the banjo because I absolutely love bluegrass music! I've had this love affair ever since seeing the movie "Deliverance" so long ago and hearing Eric Weissburg and Steve Mandel play "Dueling Banjos."

Last year two friends and I went to the Blythe Bluegrass Festival for one day, Saturday, and had a wonderful time. The weather was hot, and so was the music. We listened all day long, interspersing that with food and browsing the many booths. But, one day just wasn't enough.

So this year, I paid for a three-day pass and so far we've attended Friday and Saturday. Great stuff. Weather is not too hot, not too cold. Just perfect for listening and having fun.

Lots of bands: Audie Blaylock and Redline, winners of the 2007 Instrumental Group of the Year Award from the 18th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Show; the excellent Headline Bluegrass Band, newcomers based out of Phoenix, Arizona; High Plains Tradition, who'll play tomorrow; Junior Sisk and Rambler's Choice from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia; The Larry Stephenson Band from Nashville, TN; Lonesome Otis, a newly-formed band based in Southern California; Midnight Flight from the Ozarks; Spring Creek, an award-winning band from Colorado; Whistle Stop, a family band consisting of Mom, Dad, two daughters, and a banjo-player; and Williams and Clark Expedition, led by 3-time SPBGMA "Entertainer of the Year Blake Williams.

Junior Sisk and Rambler's Choice

Spring Creek

I can't remember the name of this band, but they were excellent.

But, you can't survive a Bluegrass Festival with music alone. So, they add good food as well. Here are a few of the many food booths.

Yesterday I bought an Onion Flower but was disappointed. It looked pretty, but I've had better. This one was barely cooked.

So, today I made up for it with a delicious cheeseburger, a bag of Kettle Corn, and a butter-pecan swirled ice cream. We started the day with a $7 all-you-can-eat breakfast by the CWA, California Women for Agriculture. Scrambled eggs, link sausage, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, orange juice, coffee, and tea. So good!

While in that building for breakfast, I wandered through the quilt show. Not as many quilts on display as last year, but I saw some beautiful ones, including one with many, many tiny squares, all hand quilted.

Some music:

Audie Blaylock and Redline. The banjo player and fiddle player are both only 21 years old. Wonderful entertainers.