Rivercity bluegrass festival

**Keith Newell** · Jan-06-2008, 3:43am

I Just got back a bit ago from the Rivercity Bluegrass Festival. I started out with the David Grisman advanced mandolin workshop and David Grier showed up then Ronnie McCoury showed up. Imagine sitting 15 feet from them and hearing the stuff they can produce.
# I then went and listened to one of my favorites, John Reischman & the Jaybirds. Heck I even have their Salt Spring as my ringtone. Anyway I met John a few years ago at the Alberta Street Public house and he played one of my F styles and I got to play his Loar. Even Greg Spatz played my mandolin...was a great time for me for sure.
#I wasn't sure I was gonna like the Darol Anger & the Republic of strings group but After an hour I was standing and wanting one more tune.
# #Bryan Bowers was a joy and he had Jake Jolliff sit in for more then half the time, what a great mix. Bryan has had some heart problems and had stents put in in 2007, I really liked what he did when I was in High School, the thought of him having medical issues is distressing because I grew up listing to and watching him at festivals.
#The next band I have not seen and they were Dry Branch Fire Squad. I was not prepared to like them but the dry humour of Ron Thomason was great. Music was fantastic and when Ron ended it on a tune about soldiers, death and homecoming I could not keep a dry eye since my son just finished serving in Iraq.
#Rhonda Vincent was as good as she has always been and a ton of energy.
#Dan Tyminski's new band rocked...Adam Sheffey is my new favorite. I have not seen him in person before but wow I loved the playing. I felt That Dans new band had the best energy of the night. I'm gonna buy the cd that comes out in a few months from them.
Anyway I missed a lot of acts. I got tired and went home, I didn't catch Marty Stuart or Del but I have seen Del McCoury many times.
#Anyway was fun times and wish I could see and do it all again next week. I missed Tim O'Briens band which played on Friday and regret that. Tony Furtado played some interludes between bands which was very cool.
Anyway this weekend was very fun and I didn't even see the second half

Keith Newell
http://newellmandolin.com

**LateBloomer** · Jan-06-2008, 6:56am

Sounds like a great time! Wish I could have been there to hear my favorite group, Dry branch Fire Squad - but I'll be seeing/hearing them in a couple of weeks. The song Ron must have closed with is "He's Coming to Us Dead". It is sure to tug at your heartstrings.
LateBloomer

**mandroid** · Jan-06-2008, 10:14am

Which City on Which River?

missed the mention of that part.

things pretty quiet on this river.

**gnelson651** · Jan-06-2008, 10:28am

Looks like its near Portland, OR.

Rivercity Bluegrass Festival

**amowry** · Jan-06-2008, 12:18pm

We've had a great time this weekend, too! Del was great last night, and they played a few of my favorites that I haven't heard in a while. I could listen to Ronnie and Jason Carter forever! I was really into Reischman too, and it was a blast to hear his new Heiden contrasted with his Loar. In my opinion the Heiden suits his playing style a little better.

Heading back for more now...

**RobP** · Jan-07-2008, 1:36am

I was there too... what a super time! lots of great jamming in the hotel bar on Saturday night.

I even managed to get a private lesson with John Reishman - what a treat!

Cheers,

Rob

**mandopete** · Jan-07-2008, 9:43am

Originally Posted by (LateBloomer @ Jan. 06 2008, 05:56)

#Wish I could have been there to hear my favorite group, Dry branch Fire Squad

Hmmm, there wasn't anything about them in the program.

Anyone want to talk about the mando pairing of Ronnie McCoury and Marty Stuart? OMG!

**Rroyd** · Jan-07-2008, 11:58am

Marty and his expanded Fabulous Superlatives, featuring Rob and Ronnie McCoury, did some wonderful picking and singing, including a great version of the BeeGees' "Stayin Alive." The website description of the group was far less exciting than the band configuration on stage, which turned into one of the festival's highlights for many of us. I had heard Marty when he first joined Lester Flatt, and the years have not diminished his skills at all. His mandolin looks like it had been "rode hard and put away wet," but he could sure make it sound good.
Regarding Dry Branch, the song was "He's Coming to Us Dead," and when Ron went from funny and corny to serious in its introduction, and told of his son flying home from Iraq with the body of a friend, the song took on a significance that the audience will not soon forget.

**Mando Medic** · Jan-07-2008, 7:36pm

I too am a huge fan of Adam Steffey and it was great to hear him pick with such a super group that Dan Tyminski had put together... Got to go have a cigar with him and Dan Sunday morning and that just made for a perfect weekend... Ronnie McCoury and Marty Stuart are a great mandolin pair, always to out gun each other; a very magic concert for sure. Kenc

**Clyde Clevenger** · Jan-07-2008, 9:36pm

Grisman did a workshop Saturday morning joined by David Grier and Ronnie McCoury, some pretty nice picking and a good tip or two. Someone asked David how he incorperated his Dawg music and jazzy stuff into his Bluegrass music and he said he doesn't. Bluegrass is strong music and stands on it's own. If you start putting jazz in it, it becomes something else. Not Bluegrass. Hmmmm. I didn't start it.

**mandolirius** · Jan-08-2008, 12:35pm

<Grisman did a workshop Saturday morning joined by David Grier and Ronnie McCoury, some pretty nice picking and a good tip or two. Someone asked David how he incorperated his Dawg music and jazzy stuff into his Bluegrass music and he said he doesn't. Bluegrass is strong music and stands on it's own. If you start putting jazz in it, it becomes something else. Not Bluegrass. Hmmmm. I didn't start it.>

Having followed Grisman since his Red Allen days, that doesn't surprise me. He's a purist. When he plays bluegrass, he keeps it pretty close to the bone. When he's doing something else, he's more adventurous. I try to follow the same game plan myself.

**mounmon** · Jan-09-2008, 3:52pm

What a great weekend! My personal favorites were Tim O'Brien and Cornbread Nation/DGQ with Darrel Anger, Ronnie, etc.?/Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. Rhonda was great as well. Also, I was tickled to finally get to see Jackstraw - I like their style and that Sullivan guitar and mandolin sound is sweet.

Rick

**mandopete** · Jan-09-2008, 6:26pm

Yes, it was a great festival. #Here were my highlights...

Marty Stuart - who knew?
Sam Hill - We need more music from Jeff Smith!
Jackstraw - This is the first time I've ever seen them when they were not wearing hats

Even though I took my camera, I failed to take many pictures. #Here's one to wet your whistle, a florentine oval-hole mandola by Rob Schneider...

**Nolan** · Jan-09-2008, 7:22pm

Pete, wish we could have picked a few tunes together!

My favorite two shows were Dan T Band and Jack Straw with Tony Furtado. # Goodness... that Tony guy is an absolute monster! #It was my first time seeing Jack Straw... what a great band!
Dueling Sullivans are cool.

**James P** · Jan-09-2008, 8:01pm

Bitteroot posted a couple of very nicely put-together videos yesterday. #Links here.
Thanks Root!

**tango_grass** · Jan-10-2008, 2:22am

Yeah I was there all weekend....Dawg, Del, Doyle, Rhonda, ,Marty, John R, Dan T, Tim...Just some of the many highlights....and the Nechville banjo, and Carver Mandolin booths was where I was hanging most of the time...great pickers there. # I hope I met some Board members, if I did, and you remember, say hey..I forget too easily! #

I even got my picture with Dawg!!!

Of course Jammin, was the main highlight. I think I was up til 3am Sat and Sun morn, pickin with friend....woowee what a weekend.....

And I want to thank my friends, Dave, Nick, Nina, Austin and Charlie for really putting the icing on the cake!! Thanks guys....

**tango_grass** · Jan-10-2008, 2:34am

Originally Posted by (James P @ Jan. 09 2008, 21:01)

Bitteroot posted a couple of very nicely put-together videos yesterday. #Links here.
Thanks Root!

Hey, that was great!! Really somes up the vibes going on ..great vid.,,

**mandopete** · Jan-10-2008, 8:27am

Is that you, Santa Claus?

**tango_grass** · Jan-10-2008, 11:21am

Me? Yes.....Ho ho ho....now wheres my Manalin??

**mandopete** · Jan-10-2008, 2:52pm

I guess I shoulda said..."Is that you Dawggy Claws??

**tango_grass** · Jan-10-2008, 9:07pm

I tried saying that, but he wouldnt answer....so I just said David....

**mandopete** · Jan-11-2008, 2:30pm

One of the highlights of the River City BG Fester for us mandolin pickers was the special pairing of Marty Stuart and Ronnie McCoury. #To say these boys can play a mandolin would be a understatement. #They did some totally cool dual mando bluegrass including a kickin' version of Rawhide.

Here's a link to some really cool photo's of the evening's show. #Check out Marty's "distressed" mando!

**tango_grass** · Jan-11-2008, 6:07pm

Yeah Pete, that was a treat......Thanks for sharing those pictures.....Hey!! Thats bass player for Marty was listening to our jam at the Nechville Booth later that night!! Sweet!