Getting in the Festival Mood

by Denise Hitchcock

Many peruse seed catalogues this time of year; I turn the pages of my favorite music magazines eyeing festivals in distant states and warmer locations! My RV waits patiently under winter blanket for its next assigned destination.

This month (February 16 – 18) you can catch the Palatka Bluegrass Festival at a reasonable price (starting at $35.00 per day) and there are full water and electric camping hook ups on the grounds. This festival has some pretty impressive headliners: Dailey & Vincent, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out, Marty Raybon, Doyle Lawson, Larry Stephenson, Audie Blaylock, Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds – and loads of additional top pickers. Held on the grounds of the Roadheaver Boy’s Ranch proceeds go to help this home for needy boys.

[*note] There is also a fall Bluegrass Festival at the Ranch October 11-13, 2012.

To add to your fun you can sign up for a daily Jamming Class (Warnick Method taught by Gilbert Nelson) held from10 am to Noon, Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the festival. Take those lessons and then get out there and pick with the pros.

I will be the good and faithful audience – every performer needs them.

And before I leave you for this month I would highly recommend you listen to the voice of the late Paul Harvey as he paints a word picture of the Roadheaver Boy’s Ranch. It runs 9 minutes and is well worth the listen. He was a master like no other!

See you along the BlueHighways!

Denise