Railroad Earth at the Orange Peel

Last night, the Gnometown gang caught the first night of the three night Railroad Earth's New Year's Eve run at the Orange Peel. It was a great time spent with friends and family, listening to one of our favorite bands. As a bonus, we got to hear the first live playing of the title track of Railroad Earth's upcoming album, The Last Of The Outlaws.
Here's the set list:

Set 1:
Like a Buddha
420
Peace on Earth
Been Down This Road
Came Up Smilin'
Right in Tune
Where Songs Begin
Carrying Coal to Newcastle -->
Chasin' a Rainbow

Set 2:
Mission Man
Long Way To Go
Drag Him Down
Colorado
For Love
The Last of the Outlaws (A)
Mourning Flies -->
Lone Croft Farewell
Crossing the Gap
Gold Rush
Elko

Encore:
Water Fountain Quicksand

(A) First time played. Written by
Todd Sheaffer and Carey Harmon

Here's the taper's version: Internet Archive

Shakori Hills Grassroots

We were thrilled by our decision to attend Shakori Hill Grassroots Festival for the first time this year.
Black Betty and I are pretty dedicated Suwannee Spring Festivarians so haven't made it out to Shakori Hills before now. This year we decided to go for the day on Saturday.  We drove out in the morning (4 1/2 hours), saw a bunch of shows, and grabbed a motel for the night.

It definitely was worth the effort to go, even for just the day. We had a blast, loved the Festival, and were thrilled by all the music. We will be back.

The groups we saw were: The Apple Chill Cloggers, Lizzy Ross Band, The Horse Flies, Donna The Buffalo, The Brothers Comatose, and Solas.

Shakori Hills The Brothers Comatose

We were lucky enough to catch The Brothers Comatose at Shakori Hills on 4/20/2013. It was our first look at this San Francisco grass band. We loved 'em and hope to see lots more of them. I did see that they were playing Bristol this Fall, so there is even more reason to make it to Rhythm and Roots in September.

The Duhks!

On Saturday night, (4/6/2013) Black Betty and I joined friends, Mike, Aimee, and Cassidy on a little ride to Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain to see the original Duhks.

I think it may have been 3 or 4 years since I last saw them. It was a true joy to share the evening with them.
They were rocking, the crowd was loving it, we had a blissful night of love and music....and nothing but love and music!

Music On The Mountaintop 2012

                                                                 Kid's Parade.

Black Betty, daughter Becky, and I once again attended one of our favorite music festivals of the year, Music On The Mountaintop, held near Boone, NC. A good time was had by all!

Beauty Spot.

 
The music speaks for itself. To begin with, THREE DAYS OF RAILROAD EARTH!  That fact alone is worth the price of admission. Besides the main shows, small, intimate, workshops were also held by musicians from RRE and various other bands. Sunday saw a super jam tribute to Woody Guthrie, featuring members of RRE, Larry Keel, Sam Bush, Monroeville, and others.

Railroad Earth.

THE 2012 LINEUP

Friday
 The Black Lillies
 River Whyless
 Greensky Bluegrass
 J.J. Grey & Mofro
 Dr. Dog
 Railroad Earth

Saturday
 Monroeville
 Holy Ghost Tent Revival
 Rose’s Pawn Shop
 Naked Gods
 The Hackensaw Boys
 Futurebirds
 Dirty Dozen Brass Band
 Railroad Earth

Sunday
 Stoney Creek Boys
 Salem Speaks Larry Keel & Natural Bridge
 Railroad Earth Super Jam tribute to Woody Guthrie featuring: Sam Bush, Larry & Jenny Keel,  members of Monroeville, special guests and more.
 Sam Bush

Hometown, Becky, Black Betty.

Here's the Deal:
The 5th year of Music On The Mountaintop saw a return to the idyllic Grandfather Campground in Foscoe, NC, and a new partnership with jam-grass favorites, Railroad Earth.
The weekend crowd seemed somewhat smaller than last year, overall organization of the event was improved, and production was dialed in. 
Music for this three day event was all concentrated on one main stage and sound and lighting were superb.
Noticeably absent this year were the big outdoor gear sponsorships (Chaco, Osprey, etc.) and the very cool green eco-village of last year. I must say that I missed the vibe that they bring to the fest.
The price for this festival continues to be very affordable, but by the time you add on wristbands, parking, and shuttle fees, you come to the realization that you have spent a considerable amount of bucks.
As always, this is a young, friendly, and enthusiastic, music loving crowd.
It's a nice venue for families, the large grassy meadow in front of the stage is the perfect staging area for family fun with lots of room for kids to play and run, under the watchful eye of mom or dad, as they listen to music.
The kids parade continues to be a Saturday afternoon highlight.
Camping, as always was nice, but no camping with your car this year was a bummer for us (ahem) mature Festivarians. The price for parking our little Gnometown pop-up at the festival would have been $150. (can you believe that?) so we parked it 6 miles down the road for $52 for the weekend.
My favorite festival moment came when the entire Super Jam cast came out on stage, and led the crowd in singing the great American anthem,Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land.

Music on the Mountaintop benefits Appalachian Voices, a nonprofit environmental group that focuses on protecting the central and southern Appalachians.

Greensky Bluegrass got one song in on Friday afternoon before rain shut them down.

The Hackensaw Boys.

Polecat Dancers.

Sunday afternoon Super Jam tribute to Woody Guthrie.

Mr Larry Keel.

Bele Chere 2011 with Railroad Earth

Bele Chere picked a winner with Railroad Earth as headliner on Saturday night at the Coxe Avenue stage. Though they were hot off the heels of Floyd Fest the band still managed to have enough energy to get the huge crowd rocking downtown Asheville. They even managed to play a couple of my favorites, Smiling Like A Buddah and Head.  Todd Shaffer further endeared the band to the Asheville crowd when he channeled Jerry Garcia for the uplifting spiritual, My Sisters and Brothers.
All in all it was another great Railroad Earth show. It seemed as though there were lots of folks seeing RRE for the first time in the crowd and discovering that they really were digging them. I imagine that there will be many more hobos jumping on the train next time they come to town.

                                                     Becky, Tim Carbone, Black Betty
Set List:
Walk Beside Me

Like a Buddha
420
The Jupiter and the 119
Long Walk Home
Lone Croft Farewell
Stillwater Getaway
Mourning Flies
Head
My Sisters and Brothers
E: Bringin' My Baby Back Home (with Jason Flournoy on banjo)

Holy Ghost Tent Revival at Bele Chere

Black Betty and I hit Asheville for Friday night at a scaled-down Bele Chere with some hot, hot, hot, Holy Ghost Tent Revival. This rockin' roots band from Greensboro NC seems to get better each time we see them. Even with out a banjo (seems to have been short a D string) the band had the crowd whipped into an enthusiastic, dancing, sweating, frenzy. It was certainly a great start to Bele Chere 2011!

Greensky Bluegrass and Railroad Earth @ The Orange Peel

Black Betty and I got to see two of the hottest Americana jam bands touring today when they rolled into Asheville last night.

Greensky Bluegrass opened for Railroad Earth at The Orange Peel and got the crowd warmed up for a scorching hot show on a cold Friday night.
Here is a recording of their set on Archive; Greensky Bluegrass.

Railroad Earth started the first set with a heavy electric bass intro by Andrew Altman with the Happy Song. Other first set highlights included a crowd-favorite Like A Buddha and ended with Lone Croft Farewell.
Set two featured the latest RRE sing-a-long, The Jupiter and the 119, and an epic and wonderfully jammy masterpiece Warhead Boogie, which really managed to get the whole house rockin' without restraint.
Here is a link to their show on Archive: Railroad Earth.
 
It was another fine night of listening to some of the best live music in the world delivered right to my door step in Western North Carolina. How lucky is that?

Town Mountain at Del Yeah! Black Mountain

Black Betty and I were thrilled to see one of our favorite bluegrass groups, Town Mountain on the lineup for  Del Yeah! over Labor Day weekend in Black Mountain.  I managed to shoot this clip of  Town Mountain joined by Andy Thorn (banjo) and Tyler Grant (guitar) of  The Emmitt Nershi Band.

Asheville's Town Mountain consists of Robert Greer (vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter); Jesse Langlais (banjo, writes a large part of Town Mountain’s original material and sings tenor and baritone); Barrett Smith (bass, guitar, vocals); Phil Barker (mandolin, vocals); and Bobby Britt (fiddle).

Music on the Mountain Top

Black Betty and I had a great time of fun and music (and nothin' but fun and music) at the Music on the Mountain Top Festival in Boone, NC on Saturday. We spent the day with our favorite groups Snake Oil Medicine Show, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Acoustic Syndicate, Toubab Krewe, Sam Bush, and Railroad Earth. They rocked us like we needed to be rocked. We're some happy Festivarians, indeed!

RISE (Rising Appalachia)

http://vimeo.com/8281592 from Captain Crazy Productions on Vimeo.

RISE (Rising Appalachia) is one group that I have had my eye on for a few years. I've caught them on video and have streamed their music. Although I have actually been in the same place at the same time as them (festival-wise) I have managed to miss seeing them.

Sisters Leah and Chloe's state in their Mission Statement:
"RISE (Rising Appalachia) is a genre-bending force of sound that uses both lyrical prowess and diverse artistic collaborations to defy cultural cliches and ignite a musical revolution..."

In other words, rootsy, rhythmic, soulful, compelling, beautiful, and real.

I hope to see them this year.

The Music Camp

Black Betty and I are packing up the popup and heading towards Spartanburg on Friday to try a new festival experience. This will really be the 5th year for this little festival put on by members of The Bellville Outfit, but will be our 1st experience with it.

I actually learned of both the band and the festival while driving home from Asheville last month and listening to WNCW. The Bellville Outfit were live guests and I really enjoyed their music. They talked about the festival and I came home and purchased the incredibly affordable tickets ($60. each for the weekend and $30. a carload to camp).

The line-up looks awesome, the crowd should be small, and the camping fun! What's not to like?

French Broad River Festival

We had a wonderful weekend at Hot Springs for the French Broad River Festival. In spite of some rain (what's a festival without rain?) we boogied 'til we dropped to some of the best music in the region.

A great time was had by all, what a cool vibe at this little festival. I can't wait for next year!


Highlights of the weekend include:

The Will Ferrell Loofa.

Meeting my Blog Buddy, Caroline Pond (emcee and Snake Oil salesman).

Visiting with some Appalachian Trail friends.

Eating some delicious camping meals.

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge ripping it up, Acoustic Syndicate tearing it down, dancing to Rosie Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys. Snake Oil Medicine show in the big tent.

Black Betty and our daughter Becky

Mark Schimick showing his stuff on the mandolin.

Suwannee SpringFest 2009 or How I got the Spirit of the Boogie!!!

We enjoyed a wonderful weekend at Suwannee Springfest. In spite of a little wet weather and a few manly gusts of high wind, the music went on and the Festivarians festivalized as only those who are unbathed and barefoot with divine purpose and mystic insight can.
We were pleased to be joined by cousin Amy (Amyl Nitrate), Jesse (Fighting Cock), and the one and only SuperChunk.
The music kicked ass, the dancing was dirty, and the spirit was alive! Reverend Jeff Mosier laid down the gospel of Garcia and Boogie Cat proclaimed, "I never eat while I'm on the boogie!" And the Tornado Rider taught us all to "be a vicious bird!" What can I say? I am a believer!


Drew Emmitt and Billy Nershi with Tyler Grant. The Emmitt Nershi band played like they were on fire!

Mike Merenda (with baby on back) on banjo and his wife, Ruth Ungar (of Mike and Ruthie) with

Jordan McConnell of the Duhks.

Festivarians "Hometown" on "Superchunk", Jesse (sometimes known as "Fighting Cock")and "Amyl Nitrate"

"Fighting Cock" "Amyl Nitrate" and "Black Betty" ponder the true meaning of "I'm a Falcon!"

Suwannee Springfest

BlackBetty and I are heading down to the beautiful Spirit of the Suwannee music park in North Florida on Thursday for Springfest. It'll start the 2009 Festival season for us. I'm looking forward to seeing all the great music. (It'll be the first time I've seen Guy Clark since June 1981!)

Suwannee is a great venue, it's usually a smallish crowd, two stages, has a mellow and friendly vibe, and of course the music is great. We bring our bicycles, tent camp, and chill for the weekend. No worries.

We are also looking forward to camping with my AT buddy, Superchunk and also our niece Amy and her boyfriend, Jesse. We should also reunite with other festivarian friends who we see there.

Suwannee Springfest ArtistsMarch 26 - 29, 2009
Richie Havens Donna the Buffalo Emmitt Nershi Band
Peter Rowan Guy Clark & Verlon Thompson
The Duhks The Lee Boys Darrell Scott Jim Lauderdale
Darol Anger & Mike Marshall with Väsen
Scythian The Gourds Blueground Undergrass
Seth Walker Band Amy LaVere Roy Book Binder
Swamp Cabbage Mike Merenda & Ruth Unger The Rowan Brothers
Shannon Whitworth The Dedringers Dread Clampitt
David Gans Tornado Rider Gatorbone
WaCo Ramblers Virginia Dare Devils
Tammerlin Brittany Reilly & Almost Acoustic Band
Marie Nofsinger Annie Wenz Steve Simpson
Cathy Lee Tom Nelly Clyde Walker
Tania Quartermoon Sloppy Joe Redheaded Stepchild
Tallahassee Youth Fiddlers with Mickey Abraham
Suwannee Bluegrass Mafia Habanero Honeys

Curtis Blackwell

Curtis Blackwell is a local bluegrass legend. Here is a video I found on YouTube by his granddaughter showing a mountain family jam session. Curtis is in the plaid shirt on your right, playing the guitar. These boys can pick! Mighty Fine, Mighty Fine.........

Put your dancin' shoes on!

Get ready to boogie! The Infamous Stringdusters are playing the Grey Eagle in Asheville on Friday night.

Where else but Asheville can you see an incredible bluegrass supergroup for an incredibly cheap 10$???

New Year's Eve 2008

David Via, Mad Tea Party, Big Daddy , Larry Keel and Natural Bridge burning it down at the Grey Eagle. What more do I need to say? It was a night of absolute magic and music, what a way to welcome 2009! I'm looking forward to many more good shows in the coming year......

Chinese New Years Eve

There's a great article in the Mountain Xpress about the Chinese New Year's Jam Fest in Negril, Jamaica. It's been on our (Black Betty and mine) radar for a while. We can't make it this year but are hoping for 2010. The line up is totally ass-kickin' and I'm envious of any who get to attend.
The dates this year are Saturday, Jan. 24-Saturday, Jan. 31.


Check out the article by Alli Marshall here: http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2008/123108any_reason_for_the_season_the_other_new_year

From the Chinese New Year website:

We believe that travel can lead to a deeper understanding of cultures and
philosophies different from our own. The intention of the celebration is to do
what we can with what we have to build a culture of peace and community through
travel, music, arts, and play to set a positive tone for the New Year.

http://www.chny.org/

The Sons Of Ralph

The Mountain Xpress has once again named The Sons of Ralph as the Best Local Band: Folk/Old-Time/Bluegrass in Western North Carolina. This award for 2008 is the 8th time in the last 10 years that SOR have been awarded this distinction.

Ralph Lewis turned 80 this April and still jams out on mandolin with his sons, Marty Lewis on guitar and Donny Lewis on fiddle and banjo. Second cousin, Steve Mosely plays bass while drummer Ozzie Orengo rounds it out. Ralph hangs tough with the boys and they play everything from traditional and original bluegrass tunes to Grateful Dead covers, with an occasional Doors tunes thrown in, to shake things up.

They generally can be seen at the Jack of the Wood in Asheville every other Saturday night. They'll be there New Year's Eve, it is always a great show.

More info on the Sons of Ralph: http://www.sonsofralph.com/index.html