DelFest 2010 / Greensky Bluegrass

Some of our best times at Delfest this past weekend were spent listening to the Kalamazoo Michigan jam-grass band, Greensky Bluegrass. They certainly did not disappoint the fans with three hot sets of acoustic mayhem, including a heavily attended and well appreciated show consisting entirely of rock covers. We love this high energy band that has managed to create and craft unique music with superior songwriting and musicianship.
And they do not shy away from putting their own stamp on some great classics, either.
Check 'em out, I guarantee that you'll love 'em too!

Check out their website and pick up some CDs here: http://www.greenskybluegrass.com/

Stream or download one of their Delfest shows (audience taped) for free here : GSBG live at DelFest

DelFest 2010: The Good, The Bad, The Muddy

We had an epic four days of fun and music at DelFest 2010 this weekend. The 1100 mile round trip was well worth the time and effort, and after about a ten hour drive, we arrived in Cumberland, Maryland and set up camp on the banks of the Potomac River. This year we were invited to join the Hobo Camp (fans of Railroad Earth) through our friend Marie. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves with their company and were treated to a weekend of great meals, good times, and mighty fine folks!

Hobos in camp.

These are some of the groups that Black Betty and I managed to see over the festival weekend: Del McCoury Band, The Traveling McCourys, Mountain Heart, Railroad Earth, Greensky Bluegrass (three shows), The Avett Brothers, Steep Canyon Rangers, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Yonder Mountain String Band, Adam Aijala & Ben Kaufmann Duo, Larry and Jenny Keel, Keller Williams and Friends, and The Dave Rawlings Machine.

Darol Anger, Ben Kaufmann, Adam Aijala, Larry Keel.

Railroad Earth rocks the Grandstand Stage on Thursday night.

Hobo dancers Katie, LeAnne, Black Betty, and Marie shake it to Keller Williams and friends.

Friday evening we experienced a heavy rain, which turned DelFest into a river of mud. The trek to the Grandstand stage became treacherous.

Highlights of the weekend: all the great folks in Hobo Camp, Greensky Bluegrass playing their rock covers in the Artist Play Shop on Saturday, cooling off in the Potomac River, Sweet Revenge's apple crisp and ice cream (as always), an anonymous bluegrass band serenading the camps at 7am on Memorial Day, and, of course, all things Del McCoury.

Lefty Willams / Sugaree

Here's more video from the HometownHiker archives. The crowd shares a special moment at The Keel Family Function this spring with The Lefty Williams Band performing the Grateful Dead's Sugaree.



Lefty Williams Bio

Pond Farm Pickers / Hangman

From the Hometown Hiker archives.

Here are the fabulous Pond Farm Pickers performing the high octane bluegrass standard Hangman at The Keel Family Function this spring. Featuring Caroline Pond on fiddle, Andrew Pond on banjo, and George Pond on bass.

Ray Wylie Hubbard Live at The Grey Eagle

I've never found that the Texas troubadours have really ever had a big following in Asheville. Sure Willie Nelson and Robert Earl Keen may draw a crowd, but knowing every word to a Jerry Jeff Walker or Guy Clark song may get you some strange looks around these mountains. Nevertheless, an enthusiastic and not-so-small crowd of Ray Wylie Hubbard fans were treated to a special show last night at The Grey Eagle when the poet/philosopher/country/blues song writer of "Redneck Mothers" fame took the stage.

Ray Wylie's song writing ability, musical prowess, and spiritual presence seems to continue to grow and evolve instead of stagnating like so many other artists of his generation. This man is a master lyricist, superb story teller, and poet. When he sings his songs to you, you believe he lived every word of it. Hell, you believe you lived every word of it! Check him out, you won't be disappointed.

Ray Wylie Hubbard's new CD is entitled A:Enlightenment B:Endarkenment (Hint: there is no C)
He currently is nominated by The Americana Music Association in three categories: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year ("Drunken Poet's Dream").


                       

Sam Quinn + Japan Ten / The Fake That Sunk A Thousand Ships

Sam Quinn is bringing it back to The Grey Eagle in Asheville on Saturday, May 15th.


We fell in love with Sam's beautiful song writing and quirky sense of humor and style  as one-half of the creative force of The Everybodyfields, (together with Jill Andrews).


Sam has an unforgettably unique natural voice which seems to transport his music directly to one's soul. His songs are highly personal, mostly painful tales of  self exploration and emotionalism. But they somehow don't end up being depressing. His music has a way of washing over you like soft warm waves. They gently massage your heart while reminding you of what it means to be human. As one reviewer put it, "misery never sounded so good."

 When the Everybodyfields parted ways, Sam teamed up with Josh Oliver, Megan Gregory, and Brandon Story to form Japan Ten. They have just released a new CD The Fake that Sunk A Thousand Ships, you can listen and download (for a mere 5 bucks) here: Sam Quinn / The Fake That Sunk A Thousand Ships




Here is video I shot at Bristol Rhythm and Roots of Sam Quinn and the Japan Ten performing Gun.
                           

Dutch Oven Savory Beans with Ham

Beans and cornbread are one of my favorite comfort foods. Growing up in a family with seven brothers and sisters I ate plenty of beans and cornbread as a kid. My dad was enlisted in the Air Force and it was an easy and inexpensive meal that my mother could fix to feed all of our hungry mouths. My kids in turn were also raised eating beans and cornbread and it remains a favorite around the Hometown Hiker's homestead.

For this bean dish, I used dried mixed beans, leftover ham chunks together with a leftover leg of lamb bone and cooked it in my dutch oven. I served it with my special buttermilk Mexican cornbread. Man oh Man! You can't go wrong with that!

Here's the deal:

Beans and ham
Ingredients:
big bag (2lbs. 8 oz) of dried beans
2 cups leftover ham chunks
leg of lamb bone
2 medium vidalia onions diced
sea salt and ground black pepper (to taste)
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. ground cayenne

I soaked the beans overnight.
In the morning, I put ham chunks and leg bone in the bottom of a 12 qt. dutch oven.
I added drained beans, onions, and spices to the pot and covered with boiling water.
At this point I put the lid on the dutch oven and cooked with 6 briquettes below and 12 briquettes on the lid.
I kept the fire going, replenishing briquettes two additional times and cooked for 8 hours.
The beans were perfectly done and delicious!

Hometown's Buttermilk Mexican Cornbread

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups cornmeal

1 cup white flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup buttermilk

2 farm eggs, beaten

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter

2 jalapenos, diced

1 cup southwest style whole kernel corn

1 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix all dry ingredients and blend well.

Add eggs and buttermilk and stir until smooth.

Add jalapenos, corn, and 1 cup of cheese. Stir it up!

At this point I melt butter in the bottom of my 11'' cornbread cookin' skillet.

Pour batter on top of melted butter.

Place in hot oven for 20 minutes.

Open oven door and sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of cheese on top.

Bake for an additional 10 minutes until golden brown and cooked to perfection.

                             

This stuff is to die for! Serve with a cold glass of milk and enjoy!