Bluegrass music is not fading but may be in a corrective down swing after the huge swell of interest with O Brother. Probably the same thing happen after the movie Bonnie and Clyde with Foggy Mountain Breakdown and then again with Deliverance and Feuding banjos (also know as Dueling banjos
Don Reno did the original version before it was re-named).
In economic down times people make the best of a bad situation and bluegrass musics soul is in the heart of poverty and hard times. Many of the best pickers came out of hard times
which is why they write such great songs and have the drive to work their way into a better life by making music. I have listen to Doc Watson tell the story that he didnt plan to make his living playing music. He would rather have been a carpenter, electrician or engineer
but god had a different plan for him
and thank goodness he did. What a national treasure Doc is
just as down to earth as you can get and still an excellent picker at 84 years young. Earl Scruggs in no different
playing a banjo was his way out of the cotton fields, same goes with Bill Monroe, Del McCoury, Chet Atkins
music was a passion and a way to make a better living.
The best way to keep the music alive and strong is to inspire a youngster or share the music with your family or a friend. Bluegrass music came out of the mountains and the fields where family and community was a way of life. The music was passed along to the next generation by people who cared deeply about keeping it alive, the tradition of the music, the meaning behind it all. I dont think you can judge the health of the music by looking at big or expensive venues. The music is alive and well in small venues like coffee shops, music stores, barber shops
in Bristol, TN you can pick at the Shell gas station at noon time on Tuesdays
and I see young people
not just older folks.
Satellite radio and You Tube are a gold mine of traditional bluegrass music to inspire a younger generation in their own high tech language. When you go to a jam or festival encourage the young ones to join in
make them feel welcome
even if it is a small child who just wants to dance and jump to the beat of the music
it is all going into their brains. It is making a mental impression whether you can see it of not. Give the young ones guidance for being in tune, timing and etiquette of a jam
in other word show them the ropes. They are the future caretakers of the music.
There is no greater reward then to inspire
a candle does not extinguish when it lights another candle
meaning you lose nothing by giving the gift of music to another
it is all part of the bluegrass tradition. It keeps the music strong
there in lies the whole meaning of the circle of music
invite someone into your jam circle, encourage a new player, take a friend to see a live bluegrass show, support your local venues. The music will stay healthy as it has for generations, however it may not always be commercial as it has been at it heights of popularity.
When we went to the Carter Family Fold on a Saturday night in November 07 for $5.00 a person it was one of the most awesome night of music I have enjoyed for a long time. A thousand people from all over the valley (Japan and Australia too) clogging, talking and having a blast
all for $5.00 a person while watching Hunter Berry, Mickey Harris, Josh Williams, Daniel Grindstaff and others
what a night. This hoe down is only second to the best night of music which was Live at the Ragged Edge with Tom Adams and Mike Cleveland. If you have never heard this award winning CD check it out. This live event was at a small local coffee house with 20-25 people on a cold Tuesday, March evening in 2002; it was a FREE concert of fiddle and banjo music. I knew it was going to be an awesome night of music with Tommy and Mike but had no idea it would be a Grammy winning live concert
and I (we) were there
and you can hear me on the live recording laughing and hollering with joy
when we left that night I KNEW I had just been part of something very special
so my long winded point is
the best bluegrass music doesnt always happen in big venues
if you look you will find bluegrass is alive and healthy in the smallest of venues. Check out the Crooked Road in Virginia if you need affirmation, all is well.
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Below is a picture that shows I do what I suggest. Here is a picture from last Friday nights jam. The little girl in the picture in a great niece who think the big bass is cool
so cool she took her guitar and turned it upright like a bass and wanted to play it that way. I satisfied her desire to play by, I would play one string and she would play the other. I am sure we were disruptive to the beat of the jam but I only get a few short moments to capture her interest
I hope the seed is now planted.
Bluegrass is not fading
it is a tradition that will live on.
