Milan Preview

Dave Adkins dominates the stage as well as anyone in bluegrass music. He tells stories and brings a powerful voice--which he uses with more nuance than anyone would expect. Well worth hearing. Dave's the opening act at this year's Milan Bluegrass Festival, which begins Wednesday, August 1--that's next week. I'll be there. Photo taken 8/5/2016 at the Milan Bluegrass Festival /KC Campground.

Junior's bringing his classic bluegrass voice to the Milan Bluegrass Festival next week on Wednesday (August 1). Photo taken 8/8/2015 at the Milan Bluegrass Festival /KC Campground.

Summer Brooke and Mountain Faith will be one of the featured acts at the Milan Bluegrass Festival on Thursday, August 2 (that's next week).. One of the pleasures of attending bluegrass festivals is interacting with the musicians. They chat with fans, autograph CDs, listen to other bands. Sometimes they grab their instruments and wander into the campground to join the jams. Here's Mountain Faith posing for a photograph with a fan. Photo taken 8/6/2015 at the Milan Bluegrass Festival /KC Campground.

Next week Friday (August 3) the Milan (MI) Bluegrass Festival brings the Becky Buller Band back to their stage. Here they've gathered around a microphone named Louise to sing the perfect bluegrass song--Ned Luberecki's " Cabin of Death ." Well, maybe. It comes equipped with a fine tale. Photo taken 8/5/2016 at the Milan Bluegrass Festival /KC Campground.

The Lonesome River Band will be playing at the Milan Bluegrass Festival a week from tomorrow, on August 3. Sammy--among the best musicians in bluegrass music--just kinda wanders around the stage. There's nobody quite like him. Photo taken 8/3/2017 at the Milan Bluegrass Festival /KC Campground.

One of my favorite photographs, ever. Here's half of Sugar Creek Bluegrass , as of a couple years ago. Sugar Creek's a family band from central Ohio. They'll lead off the show at Milan on Saturday, August 4. Zac's no longer playing with the band; he's been replaced on mando by younger brother Ben (who used to play washboard), and in the band by kid sister Abby (now on washboard). Photo taken 8/4/2016 at the Milan Bluegrass Festival /KC Campground.

Missy and the rest of Detour will be doing what's being billed as a Reunion at the Milan (MI) Bluegrass Festival one week from today. Milan's Saturday lineup is strong, and for most of us 'twill be our first chance to see Balsam Range up close. I'm really looking forward to that. But for many the day's highlight will be Detour. They've been away for two summers. We've missed 'em. Photo taken 8/10/2013 at the Milan Bluegrass Festival /KC Campground.

It takes more than musicians to put on a bluegrass festival. Here are two of the key people at the MIlan Festival. Mark Gaynier's our host at Milan. He organizes the festival, and he owns KC Campground, where the festival's held. Blake Williams is Master of Ceremonies at the Milan festival. That means he introduces the bands, reads announcements, and tells funny stories. Now and then he plays banjo, too. Blake spent about a decade as one of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys; many of his tales are about traveling with Bill. Long ago I bought a cassette of banjo tunes from Blake, purchased at Bill's merchandise table. I've still got it. Photo taken 8/6/2016 at the Milan Bluegrass Festival /KC Campground.

It takes more than musicians to put on a bluegrass festival. Here's another key person at the MIlan Festival. I've mentioned before that Bill wears many hats in Michigan's bluegrass community. At the Milan (MI) Bluegrass Festival one of those hats is stage manager. Here he's helping get things arranged before the 2015 festival. Photo taken 8/5/2015 at the Milan Bluegrass Festival /KC Campground.