Charlotte Bluegrass Festival

Learned last week that the 41st Charlotte Bluegrass Festival will be held, on June 20 to 22 at the Charlotte, Michigan, fairgrounds. Featured performers will include the Grascals (pictured above from last year's fest), IIIrd Tyme Out, Marty Raybon, and Audie Blaylock & Redline. Also appearing are Shannon & Heather Slaughter's band County Clare, and the Darrell Webb Band. The other bands appear to be mostly midwestern regional groups, and the show's got sort of a makeshift look to it. But that's OK, since it appears that they started working on this in February, after many bands had committed to be elsewhere. There's more info on the festival's Facebook page than their website. Dixie Bozung and Doris Peiffer have put up some fun photos from early Charlotte festivals on FB, by the way. Dixie's parents' band, Homegrown Grass , played the festival circuit for several years. I see from those photos that Lester Flatt played at the Charlotte Festival in the 1970s. Can't say I'm surprised, but that was before I moved to the area. I have, of course, purchased my ticket....

Mark, host of WMUK's Grass Roots and long the lead singer with the band Sweetcorn, sitting in the crowd at the 2006 Charlotte Bluegrass Festival. He'll be one of the on-stage hosts this year. Starting at noon today at the Charlotte fairgrounds.

A bit of yesterday's bluegrass action at the Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival. More today and tomorrow!

This is Audie Blaylock and Redline. Redline's a hard-core and hard-charging bluegrass band, and Audie--I remember him as a teenager--has somehow transformed into one of the music's Old Campaigners.... Here seen performing on Friday at the Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival. They'll be performing again on Saturday. Be nice to see you there! [edit 6/23: fixt spelling in title. apologies....]

Duane & Kyle Estep, and Dennis Dubois at the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival, which is just ending (ignoring the parking lot pickers) as I write this. New County Grass is a Flint, Michigan, band. Had an excellent time this year. Hoping and expecting better crowds next year, when the promoters will have more lead time. My thanks to Wes Pettinger and everyone for rescuing my favorite weekend.

Playing resonator guitar with the Darrell Webb Band at the 41st Annual Charlotte, Michigan, Bluegrass Festival on Friday afternoon. I came away very impressed with this band. 'Twasn't the best band at the festival, but was as good a (relatively) new band as I've heard in years. Well-rehearsed, good sound, good range of music....

Or perhaps their mikes. On stage at the 41st Charlotte Bluegrass Festival.

Mandolinist with IIIrd Tyme Out at the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival.

Justen, Steve, Russell, Edgar, & Wayne. Took this pic at Charlotte, in June. Gonna hear these guys again this weekend in Milan.

Steve Dilling is one of my absolute favorite musicians. Steve--the banjo picker and front man (MC) for IIIrd Tyme Out--is retiring at the end of the month . Gonna miss you, Steve.

Steve Dilling, again (well, his banjo anyway), at the 2007 Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival. And Russell Moore's guitar. Here's hoping Steve's retirement helps his health concerns.

Hey! It's Lester Flatt's 100th birthday. Let's celebrate! Harbourtown, photographed at last year's Charlotte (Michigan) Bluegrass Festival. They're playing on the same stage this afternoon, and tonight.

Isn't that a great face? Charlotte (Michigan) Bluegrass Festival, 6/19/2014.

Of Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys , performing at the Charlotte (Michigan) Bluegrass Festival.

Reed plays bass with Audie Blaylock and Redline (that's Audie's hand on the redlined guitar). At the 2014 Charlotte Bluegrass Festival.

A banjo, a guitar, and a song at the Charlotte (Michigan) Bluegrass Festival in June of 2006. Parking Lot Picking is a common feature of festivals, and one of the joys of those weekeneds.

Lori and Brad Lambert (playing bass and banjo) and their New Outlook band will open 2018's Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival on Thursday, June 20--that's next week . The guitarist is Caleb Daugherty , who's since joined the hoard of talented youngsters trying to make a career in Nashville. Photo taken 6/19/2014 at the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival/Eaton County Fairgrounds.

Continuing with my 2018 Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival preview.... Harbourtown --Kurt Hickman (bass), John Coffey (guitar), Jeremie Cole (banjo), and Lynn Fox (mandolin)--will also be performing at Charlotte on Thursday, June 20. A fun time will be had by both the band and the crowd; this is an entertaining crew. The youngster in this photo is John Coffey's grandson Gavin Conley . We've been watching Gavin grow up on stage for several years, now. Photo taken 6/22/2017 at the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival/Eaton County Fairgrounds.