Charlotte Bluegrass Festival

Edgar's band--its full name is The Edgar Loudermilk Band featuring Jeff Autry --will be playing at the 2018 Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival on Friday, June 22. Jeff's the guy hiding behind Edgar's bass. Photo taken 6/23/2017. Edgar might be my favorite photo subject,

Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out will be playing at this year's Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival on Friday, June 22. Wayne Benson's been a member of IIIrd Tyme Out for most of its existence--and 3TO's played at the Charlotte festival most summers since the band was formed. That's lead singer/guitarist Russell Moore beyond Wayne, and Steve Dilling--now with Sideline, as we've seen--beyond Russell. I've seen these guys a lot. There's no band I like better. Photo taken 6/21/2013 at Charlotte.

...with some microphones, guitarist Colby Laney, and the neck of Patton Wages' banjo. Glen plays fiddle and sings lead with Volume Five , and to my ear is the best male singer in bluegrass music these days. On June 23--that's one week from today--V5 will close out the weekend at the 2018 Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival . I'll be there. You'll be welcome. Yeah, the pic's a little strange. But I like it.

Luke Gitchel and Jim Hurst chatting with each other and a bunch of other guitarists during yesterday's workshop at the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival , This morning will feature similar workshops featuring banjo and mandolin. Luke's band, the Journeymen , will kick off today's festival session at noon and the music will continue far into the evening with five bands doing two sets apiece, including Little Roy & Lizzy and Volume Five . Festival seating's under the pavilion at the Eaton County Fairgrounds in Charlotte, so we can (mostly) hide from the weather.

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Sammy Shelor of the Lonesome River Band at the 2019 Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival. 173/365

Another detail from David Rice's mural at Bright Walls Jackson. In truth this is more a photo of Rice's work surface than of his work, though I like and admire the painting I've captured here. Age has made the brickwork at the bottom of the wall ragged. Higher up the wall's less difficult, but hardly a consistent surface.

With Billy Strings in the background. Billy wasn't yet the star he's since become, but you could see the potential. I've got bluegrass on the brain this morning. Photo taken at the Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival; 6/15/2015.

Playing banjo with his band the New South on the stage at the Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival, 6/23/2007.

Audie Blaylock's band's a bit less stable than most bluegrass bands, but the version he brought to the Charlotte, Michigan, festival in 2013 was immensely talented. Banjo: Russ Carson, now with Ricky Skaggs. Fiddle: Patrick McAvinue, now with Dailey and Vincent; also with Charm City Junction. 2017 IBMA fiddler of the year. Bass: Jason Moore, now with Sideline, previously with Mountain Heart. Guitar: Audie Blaylock, previously with Jimmy Martin and Rhonda Vincent. And other bands. Mandolin: Jesse Brock, now with Fast Track; formerly with Michael Cleveland, later with the Gibson Brothers. Twice IBMA mando player of the year.