Joel Dinda's photos with the keyword: #3230

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.

Something for Wes Pettinger​, who hosts the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival. And plays banjo. Got up, opened the book I'm reading, and found this passage: ========== George had rather a curious oilskin-covered parcel in his hand. It was round and flat at one end, with a long straight handle sticking out of it. "What's that?" said Harris--"a frying-pan?" "No," said George, with a strange, wild look glittering in his eyes; "they are all the rage this season; everybody has got them up the river. It's a banjo." "I never knew you played the banjo!" cried Harris and I, in one breath. "Not exactly," replied George: "but it's very easy, they tell me; and I've got the instruction book!" --Three Men in a Boat (end of Chapter 8), by Jerome K Jerome ========== Seems appropriate on a day I'm off to hear banjos all weekend--but in the hands of more accomplished musicians than J's friend George. This particular banjer belongs to Keith McKinnon, who I'll be hearing tomorrow with IIIrd Tyme Out. Looking forward to that. You should be there.