Greens Acres Festival

I ventured out to Rockport to the Greens Festival Saturday afternoon and evening. Had a great time with a nice festival atmosphere. I helped take the gate money and direct people to parking areas. A very convivial group. The line up of music was fitting and flowed. Culminating with the Greens late into the evening. Especially inspired versions (appropriate in the outdoor late night setting) of: Swamp Queen, Thunderwear, and Country Maestro. Lots of instrumental jams. Larry provided his drum kit throughout, thanks to Bud for a day's worth of sound; thanks to the property owners for hosting, and lots of good helping people.

announcement of the nominees for AMA awards

THE 2011 AMERICANA MUSIC ASSOCIATION HONORS AND AWARDS NOMINEES:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Band of Joy, Robert Plant
Welder, Elizabeth Cook
Harlem River Blues, Justin Townes Earle
Blessed, Lucinda Williams

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Buddy Miller
Elizabeth Cook
Hayes Carll
Robert Plant

NEW/EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
The Civil Wars
Mumford And Sons
The Secret Sisters
Jessica Lea Mayfield

DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Avett Brothers
The Civil Wars
Mumford And Sons
Robert Plant and the Band Of Joy


SONG OF THE YEAR
Decemberists with Gillian Welch- "Down By The Water"
Elizabeth Cook - "El Camino"
Hayes Carll - "Kmag Yoyo"
Justin Townes Earle - "Harlem River Blues"

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Buddy Miller
Gurf Morlix
Kenny Vaughan
Sarah Jarosz
Will Kimbrough

Greens tonight in Parkersburg

The Greens are coming tonight to play at 6 Pence Pub in Parkersburg. With the recent parenting status of Andy and Nathan, we are cherishing the shows! I am heading out to catch Aaron Whited doing a dinner time show in town before heading over to 6 Pence. I'll be promoting the Bob Dylan Tribute which will be next Friday there at 6 Pence, too. Nelsonville Music Festival going on this weekend, with lots of great acts all weekend.

Owen Temple - house concert here in Parkersburg last night

Owen Temple made a second stop in Parkersburg last night to do a house concert. He had an upright bass player, Josh Flowers, with him. They played a great show, featuring many (if not most) of the songs off Mountain Home, his new CD, as well as a LOT of songs from "Gary Floater" - a very hysterical "alter ego" for odd songs/ spoofs/ funny stuff, that still comes off as good music, but is just plain enjoyable listening. He is a sharp, witty guy; with a great eye for the absurdities of this culture, and also a poignant capturer of the human condition. He's added to my list of those I will follow and be eager to see him come back around this part of the country. He stopped by today to browse the vinyl collection, and exchange some music around his recent discovery of the Weedhawks. He gave me a good background of his life, and I enjoyed getting to know him.

Troubadours of Divine Bliss returning to Parkersburg!

I bumped into Smokestack Betty last evening, and she excitedly told me the Troubadours of Divine Bliss are returning to Parkersburg July 9th, to play at the Blennerhasset Hotel; this is great news, and worth spreading the word! I will find the details and circulate them as soon as I can.

Maybelogic

I went to Washington State Community College in Marietta last night to see a free concert as part of the Evergreen Arts and Humanities Series. Maybelogic, consisting of Andy McVey, Jessica Baldwin, Andy Hall and Clay Paschal, performed before an appreciative and enthusiastic audience. Three musical guests also joined them for specific songs, Julia Dryer, Buddy Lee, and Kelley Klemick. This is a talented and creative group with an eclectic reach and an engaging way with an audience. I avoid classifying music I hear, but to convey to someone else you need a few descriptors; they use fusion; jazz; funk. Diversity in the song crafting among the members is a trademark, and leads to the admiration and appreciation of all their talents, as well as their collective solid combination. Their descriptions of the songs, and how they came to select them was a nice touch to the evening of music. Look for them in a variety of settings and venues around the Mid Ohio Valley.