7/6 Jam

At straight-up 7 p.m., we had three fiddles and one banjo in the place.
Three hours later, we had somehow sailed through another fine evening of music, singing and caffeine-fueled fellowship.
Chris showed up, bass in tow, and hung tough for more than 2 hours before relinquishing the doghouse to Kendall.
T. Mills also thumped the last number -- "Sitting On Top of the World."
Mary, Christian, Sandra, Larry, Tim P, Jason, Richard, Doug D, Bill and I (maybe some others?) along with the aforementioned troika rocked and reeled through the night. Jason and Doug played "Big Country," among other oddball numbers.
A fine time was had by all.

Jam nation

Musicians brought their usual fervor and pep to the Mill last night. Multiple banjos, mandolins, fiddles and guitars swarmed downtown, even spilling onto the concrete jungle of The Street Formerly Known As Norwood.

A great session was enjoyed indoors by a sizable crowd. Outside, a band of young whippersnappers, not to mention Tim Mills, played well past the 2200 hours mark.

Don't forget to come see the Java Brothers at the 4th of July hootenanny in Bisset Park, right at 5 p.m.

Fandangos, Floyd and Fests dominate July

Cadillac Sky
July 3, Friday, 8 p.m. @ Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke

Radford 4th of July Celebration
July 4, Saturday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. @ Bisset Park

Floyd Fandango
Featuring Buckwheat Zydeco
July 4-5, Saturday-Sunday @ FloydFest grounds, Blue Ridge Parkway

Sunken Garden Saturday!
Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band
July 4, Saturday, 8:30 p.m. @ Nesselrod on the New, Radford

Roanoke Fiddle and Banjo Club
July 4, Saturday, 6 p.m. @ Vinton Farmers Market

Whitetop Mountain Band, Kentucky Wild Horse
July 4, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Sunken Garden Sundays
Second Impressions
June 5, Sunday, 6:30 p.m. @ Nesselrod on the New, Radford

The Happy Mountain Boys
June 5, Sunday, 7 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

Wayside Bluegrass Festival
July 8-11, Wednesday-Saturday @ Wayside Park, Stuart

Phil Wiggins, Rick Franklin and Nat Reese
July 11, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Avett Brothers
July 11, Saturday, 8 p.m. @ Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre

Sunken Garden Sundays
Larry Keel and Natural Bridge
June 12, Sunday, 5 p.m. @ Nesselrod on the New, Radford

Olen and Frances Gardner
June 12, Sunday, 7 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

Mineral Bluegrass Festival
July 16-18, Thursday-Saturday @ Mineral, Va.

Radford After 5
July 17, Friday, 5:30 p.m. @ Radford Farmers Market

Alleghany County Fiddlers Convention
July 17-18, Friday-Saturday @ Sparta, N.C.

Robin and Linda Williams
With Willard Gayheart and Bobby Patterson
July 18, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Sunken Garden Sundays
Paul Thorn
June 19, Sunday, 5 p.m. @ Nesselrod on the New, Radford

Appalachian Heritage
June 19, Sunday, 7 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

FloydFest
Featuring Blues Traveler, Peter Rowan, Railroad Earth, many others
July 23-26, Thursday-Sunday @ FloydFest grounds, Blue Ridge Parkway

Linda Lay and Springfield Exit
With the New North Carolina Ramblers
July 25, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Judy, Henry and Jack
June 26, Sunday, 7 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

Roanoke Fiddlefest
July 31-August 1, Friday-Saturday @ Hollins University, Roanoke

Appalachian String Band Music Festival
July 29-August 2, Wednesday-Sunday @ Clifftop, W.Va.

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder
With Scott Freeman and Friends
August 1, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Song of the Mountains
Featuring Karl Shiflett and Big Country Show
August 1, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Lincoln Theatre, Marion

New River Rock Skippers
August 2, Sunday, 7 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

For more links, go to www.radfordfiddle.com

All Kinds of Music at the Sunken Garden

I had to miss the Infamous String Dusters last week, and it sounds like it was definitely my loss.

This Sunday approaching features Jimmy Thackery and as added enticement, our own (and he is our own) Scott Fore will be opening up.

Will our own Slash be there, too? I'll be there to find out.

A good jam to see

If Mr. Seibert had to go out after last night's jam, he coulda done worse.

It was an interest jam last night. That's what I logged on initially to say when I was sad discover that Mr Simpkins had passed. It was a fairly small group of pickers, and missing some of our leading lights. I was dog tired, so I played and sang even crappier than usual, but I always when the regular group is shuffled, we got to some new and some neglected songs, and different folks got to take breaks. Ralph and I got to harmonize, which was fun. Christian and Mary go some serious solos in on their respective mandolins. Our new pal with old Martin mando was there. Richard is getting more fluent every week on his fiddle. Doug held us all together, as usual.

An average night of pickin is alwasy way better than a good night of anything work-related, to paraphrase a bumper sticker I read somewhere...

So I retroactively dedicate "Over the Waterfall" to Mr. Simpkins - safe travels!

Heaven gains another fine banjo picker - Seibert Simpkins

It's with great sadness I learned that Seibert passed away early this morning peacefully. I enjoyed my brief friendship with him and his company at several bluegrass jam sessions including Snowville on Thursday evenings and Coffee Mill on Monday nights.

Although I wasn't able to make it to the Coffee Mill last night, I understand from Richard that Seibert was there listening and enjoying the fine music --- it gives me comfort he was enjoying himself!!

Seibert fully enjoyed the music, and although not always out in front, was a fine banjo picker and always ready with a smile. You'll be missed. Joe

Great show at Sunken Garden

The Infamous Stringdusters were in terrific form during the latest Sunken Garden Sundays showcase yesterday. They drew the biggest crowd yet -- more than 100 in the "amphitheatre" and a lot of people on the hill. I'd say easily 150 total.

I didn't know a lot of the new material, and they definitely cut loose with the jammy stuff, but they played 2 excellent sets. Would have more details if I hadn't spent most of the evening chasing a 2-year-old all over Fairlawn.

They tore up "Uncle Pen" just as I piled into my car.