Moonshine, good people and the spirit of a legend were present at the John Harford Memorial Festival. Bluegrass folklore credits him for the transition from traditional Bluegrass to modern New Grass or Jam Grass that many love today. The Legend of John Hartford has escaped me for many years and that changed this June. I was smacked across the face with a banjo and my eyes were mesmerized by skill and speed of mandolin and fiddle masters.
The headline for the weekend, The Infamous String Dusters, played a late night set on Thursday leaving everyone walking back to their camps hungry for more bluegrass. Friday, Larry Keel & The Natural Bridge paid tribute to Hartford with a set that had true grit. The Friday night stand out was the Rumpke Mountain Boys. These Cincinnati trash grass fellows wowed the crowd, on stage and off. They played with the moon light guiding their way from campsite to campsite until sunrise. Saturday was marked by fierce storms and a torrential down poor during the Bawn in the Mash set. Questions if Bawn in the Mash were the first to use a laptop and controller on the famous bluegrass stage, sparked rumors of Bill Monroe stirring in his grave. Violent storms closed the main stage. Everyone relocated under the shelter house for a good ol’ hootenanny. That’s right, I said hootenanny! Great American Taxi performed for a packed house of eager ears that wouldn’t let the music stop. Playing late into the night, the rain ran away and The John Hartford Memorial Festival jammed on.
Worries of Bill Monroe stirring in his grave were suspect for the bad weather. Some might say he wouldn’t take too kindly to this much partying, but this was the John Hartford Memorial Festival. Those who knew John said his spirit was under that shelter house, singing along side each and everyone of us. The Campers for the festival became family for the weekend, just one big bluegrass family. I hope next time, you’ll come and join us!
John Hartford “Steam Powered Aereo Plane”
Rumpke Mountain Boys ”Go Home Girl” at John Hartford Festival
Great American Taxi “Boogie/ Get No Better” at John Hartford Festival (Late Night Thunderstorm Set)
Larry Keel and Natural Bridge at John Hartford Festival
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