Wrap up of RockyGrass festival storyline
It seems like it isn’t a proper RockyGrass festival if it doesn’t rain at some point during the weekend! So, yes, it poured Friday from about 3 to 4 p.m., including two brief episodes of tiny hail. The higher humidity effected the tune-up of some instruments. One musician said that the mandolin swells up, and it has to be tuned like a viola. But we have some experts here this weekend, as the mandolin was the star of the festival! A few people used tarps or tents for shelter, and others just let it rain on them. It was actually welcome because it took the 90+ degree day down to about 73 degrees. The next two days were dry and HOT. But ended in a pleasant 75 degrees.
What else is expected? Well, great music, of course. One of the finest musicians alive today, Sam Bush, who is a mandolinist, is considered an originator of progressive bluegrass music. In 2020, he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame as a member of New Grass Revival. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame a second time in 2023 as a solo artist.
At last year’s RockyGrass, he performed with his group a “Tony Rice Tribute.” That Saturday night performance ended with a bang, complete with drums. This year he appeared in three sets. First as the group: Bush, Marshall, Meyer, Meyer, which may have been my favorite performance of the whole Festival (although others were close). I loved the variety that they put into their set, including a classical sounding piece that George Meyer wrote. He played the violin and was accompanied by his father Edgar Meyer who played the bass.
Bush ended the Saturday night lineup with his Bluegrass Band. Right off the bat, Bush and his band had toes tapping, and not because there was a drummer setting the beat. You couldn’t help yourself. His band members also have a long list of accolades. And, he joined in on sets with other performances. Note, that he said his Saturday performance was his “once in a year” performance. Who has more love? – Sam for Lyons – or Lyons for Sam!?
This “joining in” is a common occurrence at the Planet Bluegrass festivals. For example, when Peter Rowan played his set, Molly Tuttle joined in to sing, and then shortly thereafter, did her own performance as Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway.
Molly not only had her “ex” perform with her, but she called her dad on stage. She talked about how he took her to a concert when she was ten years old, and she wrote a song. She also sang her new song about the breakup of her marriage, and explained that it was too emotional for them to do the video. The “Yosemite” video featured the Dave Matthews Band instead, in case you were wondering. And, continuing the “joining in” theme, she also had Dominick Leslie from Hawktail perform on the mandolin; he performed earlier with the Bush band. They closed the festival Sunday night.
Back to Peter Rowan,… he had David Grier performing. He is said to be the greatest flatpick guitarists in the world. He learned his art at the foot of Bluegrass legend, Bill Monroe. Chris Henry played the mandolin, and almost stole the show from Rowan. He was mesmerizing. At one point he came to the microphone and told everyone that the next amalgamation of familiar old songs was a “Sing Along.” The audience happily joined in, ending with “…coming for to carry me home.”
Rowan is known for his yodeling, but he didn’t do much, which may be because he is now in his 80’s. He worked with the legend Bill Monroe, who thought that Rowan sounded like himself. Rowan won a Grammy for his contributions to the bluegrass compilation “True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe.” Rowan co-wrote with Monroe and produced ‘Walls of Time,’ and we enjoyed the bluegrass standard.
Now I know you are all wanting to hear about the three local favorites. First, Big Richard performed Saturday night, and, when they ended their performance, they may have got the loudest applause of the weekend. They had people up on their feet dancing. Plus tossing three giant yellow duckies around (something to do with Ruffed Up Duck, and “Greasy Coat”?!)
Bonnie Sims on the mandolin was a tornado, and seemed to have a little solo piece in every song (third from left in photo). Her fingers flew so fast, I don’t know how the music notes kept up with her. She will be performing in Lyons Summer Concerts in the Park next week, August 9th. Emma Rose gave us a break from the rollicking music and sang a softer ballad. Leader Eve Panning said “Now you know why we call her King Dreamy. Lyons’ Own.” Both Bonnie Sims and Eve Panning also lived in Lyons for a while. What started out a couple years ago as a light-hearted gathering of some fems at a festival, has ended up being a band to be reckoned with.
The other outstanding locals performing were in The Lil Smokies. A favorite is Jake Simpson, who Dave McIntyre did a Lyons Recorder article on, describing Jake receiving his early mentoring in Lyons, and upward climb. (It is still being clicked on and read to this day). Jake played the fiddle off of Andy Dunnigan’s dobro as if they were dueling for a championship.
Their group, The Lil Smokies, is well loved locally. Last year Dave McInyre said that it was time that they got a headliner spot, and here they are. They said: “A dream come true of night at RockyGrass. Feeling incredibly grateful for the incomparable community we’re continually surrounded by in Colorado. Thank you.” Folks were treated to a last song Friday night with five stringed instruments that were “on fire!” I was looking for “big smoke” to rise!
And…another fabulous and friendly local is KC Groves (Uncle Earl), who not only performs locally but is frequently joining other groups, or mentoring up-and-coming local stars. She was part of the two female groups, The Solar Sisters, and Cody Sisters, who performed the always anxiously anticipated Sunday Morning Gospel set.
And, speaking of women performing lead roles, RockyGrass sure shone bright! Sierra Hull performed Friday. Her first set at Rocky was in 2007 at the age of sixteen! She was a favorite of Dave McIntyre last year, blazing away on the mandolin. Then Laurie Lewis had a set on Saturday. Both had male backup musicians.
KGNU, public radio, had live streaming of the festival, and conducted interviews of performers during the half hour breaks. During one, Laurie Lewis said she owned a violin shop many years ago, where she had many quiet hours repairing violins. She said some were inscribed with Latin phrases, which inspired her to come up with some song lyrics. One was: “When I was alive, I stood mute in the forest; but in my death I sing.” She wrote, “All my life I’ve been a blade of grass… I’m gonna be the wind.” And she says that also became her life anthem.
I should mention, on the side, that the simultaneous week-long RockyGrass Academy took place, and competitions happened at the Wildflower Pavilion. First, we should be proud of the Fretliners who won the band competition as three of the four players live in town/ They also won the Telluride fest band competition this year. (They performed in Lyons Summer Concerts in the Park on July 26th. And, band member Tom Knowlton is on staff at Lyons’ MainStage Brewing Company)
Next… Out of the weekend performers on the Main Sage, almost every member of The Po’ Ramlin’ Boys were instructors, as well as members of Hawktail. (Hawktail being one of my big favorites from last year’s RockyGrass, as well as this year – lots of variety in their performance. They said, “Lyons is a true oasis. We’re privledged to be here.”)
This list of instructors included Colorado native Dominick Leslie (who plays with Hawktail, and also performed on the main stage with headliners Bush and Tuttle.) He attended his first bluegrass festival at the age of five months old! And his musician dad gave him a ukulele at age four. In 2004, Dominick became the youngest contestant ever to win the RockyGrass mandolin contest. By the way, he has performed on the Planet Bluegrass stage 26 times! He must consider it his second home. Well, this is a good spot to end our weekend tale.
== All photographs are copyright protected by Kathleen Spring 2023. Contact the newspaper for permission to reprint or use the photographs. ==
