Love Of Bluegrass Music
I Love Bluegrass Music
My first love in music was of the Oldies genre. Then came bluegrass and old-timey Country and Western music. Whenever I could find a channel on the radio with bluegrass music, I would turn up the music, sing with the songs and do the thigh slapping bit. Bluegrass music raises my spirits like no other music can. My adrenaline goes sky high and I am flying. I hope I can help to explain how much Bluegrass music means to me.
Photo credit: photos-public-domain.com, Public Domain
Bluegrass Music
is a sub-genre of Country Music
Bluegrass Music At It's Best - Why Don't You Listen To Some Now
![Bluegrass Worship [3 CD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51VAUVYOpJL._SL160_.jpg)
Bluegrass Music On The Radio
Possibly Saved Mine and My Husband's Life
How you say did bluegrass music helped me do my job? Many years ago when I was first learning to drive a semi-truck with a 52 foot trailer on the back, it was my turn to drive for 10 hours. I had already completed the basic training that allowed me to get my driver's license. Now my husband was my trainer. In XXXXXXXX, XX, he hit the sleeper bunk and I jumped into the driver's seat.
The road was very, very dark, mountainous and had so many dangerous curves and cliffs that I was scared and sleepy. Either one is enough to kill a truck driver or his partner. I started searching the radio for a station to help keep me awake. It wasn't very long before I found a bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, and oldies country music station. This thrilled me to death as these are three of my favorite music genres. I was able to stay awake the whole 10 hours until we reached Cincinnati, OH. On time, my husband stuck his head out the door and I was singing and slapping my thigh to the music. I was high on the music. My adrenalin was flowing to the max. Needless to say, he went back to bed.
I pulled into a truck stop in Cincinnati and it was his turn to take over the wheel. I was never able to find that station again. But, thank the Lord, I did find it that night when I needed it the most.
Photo credit: photos-public-domain.com, Public Domain
Alison Krauss - At MerleFest 2007
Alison Krauss has some lovely music. Alison is not only a bluegrass singer, she also writes bluegrass music and plays the fiddle. She did her first recording when she was 14. She later joined the band called Alison Krauss and Union Station (AKUS). She is still with them. At the Grammy Awards of 1995, "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow" won the Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album.
Photo credit: Wikipedia, Public Domain
Bluegrass has
3 official sub-genres and 1 unofficial sub-genre that I will talk about.
Traditional Bluegrass
Such As Folk Songs
Traditional Bluegrass includes Folk Songs, simple traditional cord progressions, and mostly relies on acoustic stringed instruments (fiddle, five string banjo, acoustic guitar, mandolin, and upright bass).
The picture is of Jimmy Martin, who's instruments of preference were a guitar and a mandolin. He is a perfect example of a Traditional Bluegrass artist. He put out 16 albums and 5 singles. He also sang with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. He died in 2005 of bladder cancer.
Photo credit: Wikipedia, Public Domain
Progressive Bluegrass
Use Electric Instruments
The Progressive Bluegrass use electric instruments (electric instruments, drums, piano, and more) and import songs from other genres, particularly rock & roll.
The String Cheese Incident Band is a good example of a Progressive Bluegrass band. They are a jam band. They have 10 albums, a live series that has been going on since 2002, and 8 videos.
Wikipedia, Public Domain.
Bluegrass Gospel
My Favorite And Last Of Official Sub-Genres
Bluegrass Gospel is my favorite of all of the bluegrass genre. I love to listen to it as it gives me peace of mind. I love the special way that they sing these gospel songs. There are many sub-genres of the gospel music so you need to pick out the one you like best. Bluegrass Gospel music tends to utilize choirs, use piano and/or Hammond organ, drums, bass guitar and, increasingly, electric guitar.
I love the music of Dolly Pardon when she sings gospel music. I guess the sub-genres of the gospel music are Christian Country Music and Celtic Gospel.
Photo credit: westyfree, Creative Commons
Bluegrass Gospel Music - For Your Listening Pleasure
![Bill Gaither Presents: A Gospel Bluegrass Homecoming, Volume One [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51dFdLYsUfL._SL160_.jpg)
Neo-Traditional Bluegrass
An Unofficial Sub-Genre of Bluegrass
The Neo-Traditional Bluegrass phase started in the 1990s. Some of the artists that you might remember are Grascals, Mountain Heart, plus more. The Grascals teamed up with Dolly Parton to do "I Am Strong." Two movies using the Neo-Traditional Bluegrass was featured in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and "Deliverance"
Wikipedia, Public Domain.
Neo-Traditional Bluegrass Music - An Unofficial Sub-Genre of Bluegrass
Neo-Traditional Bluegrass Music Videos - Enjoy Watching and Listening to This Wonderful Music
California Bluegrass Festivals for 2013
Find out if any are close to you
June 17-23, 2013 Susanville Bluegrass Festival held in Susanville, CA.
October 4, 5, & 6, 2013 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Music Festival in San Francisco, CA at the Golden Gate Park. This concert is a gift from billionaire investment banker Warren Hellman, who died in 2011.
Colorado Bluegrass Festivals for 2013
Find out if any are close to you.
I love to find music festivals that are close enough for me to attend. The tickets are selling out quickly so you might want to get them soon if you want to attend. If you don't live close enough to drive there and home again, you need to check out the availability of rooms as these are filling up very quickly.
June 20-23, 2013 40th Telluride Bluegrass Festival to be held in Telluride, CO.
July 26-28, 2013 RockyGrass to be held in Lyons, CO.
August 16-18, 2013 Rocky Mountain Folks Festival to be held in Lyons, CO.
Connecticut Bluegrass Festivals for 2013
Find out if any are close to you
May 30-June 2, 2013 Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival held in Preston, CT at Strawberry Park.
Indiana Bluegrass Festivals for 2013
Find out if any are close to you
June 8-15, 2013 47th Annual Bill Monroe Bean Blossom Bluegrass Music Festival to be held in Morgantown, IN.
Kansas Bluegrass Festivals for 2013
Find out if any are close to you
September 18-22, 2013 Walnut Valley Festival held in Winfield, Kansas.
Kentucky Bluegrass Festivals for 2013
Find out if any are close to you
Early October Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Celebration held in Rosine,KY. The date has not been published as yet. When it is, I will change it.
Massachusetts Bluegrass Festivals for 2013
Find out if any are close to you
February 15-17, 2013 Joe Val Bluegrass Music Festival in Framingham, MA. This is in the Boston, MA area.
New York Bluegrass Festivals for 2013
Find out if any are close to you
July 18-21, 2013 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
held in Oak Hill, NY on the Walsh Farm.
Nevada Bluegrass Festivals for 2013
Find out if any are close to you
July 12-14, 2013 Americana Music Festival held in Virginia City, NV. It includes bluegrass, cowboy music, mountain music, and alternative country
North Carolina Bluegrass Festivals for 2013
Find out if any are close to you
June 30-July 4, 2013 Red White and Bluegrass Festival held in Morganton, NC.
Oct 4-6, 2013 Bluegrass Island Festival 2013held in Manteo, NC at Roanoke Island Festival Park, which is on the outer banks of NC.
Tennessee Bluegrass Festivals for 2013
Find out if any are close to you
September 27-28, 2013 IBMA Fan Fest held in Nashville, TN. Details haven't been published yet.
Texas Bluegrass Festivals for 2013
Find out if any are close to you
I couldn't leave out my own state of Texas. I just had to find out what we had here.
March 1-2 2013 Bluegrass Heritage Festival held in Arlington, TX at at the South Oaks Baptist Church.
April 18-21, 2013 Old Settler's Music Festival held in Austin, TX.
May 11-12, 2013 Sandyland Bluegrass Reunion held in Nacogdoches, TX at the Triple-B-Farms.
May 24-26, 2013 16th Annual Bluegrass GOSPEL Festival held in Grapeland, TX at Salmon Lake Park.
May 29-June 1, 2013 7th Melody Ranch Bluegrass Festival held in Sherman, TX at the Chrystal Opry House.
June 7-8, 2013 Overton Bluegrass and Gospel Music Festival, an all gospel bluegrass event, held in Overton, TX at the Overton City Park.
June 7-9, 2013 Texas Folklife Festival held in San Antonio, TX at the Institute of Texan Cultures.
August 16-17, 2013 Fire on the Strings held in League City, Texas at the South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center.
August 21-24, 2013 Deep Summer Festival held in Sherman, TX at the Chrystal Opry House.
August 29-September 1, 2013 ***
37th Annual Bluegrass Festival held in Grapeland, TX at Salmon Lake Park.
September 14-15, 2013 Sandyland Bluegrass Reunion held in Nacogdoches, TX at the Triple-B-Farms.
October 18-19, 2013 BLOOMIN' BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL and Chili Cookoff! held in Farmers Branch, TX at the Farmers Branch Historical Park.
October 24-26, 2013 Spring Creek Bluegrass Festival held in Bellville, TX at the COUSHATTE Recreation Ranch.
Virginia Bluegrass Festivals for 2013
Find out if any are close to you
May 23-25, 2013 Ralph Stanley 43rd Annual Memorial Weekend Bluegrass Festival held in Coeburn, VA.
May 30-June 1 Graves Mountain Festival of Music held in Syria, VA.
Washington Bluegrass Festivals for 2013
Find out if any are close to you
July 19-21, 2013 Darrington Bluegrass Festival held in Darrington, WA at the Darrington Bluegrass Music Park on Washington 530.
Show Your Love of Bluegrass Music
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