APRIL 19th will be our first show of 2009.

April 19th is the Sunday after Easter. Our first band should be on stage at 2pm. Hope you will also be here.

We sure enjoyed having Alec Hurtubise, the 12 year old kid with the great voice, sing the last Sundayof our 2008 season. His grandparents, Joe and Linda, along with his great uncle and aunt, Jack and Barb drove from Springfield, IL that day just to hear him. Then they had to drive back to Kokomo, IN. What great support Alec has from his family. Thanks also to Lisa, Alec's mom and her friend and her son for making the trip to bring him.

James White and Deer Creek did their usual great show. It was a special treat for James to bring along Brian Allen to entertain us. And a special thanks to Dolly Mae Bradshaw. She thumped that doghouse bass all 4 sets and "had blisters under her callous".And she helped in the snack bar before she even started playing. What a friend.

Crossroads and Cornfields were sure a crowd pleaser when they were here on Nov 2nd. Again thanks to Gene and Sharron Evans for helping line up great talent for us.

Earl Wiseman and Kentucky Express have that great traditional mountain music sound and gave us a really good show. Thanks guys.

Alec Hurtubise, Dolly Bradshaw, Mark Baker, Alan McQueen, Gene Wagers, Nathan Treadway put on quite a show for us but it seemed to pass too quickly. Come back and do it again sometime, please!

Alan McQueen of Flatland Bluegrass Band steps up to the mike for a vocal. Is Cooley whispering the words to him or what?

Last Sunday we celebrated the birthdays of Ed Kolb and Sheridan Depew. We had 3 gallon of ice cream, about 15 or 16 cakes and 6 huge boxes of donuts. SUGAR OVERLOAD!!!

Flatland Bluegrass led off the show with their usual good performancde. Then came Wes Miller Band--Janet couldn't come this time and we missed her but the guys did an awesome job. Wes is a real trooper--the show went on even though he had broken ribs from an accident earlier in the week when a horse fell backward on him. Don said it was best for fans not to hug Wes no matter how much they liked him. I am sure Wes appreciated those words of wisdom from Don. 

Nate met and picked some with Keith Buttrey at Middletown Bluegrass last Friday nite. Then they both showed up at Jeff Kilburns Bluegrass in South Lebanon the next night. They seem to enjoy playing together so they asked Dolly Bradshaw (bass) and Alan McQueen (mandolin) to join them for the last set on Sunday. Good show!

November 2nd

Two bands will be here this Sunday. Cornfields & Crossroads from the Indy area. Again thanks to Gene & Sharron Evans for booking this band for us.

Kentucky Express, headed up by Earl Wiseman, will be the                          other feature band.

And of course our house band Flatland Bluegrass will be here also.

      Wreford and Company led off last Sunday afternoon with some great traditional bluegrass. Thanks guys!



 

James White and Deer Creek was also here  at the barn this this past Sunday . Their special guest was Michael Cleveland,  IBMA fiddle player of the year again, and did he ever  please everyone with his fiddlin'. Kyle Clerkin, age 15,  is the new banjo player for Deer Creek and he sure can pick--he can also sing  but I don't think he has let James  White in on that secret yet.

Then came Alec Hurtubise from Zionsville, Indiana! This is another friend of Nate's that is in our "camping circle" at Bean Blossom. This 12 year old had the crowd giving him a well deserved standing ovation. We hope to get Alec back down here before we close out our season.

James White said his lifelong dream was to become a dancer. Don is taking notes and maybe this week he will have learned to dance like James.

Our Flatland Bluegrass Band had to hurry back from a performance in Brookville, Indiana earlier in the day. John,Donna, Dolly, Cooley, Nate and Woody had a special fellow, Alec, add his vocal talent to their show.

Co

Cooley was singing about his Mary Ann when his dream came true. Mary Ann got off the bus in front of the barn and made her way to the stage. Check out her wedgies with red sequins.

October 12th Carl Bentley Band came to the barn. Don & I had not seen this band before but Gene and Sharron Evans had. Gene and Sharron set everything up for us and sure did us a favor booking this great band. What a professional band!

And our Flatland Band on stage with John Pruitt on mandolin, Woody Smith on fiddle & vocal, Donna Hilderbrand, vocal, Cooley Calihan on guitar & vocal , Dolly Mae Bradshaw on bass & vocal, Gene Wagers on dobro and Nathan Treadway on banjo but not vocal (he doesn't want to sing--says he sounds like a cat in a garbage can--his own words). They sounded great as usual and they did several new songs as well as old favorites.

Rounding out the Sunday show was Larry Reese with help from John Pruitt, Dolly Mae Bradshaw and Max Reese. Nate played the bass for a while.Thanks folks --you are always so kind to perform for us and we appreciate your fine talent and Larry's "corn".

On October 26th we will be celebrating the 101st birthday of Sheridan DePew of Oxford, Ohio. We will be serving cake and ice cream about 5 pm so come join the celebration. Sheridan, I sure hope I am spelling your name right--I never think to ask when I am talking to you. See his picture below. Doesn't look 100 years old to me! Maybe he is spoofing us just to have a party!

Mark Poe and the All American Bluegrass gave their usual excellent performance last Sunday. Hal had car trouble on the way here and missed most of the first set. Nate didn't mind because Mark asked him to play banjo with the band until Hal arrived. Don't suppose Nate had anything to do with Hal's car trouble.

Duane, Harold, Hal and Mark all sing and harmonize so well. They also switch insturments. Mark always has news about Skillet that we look forward to hearing.

You just had to be there. You figure it out.

Mark is the guy who taught our grandson, Nathan, to play the banjo. I am sure glad Nathan now knows more songs than Cripple Creek--that was the first song he learned and believe me, he wore it out!

Bluegrass Cobblers are local musicians (all but Ritch) with a lot of talent. The story goes: The band had formed but didn't have a name when they played a festival. They had just finished eating a whole pan of cobbler all by themselves when they were asked what was the name of their band. Figure it out. But I'm not sure if that story is really true.

Helen Brandenburg joined the Bluegrass Cobblers for a couple of songs. Ray (her husband) sang with her. What a good bluegrass voice Helen has! Last time she was here she wore her tap shoes and clogged for us.

Ray Brandenburg let his hair down Sunday (check it out). He played a couple of songs using a pick, 2 cans and string. It really did sound good and you could tell what he was playing. Some people have a lot of time on their hands!

Flatland Bluegrass Band pulled off another super show. We depend on them every Sunday. Thanks Donna, Gene, Woody, Cooley, Wreford, Alan and Nathan.

11 year old bluegrass picker Evan Lanier was here at the barn with his own band The Bluegrass Express. If you haven't heard this young man pick you have really missed something. Evan is a real showman and a crowd pleaser. Of course he hangs out with some fine musicians--Red, Noel, Gilbert, and Bob. Thanks to Evan Lanier and The Bluegrass Express for their show. www.evanlanier.com

Larry Reese, Cooley Calihan,  Darrell Hall, Max Reese, and Nathan Treadway closed out our Sunday. Larry referred to them as his "throwed together band" but they sure gave us a good show. And we had  guests from the audience that gave us a musical treat--thanks Gary and Dalia.

CANYON RIVER BOYS APPEARANCE CANCELLED

Canyon River band members had wind damage that still has them repairing property. Also a fall has caused pain and edema to a band members "picking hand" so this Sunday's performance has had to be placed on hold. Hopefullly things will heal and property will get repaired so they can reschedule. Wreford tells me the band has been pushed back into hibernation just when they came out of semi retirement. We wish them the best and look forward to another time.

Our own "chewin' & spitin'" Wreford Meyers sings and plays upright bass for the group. Check out the cup in his bridge in the picture above. HINT: This is not his drinking cup!

Thanks to Bobby Whitaker ( guitar & vocal), Don Gross (guitar & vocal) , (Gene Wagers (dobro), Josh Wagers (guitar), Wreford Meyers (upright bass), Alan McQueen (guitar & vocal) and Nathan Treadway (banjo) for their fine show. Don's wife, Judy, and Bobby's wife did some great vocals.

Mc Coy Grass came down from Fairborn this past Sunday. We really didn't expect them because of all the wind but they did make it. We didn't have electric when they got here but we started the motorhome generator and powered the sound system. The stage was a liittle dark but the girls and their band were troopers and put on a good show. When they were here in the summer, it rained hard -- surely we will have good weather the next time they come Check out their web site. www.mccoygrass.com

Wes Miller Band was here and did they ever put on a super show. The crowd loved it and couldn't seem to get enough of their music. It is hard to believe that so much talent is all in one family. The Wes Miller Band is pictured below. Wes Miller (vocal & guitar), his sister, Janet Miller Foster (vocal), his father, James Miller (mandolin & vocal), his brothers, Joel Miller (banjo & vocal) and Mark Miller (upright bass). Check out their website www.wesmiller.com

The Napier Family Band from around Hamilton was here treating us to some good traditional bluegrass. Elmer is the boss man of this group and both of his daughters are in the band . His daughter Becky plays the banjo and  his other daughter Charlotte plays the fiddle. JJ (Elmer couldn't remember his last name when they were on stage so I don't know it either) helped out on that little upright bass. 

Berachah Valley had a great show here on Sunday. What great harmony these talented musicians have. Becky Meyers, a local favorite, played banjo for the band. In addition to traditional bluegrass, Berachah Valley is a great gospel group and do a lot of performances for church venues. Check out their website www.berachahvalley.com

Also thanks to Flatland Bluegrass for putting on a really good show every week--couldn't get along without them. Thanks to Gene Wagers (dobro) , Woody Smith(fiddle & vocal), Donna Hilderbrand (vocal), Cooley Calihan(guitar & vocal), Wreford Meyers (upright bass & vocal), Alan McQueen (mandolin & vocal), and Nathan Treadway (banjo) for helping out with their great sounds. Wonder what they are all looking at and laughing ? Could it be those legs?

Darrell Hall (bass & vocal) and (banjo player) play with Donna and Alan. Darrell is an excellent singer and bass player who is always willing to help out when and where he is needed. Thanks Darrell! 

Thanks to Dolly, Larry and "kids" for their "Throwed Together" Band as Larry named them. Ben, Chris, David and Max did an entertaining show also. Everyone always enjoys hearing Dolly and the Young Rascals--Kyle, Nate, David, Michael, and Max. Evan we missed you but had no idea all those young boys were going to be here.

SweetGrass Bluegrass Band from Bloomington, Indiana came up to the barn and gave us an excellent show.

Thanks to our friends from Branson Missouri, GOLDWING EXPRESS. They drove all night from way over near Wheeling , West Virginia to do 2 shows on Sunday at our Flatland Bluegrass Barn. And what crowd pleasers they were with their wonderful show. We had a packed house with overflow outside.

Just before Goldwing Express Show, Dolly and the Yound Rascals had performed on stage. The group was Dolly Bradshaw and a group of young pickers aged 11 to 18. At the end of Goldwing Express last set, they invited those young boys up on the stage for some hard driving bluegrass insturmentals to close out the show. Too bad that Kyle and Brandon had already headed back to Madison, Indiana. It was awesome!! Like Steve said "the future of bluegrass is in good hands with those boys".

Sorry if you missed it. In case you couldn't come or didn't buy the DVD of their performance, we talked Steve into making a few extra so if you want one for $20 let me know. I will have them at the barn on Sunday.

HOMEWARD BOUND is a local favorite. We saw them first at the Coy & Eileen Willis' Ox Barn near Metamora. Dennis & Teresa now live in Indy but come down every now and then to play at the barn. Shown below: Chris Ladd (bass & vocal), Ben Feeback (guitar & vocal), Teresa Collins (vocal), Dennis Collins (guitar & vocal), Tim Northem (banjo) and David Ladd (mandolin and vocal). Not present in this picture is Darlene Northem (vocal). Where were you Darlene?

Kentucky Express has that good traditional sound to their bluegrass. They have played here at the barn as a group and 15 year old Max fills in with several other groups here. Thanks Max!  The band consists of Trulan Chenault (mandolin), Earl Wiseman (guitar & vocal), John Mullins (upright bass & vocal) and Max Reese (banjo). 

John Pruitt is pickin' but not grinnin'. Larry Reese and Dolly Mae Bradshaw grinnin' but not pickin'. Do you think Dolly Mae and Larry might have noticed that I was taking their picture?

Don & Judy Gross are frequent performers here at the barn. They alsogive a lot of time to nursing homes in their area as they visit 4 different nursing homes several times a month. Don says " those older people need that".  I bet those older folks appreciate it and look forward to their visits . What a gift Don & Judy give!

Sue Faulkner is a regular here at the barn. She is from Hamilton, Ohio has been playing the fiddle for about a year now. She stands in the background and plays along with different bands for experience but she is getting brave enough to take a break every now and then.

Dick Williams does some fine traditional bluegrass. He is from Fairborn, Ohio and has appeared here at the barn several times. Here his band consists of Adam (fiddle), Wreford Meyers (upright bass & vocal), Dick Williams (guitar & vocal), Alan McQueen (mandolin & vocal), Nathan Treadway (banjo) and Gene Wagers (dobro).

Another group that performed at the Ox Barn is now pickin' and singin" at our barn. Ben can sing for hours and never run out of songs. Chris Ladd (bass & vocal), David Ladd (mandolin & vocal) and Ben Feeback (guitar & vocal) are the regulars and they invite other musicians to round out their fine band. Pictured above is Ben and in the other picture David and his grandpa, Chris. By the way David sang for the 1st time a few weeks ago here at the barn. Good job David!

NEW CLOVER is a very entertaining band from the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Pictured below is Jim Himal (dobro), Cindy Reese (upright bass & vocal), Larry Reese (guitar & vocal), guest Earl Wiseman (guitar & vocal) and Michael Reese (banjo & vocal). Michael returned to Boston, MA the first part of September where he is a music major at Berkley of Boston. Don't forget us Michael! We hope he comes to visit the barn during his college breaks.