Monday
Well the Fiddle competition is over. It has been a great weekend, Sally and I watched some very good musicians fighting it our for champion fiddler, mandolin player or guitarist in this area, although contestants came from all over California to compete. we also had the time to watch some great bluegrass bands. I think our favourite for Sunday was the Kathy Kallick Band, who have been performing for many years, even though we had not heard of them before.
One of the great things about these festivals is that everyone is very friendly and competitors and players mingle in with everyone else, so you can get to jam with all sorts of really good players.
Talking to the chap parked next to us in his camper, soon moved to jamming, he was obviously, I mean obviously, better than me, so a jam quickly became a lesson. He was so patient and helpful. The lesson continued on Sunday morning. So it then turned out that Jerry Rose was here to compete in the guitar competition, more than that, he was also the California State flatpicking guitar champion five times. So with all the brilliant musicians here this weekend and he was happy enough to spend his time helping someone else. Thanks Jerry for your patience and care, I am still practicing, and sorry you didn't win yesterday.
Showing posts with label fairground. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fairground. Show all posts
Monday, May 6, 2013
May 2nd - Cloverdale
On Thursday we moved from Calistoga to Cloverdale, all of 40 miles up the road, calling in at Healdsburg for supplies. Healdsburg is very pretty so we decided that we would call back there to have a wander round. We arrived at the Citrus Fairground and set up, clear sky and baking hot, great. On Friday we took our side trisp to Healdsburg and had a lovely day wandering round this pretty town, like Sonoma it has a town square, which has been made into a small park, with lots of large trees, where we had our picnic. Had a very nice tea/coffee in a French Bistro, pavement style and somehow managed to spend nothing in the shops!
By Friday evening people were arriving for the Fiddle Festival, so there was some playing around the RV's. Old Time Music is different to bluegrass. Here the fiddle is the king instrument and in a circle will usually take the lead, with everyone else following, playing the tune all together, though song choice still rotates around.
Saturday was the start of the fiddle contest, with the Peewee, Junior and Youth categories. Unfortunately there were not as many contestants as expected, which was worrying for the organisers, however we had a very nice day sitting and listening to the kids competing, also watching a couple of bands who were playing on a different stage. The Roustabouts were a nice tight band from Bakersfield, who reflected the Bakersfield Sound, though they could not really define it!
Sunday is Senior Day so we shall see what happens.
By Friday evening people were arriving for the Fiddle Festival, so there was some playing around the RV's. Old Time Music is different to bluegrass. Here the fiddle is the king instrument and in a circle will usually take the lead, with everyone else following, playing the tune all together, though song choice still rotates around.
Saturday was the start of the fiddle contest, with the Peewee, Junior and Youth categories. Unfortunately there were not as many contestants as expected, which was worrying for the organisers, however we had a very nice day sitting and listening to the kids competing, also watching a couple of bands who were playing on a different stage. The Roustabouts were a nice tight band from Bakersfield, who reflected the Bakersfield Sound, though they could not really define it!
Sunday is Senior Day so we shall see what happens.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
April 15tth - Bluegrass Campout at Turlock
Thursday 18th
Following our lovely weekend at Pete and Jan's we have driven the 17 miles to Turlock, where we are now camping. we are here for the California Bluegrass Association Spring Camp. It will last from Monday until next Sunday and everybody here has come to play, or listen to, bluegrass music. However, like back home the weather is playing a part, we have had a very windy couple of days., but now the wind has dropped and the weather is set fair for the weekend.
It is nice and quiet now, but a lot of people will roll in tonight for the weekend
Following our lovely weekend at Pete and Jan's we have driven the 17 miles to Turlock, where we are now camping. we are here for the California Bluegrass Association Spring Camp. It will last from Monday until next Sunday and everybody here has come to play, or listen to, bluegrass music. However, like back home the weather is playing a part, we have had a very windy couple of days., but now the wind has dropped and the weather is set fair for the weekend.
It is nice and quiet now, but a lot of people will roll in tonight for the weekend
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| Set up at Turlock |
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| Sally at a jam on Wed. Afternoon |
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| Friends Minnie Winnie (Winnebego) |
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| Dave and Emmy |
Bluegrass Campout at Turlock
Thursday 18th
Following our lovely weekend at Pete and Jan's we have driven the 17 miles to Turlock, where we are now camping. we are here for the California Bluegrass Association Spring Camp. It will last from Monday until next Sunday and everybody here has come to play, or listen to, bluegrass music. However, like back home the weather is playing a part, we have had a very windy couple of days., but now the wind has dropped and the weather is set fair for the weekend.
It is nice and quiet now, but a lot of people will roll in tonight for the weekend
Following our lovely weekend at Pete and Jan's we have driven the 17 miles to Turlock, where we are now camping. we are here for the California Bluegrass Association Spring Camp. It will last from Monday until next Sunday and everybody here has come to play, or listen to, bluegrass music. However, like back home the weather is playing a part, we have had a very windy couple of days., but now the wind has dropped and the weather is set fair for the weekend.
It is nice and quiet now, but a lot of people will roll in tonight for the weekend
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| Set up at Turlock |
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| Sally at a jam on Wed. Afternoon |
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| Friends Minnie Winnie (Winnebego) |
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| Dave and Emmy |
Friday, April 12, 2013
April 11th - Fresno
We left the very nice fairground in Bakersfield and drove north on 99 to Fresno fairground ($20 p .n., full hook up very quiet). Fresno is the site of a Harvey House Newstand, but is no longer there. Once installed there I took the opportunity to visit the California Gratitude Train ,Merci Boxcar. Although a little out of the way this boxcar is proudly looked after by the American Legion Fresno Federal Post #509, in Fresno, particularly the 40 & 8's. While I was there taking pics of the boxcar one of the 40 &8's members came out and we had a very interesting chat about the boxcar.
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| Boxcar and Chevy |
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| The plaque near the boxcar |
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| Up close showing the 40 and 8 sign |
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| Me and the Boxcar |
Fresno
We left the very nice fairground in Bakersfield and drove north on 99 to Fresno fairground ($20 p .n., full hook up very quiet). Fresno is the site of a Harvey House Newstand, but is no longer there. Once installed there I took the opportunity to visit the California Gratitude Train ,Merci Boxcar. Although a little out of the way this boxcar is proudly looked after by the American Legion Fresno Federal Post #509, in Fresno, particularly the 40 & 8's. While I was there taking pics of the boxcar one of the 40 &8's members came out and we had a very interesting chat about the boxcar.
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| Boxcar and Chevy |
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| The plaque near the boxcar |
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| Up close showing the 40 and 8 sign |
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| Me and the Boxcar |
Thursday, April 11, 2013
April 9th - Bakersfield and Highway 99
From Barstow we followed the Highway 58 to Mojave, to Tehachapi and on to Bakersfield, where we stopped at the Fairground.
I looked for signs of the Harvey House in Mojave, but it had been flattened many years ago. There was also a Harvey House in Bakersfield, but it too had gone many years ago. This had been a long drive for us so we stayed for two nights. The Fairground ($25 p.n. full hookup) is very nice and neat and clean and it was not too hot. The day spent here enabled us to get some shopping done. Bakersfield 's main claim to fame is its Bakersfield Sound, a sort of Rock-a-billy country style. Buck Owens and Merle Haggard are its most famous musicians. We had a look at the Crystal Palace, owned by Buck Owens, which is Bakersfiels's sort of Grand Ole Opre.
On Thursday morning we moved on up Highway 99 to Fresno, where we have stopped at another fairground (bit of a pattern here isn't there). Highway 99 goes right up the middle of California in the California Central Valley, which which is very intensively farmed, as we described in our other blogs, as we travelled up this way in the fall of 2011 and Spring of 2012.
I looked for signs of the Harvey House in Mojave, but it had been flattened many years ago. There was also a Harvey House in Bakersfield, but it too had gone many years ago. This had been a long drive for us so we stayed for two nights. The Fairground ($25 p.n. full hookup) is very nice and neat and clean and it was not too hot. The day spent here enabled us to get some shopping done. Bakersfield 's main claim to fame is its Bakersfield Sound, a sort of Rock-a-billy country style. Buck Owens and Merle Haggard are its most famous musicians. We had a look at the Crystal Palace, owned by Buck Owens, which is Bakersfiels's sort of Grand Ole Opre.
On Thursday morning we moved on up Highway 99 to Fresno, where we have stopped at another fairground (bit of a pattern here isn't there). Highway 99 goes right up the middle of California in the California Central Valley, which which is very intensively farmed, as we described in our other blogs, as we travelled up this way in the fall of 2011 and Spring of 2012.
 |
| Yep, this is Bakersfield |
 |
| Buck Owens Crystal Palace |
Bakersfield and Highway 99
From Barstow we followed the Highway 58 to Mojave, to Tehachapi and on to Bakersfield, where we stopped at the Fairground.
I looked for signs of the Harvey House in Mojave, but it had been flattened many years ago. There was also a Harvey House in Bakersfield, but it too had gone many years ago. This had been a long drive for us so we stayed for two nights. The Fairground ($25 p.n. full hookup) is very nice and neat and clean and it was not too hot. The day spent here enabled us to get some shopping done. Bakersfield 's main claim to fame is its Bakersfield Sound, a sort of Rock-a-billy country style. Buck Owens and Merle Haggard are its most famous musicians. We had a look at the Crystal Palace, owned by Buck Owens, which is Bakersfiels's sort of Grand Ole Opre.
On Thursday morning we moved on up Highway 99 to Fresno, where we have stopped at another fairground (bit of a pattern here isn't there). Highway 99 goes right up the middle of California in the California Central Valley, which which is very intensively farmed, as we described in our other blogs, as we travelled up this way in the fall of 2011 and Spring of 2012.
I looked for signs of the Harvey House in Mojave, but it had been flattened many years ago. There was also a Harvey House in Bakersfield, but it too had gone many years ago. This had been a long drive for us so we stayed for two nights. The Fairground ($25 p.n. full hookup) is very nice and neat and clean and it was not too hot. The day spent here enabled us to get some shopping done. Bakersfield 's main claim to fame is its Bakersfield Sound, a sort of Rock-a-billy country style. Buck Owens and Merle Haggard are its most famous musicians. We had a look at the Crystal Palace, owned by Buck Owens, which is Bakersfiels's sort of Grand Ole Opre.
On Thursday morning we moved on up Highway 99 to Fresno, where we have stopped at another fairground (bit of a pattern here isn't there). Highway 99 goes right up the middle of California in the California Central Valley, which which is very intensively farmed, as we described in our other blogs, as we travelled up this way in the fall of 2011 and Spring of 2012.
|
| Yep, this is Bakersfield |
|
| Buck Owens Crystal Palace |
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