All of Hot Mustard attended
Jennybrook. We weren't in the festival program, but all of us did get involved with a stage performance in some way shape or form.
Weather was perfect this year at Jennybrook, warm sunny and only an hour or so of rain all weekend. The brook was perfect for cooling off after camp setup on Thursday. Seth and Candi Sawyer do a great job with the festival, we've really seen it grow over the years.
Bruce and I were lucky enough to have friends camp nearby; Tex saved us a spot (as our usual area began filling up Wednesday). There were chairs saving the space next to us. Sure enough; Amy, Hans, John and Nelson were there for the space.
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| Neighbors! Hans' sweet retro camper! (photo by Thomas Sayers) |
They were worried about being loud and rowdy; but if you join in there are no problems! Luckily the rules were spelled out.
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| how could I forget this from the Hans Camp? (photo by Marla Singleton) |
Check our
Marla's Photos, she and her family travel to lots of bluegrass festivals and takes some great shots!
I was up all three nights until I could hear birds singing. Many others watched sunrises.
All this late night business is tiring, so it's good to be able to nap during the day.
This was JD Crowe's last New England date, he's calling it quits.
We were sure to be front row for his sets.
We got to hang with the Armisteads and the TN Mafia Jug band again at Jennybrook. Mike is responsible for many of our super cool posters; and he's an all around great guy. We're hoping to setup a showcase with him in TN this fall during IBMA
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| Mike, Leroy and Lester (photo by Marla) |
At 4am Saturday morning, the all girl band The Boom Chicks signed up for the Grass Seeds Gazebo stage. This is a band competition encouraging all forms of bands to sign up and play for a chance to get a main stage spot on Sunday morning. I think it was Saturday late morning when I heard about it.
The Boom Chicks formed at Thomas Point Beach last fall. An all girl band, we decided to do a guerrilla set on the main stage at 2am Monday morning (the stage is cleared of equipment). We worked up 8 songs or so, and headed over. Soon a small crowd drawn by the natural amphitheater sound to the stage. Heckling was encouraged. We got a brief mention in Dick Bowden's assessment of
TPB.
We also did one set at the Cantab, and another guerrilla set at Joe Val (2:30 am).
Current lineup of The Boom Chicks: April Jubett, Grace Van't Hof, Elise Laflamme, Laura Orshaw and Kelly Stockwell.
Saturday at Jennybrook we rehashed our material and took the stage. We made the top 3, and then performed again for the judges... and won!
So, at 11am we headed to the main stage for a real set. Not our best hour, we did just fine and had a real good time.
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with our trophies and Michelle Canning who runs the stage
(photo by Todd Shattuck) |
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Bill Jubett was brave enough to join us and play "the villain"
(photo by Marla) |
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in the Boom Chicks, everyone sings. And, while we don't play like girls, we all throw like girls
(photo by Marla) |
We had a blast playing our set. I didn't get the memo about flower print dresses and borrowed the green John Deere Tractor colored dress (thanks Grace!)
Bruce made it to the main stage on Sunday as well as part of Tony Watt's
Bluegrass University. Bruce had a few students on Friday; and I think the gang is honing in on a really good formula. Thanks to Seth and Candi for being supportive of it! Teachers at Jennybrook were:
Laura Orshaw - fiddle
Bruce Stockwell - banjo
Mary Maguire - lead & harmony singing
Tony Watt - guitar
Steve Roy - bass
Bruce rocked out on their set, standing in the same place JD Crowe had stood two days earlier.
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| photo by Marla |
You can read Ted Lehmann's Blog report of all of Jennybrook or just
Sunday.
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afternoon jam with the CT contingency who were kind enough to save us space across the way
(photo by Robin)
Dick and Bobbi Bowden, Dave Shaw, Tex Orlomoski, Robert Fraker, Bob Mavian along with me and Bruce |
All in all, it was a pretty fun filled weekend, playing until 3:30 or 4:30 in the morning, hanging at the campsites, laughing until our sides were sore and enjoying time with friends.
Mineral Springs Foot Stomping Festival is next. Only 40 miles from Worcester; it's affordable ($20 for Saturday) and a lot of fun. This will be Mustard's second year there, my 3rd year going. Bill Goodale who runs it is one of the nicest guys out there.
