Sorghum Hill

Sorghum Hill played the Frog Hollow Bluegrass Festival in Grenada, Mississippi on Friday, August 29th and Saturday, August 30th, 2008. Here they are on Friday evening getting a little practice before the show. Andrea singing, Larry on bass, Phil on guitar, Sam on banjo, and Jessie on fiddle.

Larry and Candice and myself pulled our campers to Frog Hollow Campground. The band members spent the night in our campers. Camping at bluegrass festival is the best way to enjoy what's happening.

The Tennessee Wildflowers and The Kudzu Band

Tonight Abigail and I went to see The Tennessee Wildflowers and The Kudzu Band. The Wildflowers are Dianna Ford, and sisters, Cathy Walls and Jeannie Gentry. The Kudzu Band was Royal Morehead, Craig Yarbrough and Jeannie Gentry. They played at the Square Beans Coffee Shop on the square in Collierville. It was our first time to see them play as a group.

For me the drive to Collierville was full of memories. Brent and I and the kids used to drive to Collierville on Friday nights for the weekly bluegrass pickin'. We would stay on the square on Friday nights until very late. I'd bring a cooler with drinks and snacks for the kids. I always brought pillows, blankets and a chase lounge in case Abigail needed a nap. The kids would always ask, "When are we going home?" My answer was always the same, "When Daddy gets finished pickin'. " Brent at one time or another had picked, sang or was in a band with with all those who were in the band tonight.

We arrived at the coffee shop before the group started playing. We greeted the group and other MABA friends. Abigail and I decided to treat ourselves. She ordered a Strawberry Lemonade Smoothie which was very good. We shared a Chocolate Truffle! Yummy! I ordered coffee which was very smooth.

How would I describe the music of The Tennessee Wildflowers? It's a mix of gospel, rock 'n roll Elvis, bluegrass, country, old timey and Appalachian music with a bluesy jazz sound. I enjoyed their choice of songs, many of which are not performed by local bands. Dianna does a great job of singing harmony with Jeannie and Cathy. Cathy has a powerful voice. Someone heard Cathy singing at the Williston Festival and ask me if that girl singing was from Nashville.

My friend, Betty Westmoreland, is so good about listening to a band, while writing down their song set and reviewing the bands she listens to. Betty I cheated and asked Dianna for their song set. I feel sure they sang most of the songs on the list, but with a few changes.

Here is a list of the songs: Set 1 - Love Me Darlin' Just Tonight, All I Ever Loved Was You, Blues Stay Away From Me, Can't Even Get The Blues, Coal Mining Man, Meet By The Moonlight, I'm blue/I'm Lonesome, Sea Of Regret, Six Hours On The Cross, One More River To Cross, Today I Started Loving You Again, Old Chunk Of Coal, Don't Be Cruel, Tear My Stillhouse Down, The Sun Will Never Set Again. Set 2 - Can't You Hear Me Callin', Daddy Sing Bass, Working On A Building, Crazy Heart, Southern Moon, I Saw Your Face In The Moon, Little Darlin', West Virginia, Dark As The Night, Sing, Sing, Sing, Barbed Wire And Roses, If That's The Way You Feel, Standing In The Need Of Prayer, No One Will Ever Know, Heartaches And Teardrops, Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross. Optional songs - I'll Never Grow Tired Of You, Precious Lord, Take My Hand, You Don't Have To Move That Mountain, Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies, Say Won't You Be Mine.




















Left to right: Mike "Buzz" Busby, Craig Yarbrough, Royal Morehead, Jeannie Gentry, Cathy Walls, Dianna Ford, and Steve Craig. Mike, Royal Jeannie and Dianna were the original members of Brent's band Loosahatchie Grass. Steve is also a former member of Loosahatchie Grass. Randal Morton, not shown, was also an original member of Loosahatchie Grass.

I was happy to see so many of my friends at the coffee shop.

Not someone you'd expect to see, some of us caught a glimpse of actor, Steven Seagal who lives in the Memphis area, peeking in the window. Someone said he was taking a look at Royal's guitar.

Another local favorite band, "Deep Hollow" was playing at Otherlands tonight. I couldn't see both of them and had to pick. I'll see you guys down the road at another show.












I'll add more video clips to this post. They take a long time to upload, even with DSL. That's why I only take 10-25 second video clips.

Deep Hollow Bluegrass Plays at Young's Deli

Tonight (Tuesday) I went to see and hear "Deep Hollow Bluegrass" play at Young's Deli. The band plays the kind of bluegrass I like to hear. Traditional with a contemporary sound. The band consist of Bobby Williams-banjo, Steve Craig-upright bass, Lee Fiorinelli-fiddle, Matt Crockett-guitar and Jason Hayes-mandolin. I have only recently met Bobby and Jason. My husband, Brent, was in two bands with Steve. The first was Brush Arbor, Brent played guitar and Steve played bass. The second was Brent's band, Loosahatchie Grass. Steve played bass and Brent played mandolin and some guitar. Steve is one of the hardest working bluegrassers around. He plays in two bands, Deep Hollow and Single Tree. He also plays with other bands when they need a fill in bass player. Brent picked with Lee at local pickin's. In July of 2002 Matt was playing at a local jam the first night Brent went to hear bluegrass. Matt was playing with 3 other guys that Tuesday night. Brent was on fire when he came home from that pickin'. The next Tuesday night I went with Brent and we stood there for 3 hours listening to Matt and these other guys play. Several months ago I drove nearly two hours to listen to Deep Hollow play in Como, MS. It was the first time I'd heard them play. I spent most of the night with tears in my eyes. The songs they played were the ones Brent sang all the time. Tonight I enjoyed the show and shed no tears. They sang 'How Mountain Girls Can Love', 'Rough Edges', 'When You Go Wakin' After Midnight', some of my favorites that Brent sang. It felt good to have happy memories of Brent. Thank you Deep Hollow. I look forward to seeing and hearing them again.

To hear samples of their music visit: http://www.myspace.com/deephollow63

Upright Bass

Brent would come home everyday after work and play bluegrass music for several hours. He'd mostly play mandolin, but would sometimes play guitar. Many times he would sing and play the same song all night long trying to learn the best way to pick and sing it. I miss listening to him play and sing. Oh, I have 100's of bluegrass CD's I can listen to, but it's just not the same as hearing it live. He tried to teach me how to play the upright bass, but I seemed to never find the time to practice.

Occasionally, I will have a bluegrass pickin' at my house. I fix a big pot of something to eat and hope someone shows up. If no one shows up at least I have a clean house and supper ready at 6PM. Last night Eddie, Angie and their son, James, stopped by as well as my neighbor Tony. I mentioned that I still had Brent's bass. Tony and Eddie told me I needed to go get and play it. I told them I couldn't play, but they said it didn't matter. Just try it. They were patient with me and encouraged me to keep on playing. Abigail wanted to try too. She and I both had a great time because we were participants. I suppose if I'm going to try to play bass, I should learn at least one song. Oh, the thought of it curls my hair! I'd rather stand in front of an audience of 1000's and talk rather than sing. It's always better to have someone sing along rather than just have someone pick all night. Eddie sings and Tony will. Angie has a nice voice and sang a few too. My experience has been that bluegrass pickers are all about you trying. They'll help you learn and are always encouraging. What do I have to loose? If I can get up in front of all those folks at Tae Kwon Do surely I can sing a song!

During the five years that Brent picked bluegrass I saw him go from not knowing how to play to being in three different bands. He loved bluegrass music and the people who played it. If I could learn to pick and play bluegrass music it would be another wonderful way to remember him. He would be pleased!

The World is Waiting for the Sunrise

First and most importantly this is a secret between me and you. I have taken parental control and made a decision that may get me in trouble with my son. Mum's the word. You didn't find this out from me, please! :) Probably best not to leave a comment and then he won't know!

In July when we went to Oklahoma (my dream trip) so Samuel could record a CD with our friend, Terry. While Abigail and I traipsed the countryside of Oklahoma for cemeteries, Samuel was recording his CD. It's all banjo tunes, because Sam does NOT sing. I have yet to have it reproduced. I better get on it! He and Terry put a lot of hard work and long hours into this CD.

This was one of the songs Samuel played at Brent's funeral. It's one of my favorite tunes.

Go to YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObW-NXqNGF8 and you can listen.

Remember, mum's the word!

Jammin' in the Forest

Most everyone was watching or listening to the Memphis Tigers and Tennessee Vols play basketball tonight. The Tigers are #1 and the Vols #2. The Tigers lost 66 -62.

But, for a few, tonight was the first of hopefully many more bluegrass pickin's at our house. I think I'll call it, "Jammin' in the Forest". Pickers Tony Butler banjo, Mike Busby guitar and Harry Mclellan mandolin, came out and played for a couple of hours. Samuel joined them on the banjo. I had a big pot of White Chili and some cornbread, coffee and tea.

Samuel was over in the corner pickin'. Samuel is photo shy so I don't usually get a photo of him. You can hear him in the background pickin' banjo in the video clip above.

I've been wanting to have a pickin' at the house for a long time. There is always something going on in the world of bluegrass in our area. My decision was to just jump on in there and start. There is nothing quite like live bluegrass music to stir the soul, bring joy and fellowship. It's also a great way to help motivate me to keep my house clean and to have supper early! I'm looking forward to next Saturday night!

Jessie Playing Fiddle

My friend Jessie playing a little bluegrass fiddle. Jessie is a sweet girl and also plays classical violin. Jessie sometimes plays fiddle for the bluegrass band, Sorghum Hill, which was the last band Brent played with before his death. Jessie and another friend Becky, who also plays fiddle, played twin fiddles at Brent's funeral. They played Ashokan's Farewell so beautifully. Samuel, Jessie and Tim(who plays banjo for Sorghum Hill) will play a banquet being held at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. They were having a practice session.

Lisa Ray, fiddler and Kenny Cantrell, banjo of Cedar Hill.

On Saturday night, January 12, 2008 my friend Roseann and I drove to Jonesboro, AR for the 25th Annual United Cerebral Palsy Bluegrass Benefit Show presented by The Northeast Arkansas Bluegrass Association. The entertainment lineup was wonderful. Living Grace from Central Arkansas, Crowley's Ridge Cloggers, UCP Superstar: Briana Hackworth, Cedar Hill from Missouri, and the Keisler Brothers from Northeast Arkansas. The benefit raised over $3600.00.