Tom Galbraith and Jan Hudson - members of the Fossil Creek bluegrass band - and I all went mostly as a promotional tool, as we'd bought a booth in the Exhibition Hall. It's hard to say early on what you get out of a booth, at least in terms of future gig engagements, but we certainly met a lot of interesting and fun people there!
Among the highlights of the trip (at least for me): getting to see Michael Cleveland play live, and then getting to meet him after the show... What a nice guy! Can't believe I never got to see him play before... YouTube videos and CDs just can't quite capture the energy of a live show. Maybe an understatement, but, true. It was surreal meeting one of my fiddling role models in person!! |
Too bad I didn't get to meet him! But I did get to sit RIGHT in front of the stage. It was (again) surreal.
I can't remember when his Fiddle Patch was first recorded and released, but he finished the show with it, and plays it just as well now as he did then! (Not bad, Bobby - not bad!)
; )