Bluegrass Beat

By Berk Bryant

Well, it's all over but the shouting and that's all over now, too, the holidays, that is. Now if the weather would just settle down a bit. To paraphrase a line from a song, put more logs on the fire, there's warmer days a coming. Ooh, better days. Don't forget this is the "Cupid" month. Valentine's Day is not very far. The day of fancy "Be my Valentine" cards, flowers, heart shaped boxes of chocolates and other candies with little notes on them, all for that special one you hope Cupid's arrow finds.

Well, promises of coming attractions give a boost. Coming up soon, Feb. 17 - 18 , The Salt River Bluegrass Festival at Shepherdsville. Friday - [F/S] Tommy Brown & County Line Grass – [F] Dean Osborn Band – [F/S] King's Highway –[F] Crossroads and [F] Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice. Saturday Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers, Blue River, Higher Vision and Driving Rain. Additional information 502-594-0962 or saltlickbluegrassfestival@yahoo.com. Y'all come!

More to look forward to coming in March. March 9 and 10, the 6^th Annual "Itchin To Pick" at The Galt house, Louisville, Kentucky. A bluegrass jam session put together by Bluegrass Anonymous, Louisville's own. Additional information: contact The Galt House 800-626-1814.

If you have been thinking of something to do on these COLD days and have the equipment to do it, try this. I have been "Digging Up Bones" from VHS tapes and copying to DVD as well as rechecking old pictures. Sure, it takes some time to do but it occupies my time in an enjoyable way and rekindles very fond memories. A picture/photograph is a tangible memory that can be held in your hand. Maybe I've said this before. Watching these videoes and reminiscing can make a cold day or any other day go by like a race car. Another plus to these is, when you get to commercials that may have been copied when recorded you can fast forward through them, something you can't do when watching TV. Try it some time. I have a unit that copies VHS to DVD all in one pass or the other way around. That part doesn't get much use from me. I am sure you are so glad I put this in. As I have said before, right now column material is pretty slim this time of the season.

Here's what's going on, anyhow. Jams, bluegrass jams - an indoor activity this time of the year and a gathering of friends, musicians and gossipers. Colesburg Baptist Church every Friday night. Silver Heights Bingo Hall, Louisville, Tuesday nights. Hillview City Hall every Thursday. The official BA (Bluegrass Anonymous) Thursday night at Holiday Inn, Hurstbourne Lane, Louisville and Vine Grove every Friday night in Vine Grone City Hall. Everyone welcome at any and all of these gatherings.

From the jams to the stage. Salt Lick Bluegrass Festival, Shepherdsville, Kentucky, February 17 – 18. Shepherdsville Music Barn Rt. 44, Feb. 3 – Mike Lilly, Wendy Miller and Country Grass, Feb. 10^{, –} The Little Roy and Lizzie Show, Feb. 17 – Blue Lonesome and Feb. 24 ^– Blue River Bluegrass Band. Mar. 2 ^– Jerry Butler and the Blue-J's.

Guess I'd better call this to a halt now and go see if I can find something to play Sunday night. The show goes on and on and on and …. I hope. Of course I'm referring to "Sunday Bluegrass," WFPK 91.9 FM every Sunday night from 8 – 11 pm. over 22 years and counting. Y'all keep on the sunny side.