The Wintergrass Experience

Subject: The Wintergrass Experience
From: Robo
Date: 06 Dec 00 - 11:56 PM

My wife and I are figuring on going up to the Wintergrass fest in Tacoma come February. I'm relatively new to bluegrass and haven't been to a festival since, well, since the Philadelphia Folk and Steve Goodman, Jethro Burns, David Bromberg days. (But what a show they helped put on!) Anyway, just wondering if anyone has any info to share on the quality of the Wintergrass experience.

We wouldn't be staying at the main hotel, for one thing, but they say shuttlebuses are run to get folks back and forth from other lodgings.

The lineup looks great, with Tim O'Brien and a bunch of others. On top of everything else, Doc Watson's in town the night before the fest begins!

And the workshops and jamming are supposed to be terrific. Those would be new to me as well. Do you have to be really skilled on the guitar to participate properly/enjoy yourself with these?

How about photography, expect it will be allowed?

What else might I be sure to check out in Tacoma?

I'm pretty into going but I'd sure appreciate any insights those of you who have been to Wintergrass or festivals like it might have.

Thanks much.

Rob-o

Subject: RE: The Wintergrass Experience
From: Ebbie
Date: 07 Dec 00 - 12:54 AM

I just checked with a friend who goes there. He likes it very much.

He said the shuttle buses run often and run late into the night.

He said there are three main stages and a couple of smaller ones. One stage, he said, is in the Baptist church (walking distance but the shuttle runs, too) that is kind of 'in the round' and the acoustics are fantastic.

Photography during performances is allowed but probably no flash. Most frown on videoing.

Lots of jamming. All levels- you may have to hunt for the level you want but you'll find it.

If you like bluegrass, he said, you'll love Wintergrass.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: The Wintergrass Experience
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 07 Dec 00 - 11:22 AM

If you live in the Philly area, check out the Brandywine Valley Bluegrass Festival. First class in every way. More info at www.brandywinefriends.org/dvbgf/

Subject: RE: The Wintergrass Experience
From: Robo
Date: 07 Dec 00 - 04:55 PM

Hey, thanks a bunch, Ebbie! That's a big help on a number of fronts.

How about festival workshops? Any advice, anyone, on those? What should one expect?

Another thing I like to do is visit the top music stores in towns I travel to. Where does one go to buy a guitar in Tacoma? Are there any folklore organizations to visit?

Thanks, Russ, as well. Haven't been to Philly in quite a while -- but I'll head over to the Brandywine site but quick. (I once actually lived -- very briefly -- on Brandywine Drive in Marlton, NJ.

Rob-o

Subject: RE: The Wintergrass Experience
From: Ebbie
Date: 07 Dec 00 - 05:09 PM

When I did a search on "wintergrass 2001", I found their site. There they said they have 70-some workshops. Sounds good.

Any 'Catter that lives in the area can tell you about folklore orgs to visit and music stores.

I used to live in the Pac. northwest but haven't in a dozen years.

My guess for the reason that more people have not responded to this thread is that they're not familiar with the name. Firstly, it's bluegrass and secondly, it's not as well known as the southern festivals, like the IBMA, etc.

But hang in there- I'll refresh the thread from time to time. A number of mudcatters live in the Seattle-Tacoma area.

But go. Maybe I'll get to go one of these years.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: The Wintergrass Experience
From: Ebbie
Date: 07 Dec 00 - 11:34 PM

Subject: RE: The Wintergrass Experience
From: Robo
Date: 08 Dec 00 - 11:25 AM

Thanks again, Ebbie. Appreciate your encouragement! I've got a message in to Wintergrass central to get the tickets.

I think any line-up that features the 25th reunion of the 1976 David Grisman Quintet; Rice, Rice, Hillman and Pedersen; Auldridge, Bennett and Gaudreau; Tim O'Brien and Darrell Scott; New Grange; the Nashville Bluegrass Band; Laurie Lewis . . . a total of 35 acts (so far) on five stages, plus workshops and open mikes and jams . . . how could we go wrong?

On to a larger question raised by one of your responses: I've been with Mudcat coming up on a year now and I've never really noticed it but, are there few bluegrass fans here? Or is bluegrass somehow not 'in' at Mudcat -- where a banjo is featured in the logo?

I'm admittedly newly into this kind of music -- newgrass/bluegrass/old time music, it's all working for me right now. But certainly it's folk-based, and no one could argue with the level of musicianship.

I guess I'm puzzled.

Rob-o