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Like the 'Live Music at Down From The Mountain' this also came to light in an Write to from Mike Hall (Chairman of NCBS). He went on about this "Free, all-day Bluegrass concert in the Park in October, with an all-star cast of Blue Highway, Dale Ann Bradley and Coon Creek, Hazel Dickens, Alison Krauss and Emmylou Harris. They would be supported by a host of local bands."

Do I need to say we made sure that our vacation visit to our daughter Pam (who lives in the City) included this date? But I wasn't alone in thinking, "I'll believe it when I see it," for how can a thing like that come off for free? As the date approached Write tos flew around with the news that Emmylou had cried off, or AK had another engagement and lots of other rumours, but in the end the only thing was to go there and 'suck-it-and-see'.

There were so many stars that my own star performance went unnoticed... The cars were so numerous that the closest parking to the venue was approaching maybe 3/4 mile away. However, smooth-talking Yours Truly managed to sweet talk us into the compound and we parked as close to the stage as it was possible for a vehicle to get - about 20 yards. Is that what they call 'Rock-Star Parking'? If you spotted the little blue Miata sports car stage left, well, that was us! The place was crawling with cops and private security yet no one challenged us.

Speedway Meadows

The setting in Speedway Meadows blew my mind! It was magnificent, with the long, natural amphitheatre-like shape and pine and eucalyptus trees all around; the air was laden with their scent. The main stage was at one end, with the ground and slopes both sides packed with a crowd of 12,000. The second stage was in a smaller setting close by, yet far enough away so that there was no sound interference. The weather hadn't been too good but on the day it rallied to become warm and dry, with a hazy sun - perfect for the concerts!

The Main Stage: Hazel
Dickens & Band

As for the set-up, it was totally professional, with every possible feature included. The organisation was impeccable - great though unobtrusive security, unbelievable setting, sound system the best I have ever heard (it sounded real and the same from everywhere). The organiser also had the event filmed (video) by a professional team that the BBC would have envied. "Where/when will it shown?" I asked him "In my private viewing studio" he replied... "It will never be shown on TV or any such." But 'never' is a long time...

"But," I hear you thinking, "how could it all be free? Where's the catch?" There wasn't one. Local businessman Warren Hellman, who is a great fan of Hazel Dickens, funded the event. He decided he wanted her to come sing for him then realised one has to share such things for them to be real fun. That led to the idea for a Concert and heck! Why not have all the top people on? Then you make it free so that everyone who wants to can share it. What a man!

Happily all the gloomy Write tos turned out to be groundless - everyone turned up! I wanted photos so got a spot in the 'reserved area' between the barrier and the stage, for its' whole length, giving a great view and sound too.

Hazel Dickens and Dudley Connel sing

We missed the opening band, arriving just in time for Dale Ann Bradley and Coon Creek. Her band featured little blind fiddle player Michael Cleveland - IBMA fiddler of the year... WOW - were they good! Very, very good!! And that Michael was gob smacking. I regret that I couldn't get a photo because someone (who shall not be named) left the films in the locked car...

Next on was Hazel Dickens, whose voice can crack a beer bottle at 2 miles... My introduction to Hazel was the movie Matewan (which is well worth a watch anyhow). She was terrific, especially on the more free-meter old-time material, though she lost tune somewhat on several of the bluegrass songs (which were in the majority). The backup was superb.

AK, Dan Tyminski, Ron Block (guitar)

Alison Kraus and Union Station appeared next, with Jerry Douglas on Dobro - shit me - what a gig! Was it bluegrass? Mainly, yes. Except that there was a drum which, fortunately, I had been unaware of - so it couldn't have been too bad. The highlight of their set (as far as the audience was concerned) was when Dan Tyminski sang Man Of Constant Sorrow sung and performed exactly as in the movie OBWAT. I reckon that Alison Krauss should do more real Bluegrass material, although I know it's the New-Country-style that pays for the beer.

Jerry Douglass on Dobro (photo, right) was something to behold. Including blue Highway's Rob Ickes, the event had two of the world's best Dobro players performing! Probably most of the audience didn't realise that.

The 'Strictly Bluegrass' theme fell apart when Emmylou Harris came on and just started singing. After the first number Buddy & Julie Miller (playing guitar and percussion things respectively) joined Emmylou and a top-rate spot followed. Emmylou changed guitars frequently, handing them to her tuner-man, though she did do her own tuning now and again. Was it Bluegrass? No, not really, it was something else. And it was definitely 'something else' performance-wise, too!

Emmylou Harris

Those four outfits, plus the intro band I missed, covered the 6 hours from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. with only short breaks in between.

Blue Highway and local bands The Road Oilers, The Crooked Jades, Batteries Not Included and Keystone Station played on the second stage, which was (understandably) not too well attended. Of these I saw only Blue Highway. They were very good, but played rather than performed - whereas the bands on the main stage did both. It makes all the difference to the observer, who wants to be entertained. Too many British bands fall into that trap. I often feel that if a band is only going to stand and play I might as well just listen to the CD. Blue Highway (photo below) played that evening at Slim's night club in the city, for the private concert party.

Blue Highway

Not only were the concerts free, but they gave away hundreds of 13¼"x18" (33.5cm x 45.5cm) very high quality, glazed cartridge-paper posters. They were beautiful and I managed to get four - a lucky friend of mine (G.B.) has one of them.

Click for large image

At the end of the day I got to speak to the real star of the show - its' financier, Warren Hellman. He was surrounded by cops doing their best to stop me getting anywhere near him. Warren's not just a multi-millionaire, reputedly he's a hundreds-of-times-over millionaire. And such an unassuming guy; so under-dressed that even I felt stylish... When I called out that I needed a photo for a NWBN article he came over. I explained who I was and he appreciated what we're trying to do, so posed for me. He was excited to learn that we'd come from England; it turns out his wife is English, from Surrey. "Well," he said, "I've enjoyed this so much I'm going to do it again next year, and so on, I guess!" (Click for hot news 16 March 2002) I thanked him profusely for putting on the show; I couldn't say it enough. Way to go, Warren!

Promotor-sponsor Warren Hellman 'The Man'!

I asked Warren exactly what he did for a living but he just said, "You know, I always wanted to play banjo and I tried, but it's so hard. I decided to become a financier, so now I can have someone else play banjo for me..." Where did I go wrong? He continued, "Did you come here especially for the show? No I guess not, but thanks so very much anyhow for coming and supporting me!" We were gobsmacked. And he added his signature to my poster, along with AK and Ron Block and so on.

By contrast superstar Emmylou Harris wouldn't sign a single poster, not even for the two 12 year old girls who had waited an hour and a half for her to leave... Her manager had taken them in to the VIP area for Emmylou to sign; it doesn't cost much to sign 8 posters, but a lot can be lost... Now I call her Emmylou 'Stone-Hearted' Harris. She went down in my estimation. Having said that, the previous night she'd hung out at Slim's in the City; one of the guys I was talking to was sitting next to her and said she was fine - which I really believe she is.

OK - so how is Warren going to top this year's show? See the latest news

Derek Brandon, Chester.

10th February 2002