New Bedford Chamber backs out of Summerfest

Summerfest in the historic waterfront city of New Bedford, Mass., is one of the most popular roots music events in the state, if not all of New England. The NB
Chamber of Commerce, expressing that it's not in the folk festival business, is withdrawing its support after 10 years, leaving the city to pick up the tab.
I confess -- I've not been to Summerfest, but I've tried to play there. If the chamber did an economic analysis to determine that the money spent by visitors who would have no other reason to go to New Bedford does not outweigh the investment, perhaps the business people are right.
Like any city, New Bedford has its problems. Summerfest shines a favorable light on the city, and we hope that others will pick up the slack.

A Josh devotee

Like many of us, Jim Crawford became smitten with the dobro after hearing Josh Graves, primarily known for his work with Flatt and Scruggs. Jim, who leaves near Toronto, was featured in this article .

Producer, dobro player to be honored

Producer Jerry Kennedy will be honored next month at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Nashville Cats series.

One of his most distinctive musical contributions can be heard on Jeannie C. Riley’s 1967 hit “Harper Valley P.T.A,” where Kennedy’s playful Dobro licks go tit-for-tat with Riley’s bold vocals. Kennedy played on Bob Dylan’s famous Blonde on Blonde sessions, as well as on Roy Orbison’s hit “Oh, Pretty Woman.” His guitar and Dobro work also graced recordings by Elvis Presley, Ringo Starr and Kris Kristofferson, among others.

Lloyd Thayer has song in film at Sundance

The Boston Globe, 1-28-08
"This is the first time in years there have been so many Massachusetts filmmakers here," said David Kleiler, a longtime Boston-indie mover and shaker who was in Park City.
Some of those filmmakers are no longer in the area but continue to hold onto local ties. Tom Hines, the director of the dark Alaska-set comedy "Chronic Town," has lived in Los Angeles for 16 years; the Holliston native moved west less than a month after graduating from Boston College in 1991. And yet, said Hines, "my old boss at Boston College Television Services, Lloyd Thayer - his song is the last song in the film. He's a street musician in Boston; he plays his dobro in the subways and has put out four great CDs."

Lloyd has been an inspiration to me, as a dobro player and a street musician. Though I've heard only a few tunes of his (I have to get his CDs), it's good to know that another lap-style player is making a go of it on the streets.

Honeydripper

My wife and I went to Real Art Ways in Hartford last night to see Honeydripper, John Sayles' latest film about a backwoods blues club trying to survive in 1950 Alabama. I'm not a film critic, and while it moved a bit slowly, I enjoyed the opportunity to soak in the atmosphere of the railroad depot, the cottonfields and the Honeydripper club itself.
Mason Daring was the music composer, and Keb' Mo' did a fantastic job of riffing and sliding on a National.
Gary Clark, who was recently named best new musician at the Austin Music Awards, plays the guitar slinging impersonator and does a fine job on Chuck Berry-like guitar.
Other veteran musicians featured in the film are Dr. Mable John, saxman Eddie Shaw, and harpist Arthur Lee Williams.
I recommend that you see the movie -- it's a nice story, and the music is great.

Try a tricone

The next explosion in the reso/lap-style playing world will be in tricones. For a long time, all that were available were vintage or expensive Nationals or poorly made imports. The imports have improved, and their prices are reasonable. The best buy available is a Johnson, with the import cones replaced with Nationals. Well worth it.
Regal needs to make a square neck model. Johnson reportedly is being re-marketed as Recording King.
Randy Kohrs, show above left at the Reso Summit last November in Nashville, has announced a new line with Amistar, the Czech maker. Mike Auldridge also is shown giving it a ride. Amistars have a striking, burnished metal appearance. I can't wait to hear Randy play his tricone.
Many reso players are looking to add variety to their playing; that's why Weissenborn and Weissenborn-style instruments have taken off. Inspired by people such Kelly Joe Phelps, lap-style players are stretching out from their traditional line in the bluegrass band.

14 1/2 songs; 29 days

February Album Writing Month is an undertaking to write an album's worth of songs in the shortest month of the year. I'll be collaborating with my wife, Jean, and we'll see what we come up with.
See the FAWM site for more information -- there' still time to sign up. We'll keep you posted on our progress.