Annie & Mac - Old Time Music: News

On August 13, we performed at the Lucky Star Lounge on Main Street in Front Royal, Virginia. We played with our friends John & Judi. Together, we call ourselves the Loose Strings Band. John plays the Paraguayan harp and Judi plays the washtub bass (see the photos page).

This July, we were fortunate to be invited to perform at a private party in Ohio. This was a very special gathering of a close knit community of families and friends. Other musicians there included Ray Bolden, the Ohio River Minstrels, the Rum River Band, and Berachah Valley bluegrass gospel band. Our hosts put up two large tents and constructed a wooden stage, then Rum River Band provided and ran the sound system. Attendees brought delicious food for a pot luck supper including presenting several varieties of home made ice cream in the "red wagon." On Sunday morning, we enjoyed a worship service and inspiring sermon. Everyone there shared what they had to give and we all received in kind. It was wonderful to be a part of this celebration of community, music, and fellowship. We thank our gracious hosts and everyone there for a meaningful and unforgettable event.

The Appalachian Mountain Music Festival in Waynesville, Ohio, June 20-22 was a fine event. Entertainment, jamming, vendors, food, kids' activities, and more, all of the highest quality. The weather cooperated, except Saturday evening, when a storm shut down the festivities at 6 pm. Mac won 3rd place in the banjo contest and we performed four times on stage from Friday to Sunday. Put this on your calendar for next year (www.appalachianmusic.org).

This is the first year they allowed camping at this event and we availed ourselves of the opportunity (along with one other camper). If you like to camp and love good music, keep this in mind for next year. Mac won 2nd place in the "special performer" category for his harmonica playing and 3rd place in the vocal category.

We played at the Washington Folk Festival in Glen Echo, MD, on June 1st. Mac performed with Speedy Tolliver and Andrew Acosta and the New Old Time String Band. Then Annie & Mac performed also. Mac was the "poster boy" for the event. His picture was on the promotional posters, performer buttons, and T-shirts being sold at the event.

We enjoyed playing at the Bell Buckle Cafe (www.bellbucklecafe.com) in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, on April 11. The following day, we were in Lynchburg, Tennessee, and happened by the BBQ Caboose (www.bbqcaboose.com) where we met the owners Ken & Samantha Fly. Ken asked us to join him in playing a few songs for the customers. If you are anywhere nearby either of these two fine establishments, stop in for some delicious food and wonderful music. On April 12, we were privileged to play at the Rocky River CIC (www.rockyriverbluegrass.org) in Rock Island, Tennessee. They have bluegrass shows all year round and two outdoor festivals a year. We were delighted to be accompanied by John Mayberry, a fine mandolin player who plays with Ronnie Reno & The Reno Tradition band (www.ronniereno.com). On April 13, we were scheduled to play at Alewine Pottery (www.alewinepottery.net) in Gatlinburg but the weather was too cold. We plan to play at Alewine on July 13 (weather permitting!) If you are in Gatlinburg, stop by Alewine for some excellent pottery and listen to fun old-time music while you shop.

On Feb. 22-24, Mac & I went to Morgantown WV, for the Gardner Winter Music Festival. This was our first visit to this fine festival, which is held at South Middle School. There is jamming, stage shows (we performed on Saturday night), workshops, even a square dance on Saturday night. As always, some of our friends were there and we made new ones. Check out www.gwmf.org for more information. Maybe we'll see you there next year!

Mac & I attended a groundhog music gathering at James River State Park in February. It was a fun time with jam sessions and workshops (dulcimer and banjo). The new cabins they rent out are very nice. Mac won the original groundhog song contest with his "Groundhog! Boom Boom" song.

On October 27th, we visited Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, for the Seawitch Festival and Fiddler's Convention. Mac competed in the banjo competition. Together with John Kovac (harpist & harpmaker) and his wife Judith Floyd (washtub bass player and percussionist) we competed in the band category as the The Loose Strings Band. We tied with several other bands for fourth place (awards were given for first, second, and third place). We had a great trip, enjoyed the festival (with the costume parade and other activities) as well as the beach. Put this on your calendar for next year if you can make it.

Mac's been here before, but this was Annie's first visit to the festival. We did some informal entertaining at the festival with our friends John & Gwenn Noftsger (The Ohio River Minstrels). We also jammed at the festival and at the Hampton Inn in Careyville with friends. Singer/songwriter Ray Bolden and the Golden Hollow Band also entertained. The owners and managers of the Hampton Inn love music and provide a wonderful room for musical entertainment each evening after the festival.

The beautiful James River was the setting for this informal campground gathering of lovers of old time music. The weather was great and the music was great fun. They are planning a "cabin fever" weekend there in the cabins next Groundhog Day.

We really enjoyed the J.P. Fraley Festival at Carter Caves State Park in Kentucky. It's a fun gathering of musicians and music lovers. We jammed in the campground and then went to the lodge for the fantastic stage show. You will find no better musicians than at this festival!

We did a show in the gazebo at Rose Hill Park on Main Street in Berryville, VA on Aug. 24. We were joined by bass player George Hodgkiss, owner and operator of Phoenix Productions recording studio in Browntown, VA. Also joining us was fiddler Harold Senseny of Winchester. Harold has played fiddle and mandolin for many years and accompanied Patsy Cline. Our thanks to Berryville Main Street (www.berryvillemainstreet.org) for sponsoring this event and to Bill Johnston for providing the sound system and hosting the show.

Mac was honored to join legendary Virginia fiddler, Speedy Tolliver, and the New Old Time String Band (led by Andrew Acosta) at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage on Tuesday, Aug. 21. You can watch the show on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage web site (www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/archive)--search for "Speedy Tolliver." Mac regularly plays with Speedy and Andrew and the band (check out www.andrewacosta.com).

This was our first visit to this festival held in a baseball field. Beautiful weather and scenery and talented musicians came together to provide a very enjoyable weekend. The contests on Friday and Saturday evenings made for a wonderful stage show with quite a variety of talents. Mac competed in the banjo contest and each of us competed in the folksong category.

"Paradise for old time music lovers" are the words used to describe Clifftop, WV, and we agree. At the Appalachian Stringband Festival there at the beginning of August, we shared Mac's original song, "Send It Up," at the new song showcase, Mac competed in the old time banjo contest, and with the help of our guitarist friend, Peter from New Zealand, we competed in the traditional band contest, performing an old-time duet "Don't Say Goodbye If You Love Me." We enjoyed spending time with our friends, learning some "new" old songs, and meeting new old time musicians.

We were fortunate to have been invited to a community party in western Ohio. We shared the stage with accomplished performers Ray Bolden and also the Rum River Blend band. We did some jamming with several talented musicians and singers Friday evening and after the show on Saturday night. This is the type of spirit lifting and community connection which music provides that is so fulfilling. Our thanks to the planners of the event for including us, and thanks to all the participants for an uplifting weekend.

A great few days were spent in Tennessee July 11-15. On July 12, we played music at Alewine Pottery in Gatlinburg (www.alewinepottery.net). We were there to give Jerry and Joanie Paul (Lost Mill Band) a day off. They are fine musicians who perform there every day from 11-4 and they call themselves "Lost Mill" (check out www.lostmill.com). Owner Robert Alewine happily provides the entertainment for the visiting tourists as well as free popcorn and coffee, graciously attended to by Tom, official "ambassador" to visitors. The setting is beautiful, the pottery is outstanding and the music and fellowship is great fun. If you're in Gatlinburg, stop at Alewine Pottery in the arts and crafts community and tell 'em Annie & Mac sent you! We hope to play there again in the fall.

From Gatlinburg, we went to Murfreesboro for the Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival. There you can find a great array of talent and all types of competitions, jamming, and performances. Jesse McReynolds received the Heritage Award and performed Saturday night--they don't call him "Mr. Mandolin" for nothing. We were honored to receive third place in the old time singing competition and Mac won second place in the Uncle Dave Free Wheeling competition. See you again next year at the Uncle Dave Macon Days!

The festival was held at the Caesar's Creek Lake State Park Beach this year and a good time was had by all. This was another great musical reunion with friends, family, musicians, and music lovers. Mac won second place in the banjo contest and gave a clawhammer workshop on Saturday. We performed on stage Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Thank you to John & Gwen Noftsger for running the event and for all the volunteers who make it happen. We look forward to seeing you all there again next year.