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TRADITION, MUSIC AND LIFE BLEND IN BLUEGRASS

Mineral Bluegrass Festival is one of many that allow listeners to sample life and notes at a different pace

by Jonas Beals

Date published: 7/10/2008

by Jonas Beals

Keeping alive the memories and sentiments of days gone by, making it possible for people of today to hear and enjoy the tunes of yesterday.

--1935 newspaper description of the first Old Fiddler's Convention in Galax

At 73 stately years, the Old Fiddler's Convention is affectionately referred to as "Galax," the name of the tiny Southwest Virginia town where it is held each year.

Galax is one of the oldest and best-attended music festivals in the country--but it's not the only name you hear spoken in reverential tones among Virginia's best banjo and mandolin players.

Graves. Mineral. Floyd.

Each event offers a unique take on traditional Appalachian music, and each draws fans from all over the state, country and world.

In addition to those big-league shindigs, there are smaller festivals that fill up nearly every available summer weekend in Virginia. Mr. B's in Ladysmith, Watermelon Park Fest in Berryville, Nothin' Fancy Bluegrass Festival in Buena Vista.

In all cases, the pickin' is hot, the harmonies are high and tight, and the crowd is laid back in the camp chairs they brought from home. Each festival still maintains the same basic goal Galax set in 1935.

If you want to see quality music close to your own front porch, you won't find a more casual setting than a bluegrass festival.

At 25 years old, the Mineral Bluegrass Festival is one of the legends of the genre. When you settle in among the shade trees of Walton Park, time slowly unwinds--eventually grinding to a satisfying halt.

Then it spins backward faster than a Sonny Osborne banjo lick.

A day at Mineral could easily be a scene from 1930, with the same people sitting in front of the same stage, listening to the same music. Real life doesn't get more sepia-toned.

The newest standard-bearer for the ancient sounds of bluegrass is Dailey & Vincent, named for frontmen Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent. Both are lifelong pickers and singers with notable careers backing up Doyle Lawson and Ricky Skaggs, respectively.

Their self-titled debut CD shot to the top of the bluegrass charts, and they've been getting rave reviews at each stop on the summer festival circuit.

The two will perform July 18 at Mineral.

Both men grew up "in the tradition," as they say--playing at festivals since they were old enough to pick up an instrument.

What: Mineral Bluegrass Festival Where: Walton Park, Mineral When: July 17-19. Music begins at 11 a.m. and continues until 10 p.m. each day. Featuring: Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, The Del McCoury Band, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Grasscals, Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers, Dailey & Vincent and more Cost: Tickets are $35 per day, or $85 for the weekend. Children 6-13 are $45 for the weekend. Children 6 and younger get in free. Other festivals What: Floydfest Where: Floyd When: July 24-27 Info: atwproductions.com What: Old Fiddler's Convention Where: Galax When: Aug. 4-9 Info: oldfiddlersconvention .com What: Mr. B's Bluegrass Blowout Fest Where: Ladysmith When: Aug. 21-23 Info: mrbspark.com What: Watermelon Park Fest Where: Berryville When: Sept. 18-20 Info: watermelonparkfest .com JAMIE DAILEY AND DARRIN VINCENT RALPH STANLEY DEL McCOURY

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Date published: 7/10/2008