Bluegrass in the Finger Lakes of NY

[Andy Alexander]

Pickin' In The Pasture is coming up August 22, 23, 24, and 25th in Lodi NY. The event features 4 days of world-class bluegrass music by some of the top bands in the country. There are lots of jamming opportunities. Of special interest to mandolin players is a workshop conducted by Danny Roberts. Danny works for Gibson and is the mandolin player in The Grascals. Would any cafe members attending like to have a Mandolin Cafe get together during the event? For more information about the festival visit www.pickininthepasture.com .

[allenhopkins]

Excellent festival!

Also upcoming, same area:

Brantling Bluegrass Festival, this weekend.

Fiddlers' Fair at Genesee Country Village, August 17-18.

Turtle Hill Folk Festival, September 6-8.

[aphillips]

Awesome! I'm going to be home (I'm originally from Alexander, NY) from California the weekend of the Fiddle Fest at Mumford! I hope to meet some of you there!

[allenhopkins]

...I hope to meet some of you there!

I'll be the bass fiddle player and sometime MC on the main stage.

[JeffD]

Pickin in the Pasture is really an awesome festival, in a very beautiful if perhaps under appreciated part of the country. Seriously, check it out.

[dusty miller]

Pickin in the Pasture is really an awesome festival, in a very beautiful if perhaps under appreciated part of the country. Seriously, check it out.

A beautiful state, finger lakes, Catskills and so on. I take a lot of motorcycle trips up there. Festival sounds great. Try to make it up there.

[Andy Alexander]

Come on up Dusty Miller! Pickin' In The Pasture is just north of Watkins Glen and Ithaca. We are planning a really large time!

Andy

[Sterling]

Thanks Andy. I live in Marcellus which is 40 minutes from Lodi. I believe there is another festival in Lafayette, NY as well. It might be time for me to go to one of these and see what I need to practice before getting my butt kicked( in a good way, of course!).

[Andy Alexander]

Hi Sterling!

There are lots of jamming opportunities for all levels of ability at Pickin' In The Pasture. Don't be intimidated. Find a session where you feel comfortable and join in. Folks in The Pasture are pretty friendly. Be sure to take advantage of the instructional workshops and catch some of the many professional groups that will be appearing. Hope to see you here in a couple weeks!

[William Smith]

Hey Andy, Billy Smith here, Big Bills grandson and Dicks nephew, I always had a blast at your festival and talkin with ya. It also has some of the best jamming going on in the parkin/campin lot than most any fest that I've been to! Highly recommended. I haven't made it in a few years do to some health issues but I'm on the mend somewhat and will be back in the future! I like the fact that it is a smaller venue as to like Grey Fox and such.Everyone is great the staff/people attending.
I don't know if it was you that told me or not Andy but Didn't my Grandpa Bill Smith help give ya the idea to have a festival on your farm? Everyone should go who can, I know I'd be there if I was able!

[Andy Alexander]

Hi Billy!

In the late 80's, your grandfather Bill Smith came down to a jam here at the farm. When he saw the place he suggested having a bluegrass festival here. I kind of dismissed the idea at the time as being a little far fetched. A few years later as I was building a deck on the front of our house I remembered what Bill had mentioned while thinking that the deck would make a good stage. I started planning for the festival two years before the first one.

Also of interest to you, your uncle Dick Smith (yes, that Dick Smith formerly partnered with Charlie Waller in The Gents as well as a Dixie Pal with Del McCoury) encouraged me to raise the talent bar and hire some professional bands. That was key to the events great start 16 years ago.

Your grandfather Bill (through Bob Klaben) and also my friend Frank Neat (the banjo builder) got me an introduction to Ralph Stanley. Ralph offered to play the event for free if I could pay his band members. I quickly agreed to that. Ralph pulled in a large crowd the first year of Pickin' In The Pasture and the event was off and running.

Dick Smith performed here several times with Mike O'Reilly from Ontario. Your great aunt and uncle, Bob and Marilyn Treat sold Belgian waffles here for a few years and your cousin Jim Treat will be playing here this year with Chad Darou and Stealing Time.

Just wanted to share with you the role that your family played in starting Pickin' In The Pasture.

[aphillips]

Hello! Does anyone have a schedule for the master classes at Pickin' in the Pasture? It would much appreciated!

[Andy Alexander]

Here you go Adam. Plan on doing lots of picking as well as catching some of the great band performances.
Pickin' In The Pasture workshops:
Friday
11:00 Kid's Jam session
3:30 Bass - TBA
4:30 Life On The Road - bluegrass adventures of Goldwing Express
5:30 Banjo - Kristen Scott Benson
6:30 Mandolin - Danny Roberts

Saturday
11:00 Kid's jam session
3:30 Magic Mike - magic show
4:30 Fiddle and Banjo - Little Roy Lewis and Lizzy Long
5:30 Guitar - Dale Ann Bradley
6:30 Songwriting - Steve Gulley and Marty Raybon

Sunday
10:00 Church Service - Higher Mountain Bluegrass