(“Notes from Around the Bend”— Facebook blog)
The 5th Annual Big Bend Bluegrass Festival is almost upon us here in Alpine, Texas. It will again be held at the Alpine Civic Center on Friday, October 2, through Saturday, October 3. An advanced ticket (www.tickettailor.com) for a Friday admission is $21.75, for Saturday $37.25, and a two-day pass is $42.75.
The Big Bend Bluegrass Festival is a product of the nonprofit Big Bend Bluegrass Association, dedicated to promoting bluegrass, country and gospel music throughout West Texas. The Festival is generously sponsored by the city of Alpine and local businesses and is made possible by participants like you.
Bluegrass is a form of American roots music, with its origin in Irish, Scottish and English traditional music transported by immigrants to Appalachia where it saw its most significant developments in the 1940s. The driving, high energy sound of traditional bluegrass is generated by acoustic instruments (including fiddle, 5-string banjo, guitar, mandolin, upright string bass, and more recently dobro, harmonica, and accordion), by its inclusion of instrumental “breakdowns” and vocal harmonies arranged in “stacks.”
The name by which this music has come to be called derives from the seminal band, the Blue Grass Boys, led by Kentuckian Bill Monroe, who is generally considered the “founder” of American bluegrass music. Traditional bluegrass — which is still going strong — has expanded from Monroe’s day into new “progressive” directions, sometimes referred to as “New Grass,” with the addition of non-traditional instruments, the incorporation of other musical genres like jazz, folk, rock ‘n’ roll, and Afro-American blues, and an expansion of themes.
Bluegrass has taken root here in Alpine thanks to the able direction of Cyndi Perdue and the Big Bend Bluegrass Association, a designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit which she heads. In 2021, Perdue relocated a festival that her dad had originated and ran for 21 years in Wickett, Texas, to Alpine. She brought with her a love and knowledge of the bluegrass tradition, which has helped her line up a top-notch roster of award-winning musicians from around the nation to perform over the past four years.
Most groups in this year’s lineup have been here before, invited back to perform for previously appreciative audiences. The Edgar Loudermilk band has headlined every festival since inception. Headed by the highly accomplished and award-winning namesake bass player, vocalist, and songwriter, Edgar Loudermilk has a long and distinguished career in bluegrass. The band’s membership has shifted somewhat and now includes Eddie Hoyle on banjo, Tucker McCandless and Clint Coker on guitar, and Bryce Griffin on mandolin, each an award-winning musician in his own right. This group, one of my all time favorites, is truly outstanding in their songwriting, musicianship, and interpretation of contemporary bluegrass and gospel music.
Still going strong after five decades playing bluegrass, Special Consensus returns to Alpine, headed up by banjo-playing founder, Greg Cahill, recipient of multiple music awards and nominations. One of the most respected bands in the bluegrass music world, Cahill is joined by guitarist and vocalist extraordinaire Greg Blake, Brian McCarty on mandolin, and Nico Humby on upright bass. Together, they offer up traditional bluegrass with the latest innovations.
The Catahoula Drive bluegrass band was originally formed by four friends who entered an award contest at SPMGMA and became a touring band in 2017. Purveyors of original bluegrass, the band consists of Gary Stewart on banjo, Tres Nugent on bass, Dennis Steward on mandolin, and Jamey Alwell on guitar.
Finley River Boys return as a quartet featuring guitar, fiddle, banjo and upright bass. With their church-based roots, their offerings of gospel music are inspiring
Righteous Intonation are first time performers at the festival, although no strangers to West Texas audiences, often playing the local music venues. Guitar, fiddle, mandolin and upright bass provide for a traditional western string band, whose music resonates with tales of the Wild West.
The young Edwards brothers — Everett on guitar and Davis on accordion — are local Alpine favorites who bring strong musicianship to the stage when playing folk, country, and Americana tunes. Everett has previously performed on the Alpine stage as a member of the Old Rugged Choir and the two brothers were warmly received at last year’s festival
As in past years, there are several workshops scheduled for songwriters, guitar, banjo, and mandolin players, as well as free-ranging jam sessions, so bring your instrument if you play. It is sure to be a great time!
