Great time at the HABOT club meeting

Hello everyone. If you have never been to our monthly HABOT club meeting you are missing an enjoyable bluegrass experience (please see the link in the right navigation panel to view more details). The picking was really good and I had a blast picking with Wayne Loveall, Ken Preston, and a few other new faces. A young boy (about 11-12 yrs) did a great job of playing the fiddle. There was a real good size crowd and lots of good entertainment provided by local bands, including Sugar Ridge and the Great Possum String Band. Jamming is so much fun and really brings out the smiles in all kinds of ways. I really hope you have a chance to come to our weekly Jam on Thursdays as we encourage all skills levels. We had a good size group as well. I took some pictures and will be posting another slide show to give you a flavor of what you are missing. We will be CLOSED on Thanksgiving day, but I truly hope you will take time to express your thankfulness for all your blessings and remember who provides them to you!!! Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

More picking fun at the KC Bluegrass Club

Hello everyone. Great weather made it real easy for me to go to the KC Bluegrass Club meeting and jam last night. They had a nice size crowd, especially in the area where the bands played. As usual, I always enjoy picking with some different folks that have the same bent for Bluegrass music. Rita sang a real nice song called something like: "Jesus, Hold my Hand". I will have to look that one up as I really enjoyed it. It was good to hear Wayne Loveall sing his copyrighted song he composed called: "My Sweet Caroline".
Regarding our weekly jam, it was fun too. Hearing Ron Raymer play the lead on the song "Pick Away" using his dobro was a real treat!. By the way the picture is me enjoying the fall at the Lake of the Ozarks, at Osage Beach. Try posting a comment and let me know how you are doing! Hope to see you Thursday!
Bill

Another Successful Bluegrass Jam

Hello everyone again. What fun we had Thursday night at our weekly jam. Lots of folks and plenty of picking and grinning. Thanks to who ever made that coconut pudding with the crust. It was delicious! We had a big group out front with two other rooms full of more picking. Then at the end some of us stayed out front for some real "hot" picking. We turned Harvey loose and WOW, nobody could keep up with him. But after we reeled him in (no offense)we had some nice hot bluegrass. Thanks to all you who faithfully come each week. Have a great weekend!
Bill

New Bluegrass Banner in Process!

Hello everyone. Well as you know, daylight savings time will be over by tomorrow morning and we will be back on normal time (whatever that is?). Does this mean we have lost one hour of picking? If so I guess we will gain it back in the spring. Now, on to another subject. It is really good to see some more new faces attending our weekly jam. One of our goals at the jam is to encourage all ages and skill levels to attend so we can promote the Bluegrass genre of music. It is so much fun to be "Picking in the Meadows". Other news: I plan to purchase a custom made banner to display at our weekly jam. I am still working on the design but it must be of very good quality with a look that makes people feel welcome. As a matter of fact, it might be a reflection the wonderful people who attend our weekly jam. If you have any ideas, please let me know. I have posted some updated photo albums of our picking at the meadows and in Buckner. So take a look and enjoy the photos. Have a safe and healthy week.
Bill

Bluegrass Falling Leaves

Hello everyone! Looks like Autumn is in full swing and the colors are extra ordinarily beautiful this year. Speaking of Autumn, it reminds me of the bluegrass song called "Falling Leaves". I believe it is a Grandpa Jones song that talks about life and that when you die you hope there will be more friends standing around than leaves that have fallen on the ground. And it also mentions about helping others along the way because you can only take with you what you give away! Hope to see you all this Thursday at our weekly jam.
Bill

HABOT brings out the October Pickers

Once again the Heart of America Bluegrass and Old Time Music Club brings out the pickers. I had a great time picking with Dave, Harvey, Wayne, John, Matt and about 2-3 other pickers. There were several rooms of pickers and plenty of folks in the main area listening to the bands. I think some of the younger ones picking were from the "Loose Gravel" band, but I am not sure. Anyway we all had a great time and played right up to the very end before they close the doors. It was good to see so many familiar faces. HABOT is such a good bluegrass club and the people are nice and friendly and showcase a lot of area talent. Hope you can come the next meeting in the third Friday of November. Please check the HABOT link in the right panel to find out more details. As they say at the club, "make HABOT a habit".

Also had some good picking at our weekly jam on Thursday. So get on out and join the circle and help us pick, sing and have fun! By the way, in the picture, my grandson is a wonderful "little man" and can really sing. I can't wait to see where that may take him.
Bill

Getting the most out of your Bluegrass Music

How do you get the most your Bluegrass Music? I guess the answer depends on whether you are playing or listening. As a player I would say you have to "feel" the music and let it be who you are. This means you have to let the music run from your head to your fingers and down your leg to your feet. The result is you are expressing yourself by either "bobbing" your head or tapping your foot. I forgot to mention the expression on your face, which means you could be smiling, laughing, crying, looking lost, in some deep concentration with a little "drool" in the corner of your mouth or just a calm serene look of pure enjoyment. It is interesting as a player to observe the variety of folks who listen. For example, some may be smiling, clapping their hands or tapping their feet to the beat of the music. Others, may be singing along while smiling, yawning, sewing, cross-stitching, working cross-word puzzles, napping, shuffling their feet while sitting to emulate some sort of clogging or rabbit dance, swaying back and forth. While others, may be trying to learn and are seriously watching what you are doing. The best part about the listener is you get to show your appreciation of the wonderful Bluegrass Music by applauding at the end of a hot break, or at the end of the song. Some musicians, question as to whether they really liked the song or are just glad you are done playing. PLEASE POST A COMMENT ON HOW YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BLUEGRASS MUSIC. See you at our next Jam on Thursday!
Bill