Oh, 'twas a good one!
Probably the biggest one we've had at Little York NY's Dwyer Memorial Park, with the usual allstar line up of bands, duos and individuals who kept the show going at top speed from 10.a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
The weather could not have been better--just a couple of short interuptions by storms passing by--and the warmth and enthusiam continually radiated from the audience to all the acts appearing under the tent on our grass "stage."
Our thanks to all the bands listed below for the fabulous day. They volunteered their musical talents to the Picnic, thus making it possible for BGR Picnic #31 to be a reality.
Two sad items: Flint Creek Could not be with us due to sudden illness, and John Cadley could not perfom with the Lost Boys due to the hospitalization of his Mother. We are thinking of these talented folks today who have contributed so much in the past to the Bluegrass Ramble Picnic. We really missed them too.
It was great to meet many of the folks who made their way to Dwyer Park and all of us were delighted to see that there were many new faces in the crowd when we asked for a show of hands from those who had never attended the picnic before.
A highlight of the day was the appearance of NY State Senator Nancy Larraine Hoffmann who for many years has provided funding to the picnic for the advertising we do in area newspapers, as well as for the huge tent we rent for our audiences. We presented the Senator with a Picnic T short and a special certificate of appreciation designed and framed by Ray and Vicki Delaney.
Senator Hoffmann was also given the honor of ringing the antique Pulaski Farm Bell at high noon, an annual ritual at the Bluegrass Ramble Picnic.
Behind the scenes, Ray Delaney ran the sound, Dave White recorded the entire 8 hour show for WCNY, Howard Bonner collected $700 for the Martin Guitar donated to the Picnic by Dave Nichols' Custom Pearl Inlay, and Lois and Art Benning took care of the T shirt sales. they also donated the entire proceeds from their face painting project (I suggested they cover Bonner's face with the Sistine Chapel but they didn't have enough paint)
Picnic Board Members Dan Ward and Steve Lundberg were helping all over the site, as did Mike "Dorf" Bonczek.
A surprise conclusion of the Picnic was the last minute appearance of young Nick Lundberg; he "marched" the tent out with a rousing medley of appropriate Scottish tunes on his bagpipes.
Our vendors, who contributed a portion of their profits or "sang for their supper" included Kay Betts VonSneidern and hubby Mike, Bill And Maggie Anderson, and the aforementioned Art & Lois Benning.
Thanks so much everyone for another great bluegrass family reunion. Because that's what the Bluegrass Ramble Picnic truly is!
See you at this weekend's Fox Family Festival (Thurs-Sat) in Old Forge, NY where we can talk about all of the wonderful things that happened in Little York yesterday.
Thanks again
Bill Knowlton,
"BLUEGRASS RAMBLE," WCNY-FM: Syracuse (91.3), Utica (89.5), Watertown NY (90.9), 9 pm-midnight edst: www.wcny.org (with Windows MediaPlayer) Now into its 31st year!
