Oak Grove (Schwartz Family)

Dick models his Snap Jackson T-Shirt

Snap Jackson & the Knock on Wood Players

A Three-Event Weekend

 

Photos           Related Links          More Travel Reports

 

Clovis Farmer's Market          Kings River Bluegrass          Clovis Antique Fair

   

Clovis Farmer's Market: Back in the days when I was working, I tried to avoid what we called a "two-event weekend." For example, a hockey game Saturday and computer club meeting Sunday seemed to take up way too much of my brief weekends. Of course, it was really not possible to eliminate these weekends and still do what I wanted to do.

Now that I'm retired, I feel the same way, although I get no sympathy from working friends and relatives. So when I found that I had lined up a three-event weekend, I kept my complaints to myself, especially since I was the one who initiated all three.

It started out with a visit to the regular Friday night Farmer's Market in Old Town Clovis. This event runs from May through October, every Friday, and through most of that time there is also a free bluegrass concert in a nearby park, where groups from around the valley play for tips. Besides the produce booths, there are a dozen or more businesses promoting their services, and around eight food booths. There is live music, including individual performers here and there, hoping their efforts will draw a few coins.

We didn't get to many of these this summer, but I've been going the last two or three weeks. Usually if you arrive early you can park close and it's not too crowded, but now it's getting dark by 7 p.m., and everyone is trying to arrive early. I've had to park farther and farther from the main market area each week the last three times.

My friend Janell Sidney and her friend Ken Brown came over about 5:30 on September 28. We left immediately for downtown Clovis (a five minute drive), but still ended up parking the farthest yet. We know where the stuff we want is located, so we can get in, grab the few things we want, and get out pretty fast. We did so this time, with me getting my regular "order" of peppers, tomatoes, grapes, and blackberries. Janell got a few things, Ken had a sandwich, and we made our way back to the car.

Afterward we visited a while, and looked at some photos of the Plymouth Bluegrass Festival, to get us in the mood for the next day's event.

 

Kings River Bluegrass: On Saturday morning Janell and Ken arrived at my house about 9 a.m., and we took my car for the 25 mile drive to The Grove near Sanger, the site of the 10th annual Kings River Bluegrass Festival. I had considering going all three days, as I have the last three years, but every group I really wanted to see was playing on Saturday. Some also played Friday or Sunday, but I decided to limit this trip to the one day. This meant no motor home, and I have to admit I'm used to having it available for resting, fixing low-cost meals, and avoiding having to sit down in a port-a-potty.

We arrived just as the first group was starting, and set up our chairs in a nice shady spot. There were quite a lot of RV's in the camping area, but not many people in the audience yet. In the early days of this festival the trees in front of the stage were new and spindly, and offered only patches of shade, but they have grown together so that nearly all that area is shaded.

Three bands played before the lunch break, all local - Valley Oak Band, Grassfire and Baloney Creek. The only one I hadn't seen was Valley Oak, and I had seen most of the members in other bands. They were all OK, but nothing special.

I had eaten a good breakfast, and Ken and Janell got breakfast burritos as soon as we arrived, so we didn't eat during the lunch break. Instead we wandered around, sat and rested, and talked to a few people. I visited with Rad and Tele, people we met at Parkfield in 2001. They recently had their 5th great grandchild, born six weeks prematurely. He's six months now and doing great (8 lbs). This resonated with Janell because she had twins who were born three months early, weighing just over two pounds each. They are now 21, smart, healthy, beautiful, and just doing great in every way.

Things picked up in the afternoon with three groups I had seen before, all of whom turned in performances that surpassed their previous efforts. Pineridge was in Plymouth and play a fairly traditional brand of bluegrass. Their first few songs didn't do much for me, but then they got into some minor key stuff with some great harmonies.

Red Rag Andy plays "oldtime" music, and we've seen them many times. They have a different lead singer from when we first saw them, but still put on what I think was the best set I've seen them do.

The final group before the dinner break was the Alhambra Valley Band, which has been around since the 1980s. I saw them in 2009 at Brown Barn, and thought they were highly professional, but lacking that spark of something special that takes a band to the very top level.

During the dinner break we all got food, then listened as Snap Jackson presented a ukulele workshop. Although none of us have any intention of playing, it was interesting to watch and hear him discuss playing techniques, chord patterns, etc. He was accompanied by his "regular" bass player, Brian Clark, on a Uke-Bass, an electric bass ukulele, which some bands use as their regular bass. I put "regular" in quotes because Brian plays a five-string model, putting out 20% more effort than any other bass player there.

The evening program started with another local group, the Grasskickers, who have shown a lot of improvement over the few years we've seen them, followed by a bay area band I've seen several times, Windy Hill. They play an energetic, mostly traditional brand of bluegrass, although the band members all look to be not much over 30.

Another pleasant surprise was in store with the next group, Oak Grove, which is the Schwartz family (dad, mom, two sons, and sometimes a daughter). I had seen them before, and I've more or less watched the boys grow up on stage. I first saw them with the Kids on Bluegrass show at Plymouth in 2007. Later they joined with Marty Varner and AJ Lee to form OMGG (Obviously Minor Guys and a Gal), who were at the 2009 Brown Barn Festival. All the kids sounded good on their instruments by then, and their vocal work was not bad, but now Max at age 14 (bass, banjo, fiddle) and Nate at age 18 (mandolin) are right up there with the best of their age group as singers, and fully professional with the instruments. The father, Bob, sings harmony with them, and takes the lead on one or two songs, joined on a couple by mom Gale. The youngest band member, 8-year old Tessa, plays fiddle, and while she does not have the bowing technique of a more advanced player, she gets a good clean tone, so overall this was one of the best, and best-received acts at the show. Alex Sharps, another young banjo player that I had seen at Brown Barn, joined them for a couple of songs.

After their set I talked with Max for a couple of minutes, reminiscing about the first time I had seen him and his brother at Plymouth in 2007, and asked if they still have the OMGG group. He said that AJ Lee has moved on, and the three guys from OMGG (Nate, Max and Marty Varner) now play with Alex Sharps as Them Boys. When I mentioned 2007, for a minute he had trouble believing that he had been performing publicly for so long.

The evening concluded with the group we had all come to see, Snap Jackson & the Knock on Wood Players. I've said in the past that it's hard to describe their music. They do play some more or less straight bluegrass, and some stuff with an old-time flavor, but overall I just call it "Snap Music." Using both three-finger (Scruggs style) picking and two-finger (clawhammer) on the banjo, and picking up the ukulele for a few songs, Snap and his three band mates produce a sound all their own. You can check it out here and here.

The band came back for an encore, playing one of their best-received, least-bluegrass songs, the Temptations' "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)," and the crowd would have gladly stayed for a couple more songs - but the band members and many in the audience were also eager to find a jam out in the parking lot. We gathered up our stuff, and made the short drive back to Clovis, getting there about 10:30, plenty of time to rest up for the weekend's final event.

 

Old Town Antique Fair: The next day Janell and Ken came over early in the afternoon, meaning we arrived in Old Town Clovis at the hottest part of the day, on a weekend when temperatures were near 100 every day.

We managed to spend most of our time on the shady side of the street, and enjoyed seeing many items that were nice, but that we could easily live without. Ken bought some sports cards, but other than that we resisted temptation, and devoted our funds to food. Ken got a sandwich at one of the outdoor booths, then we went into Scoop's, a great ice cream and sandwich parlor, where Janell got a sandwich, and we all had ice cream. I was not hungry for lunch, having had a large, late breakfast, but the many delicious flavors made it impossible to resist having a dish of ice cream.

We probably spent a little less than two hours at the fair, then headed back to my place. The next day would bring a fourth event for Ken and Janell - work, an event I was glad to avoid.

--Dick Estel, October 2012

 

Photos (Click to enlarge; pictures open in new window) 

 
Valley Oak Band Grassfire Baloney Creek
   
Pineridge

Snap Jackson guests
with Pineridge

Red Rag Andy
   
The Alhambra Valley Band The Grasskickers Windy Hill 
    
Oak Grove (Schwartz Family) 3/4 of Them Boys Snap Jackson & the
Knock on Wood Players
   
Just Snap Tom Naiman's Banjo Workshop
(Tom left, back to camera)
Bill Hunter's Fiddle Workshop
(Bill in red shirt)
  

Dick models his Snap
Jackson T-Shirt

Festival program cover Janell helps Ken enjoy his
first bluegrass festival
   
 
One of dozens of booths at the Antique Fair You might need help identifying
this if you're under 30
 
 
Related Links
 
Grassfire Baloney Creek Pineridge
Red Rag Andy Band Alhambra Valley Band Grasskickers
Windy Hill Snap Jackson & the
Knock on Wood Players
Oak Grove
Them Boys Dick's Bluegrass T-Shirt Photos California Bluegrass Association
The Grove    Old Town Clovis
  
Just Snap

Windy Hill 

Baloney Creek

 

 
Travel Reports
   
Before 2002     2002     2003     2004     2005     2006     2007     2008     2009     2010     2011     2012

2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018    2019     2020     2021     2022     2023     2024     Other

   
Before 2002
Early Trips Later Trips
Camping Trips Backpacking Trips
Early Stargazer Rock Camps 1961 Monterey Jazz Festival
Bluegrass Odyssey
   
Multi-Year Compilations
Fresno Area Canal Walks Clovis Trail Walks
   
2002
Journey of 2002 (Ohio & Back) Logandale & Utah Parks 2002
   
2003
Arizona & Bluegrass on the River 2003 Grand Canyon & Logandale Bluegrass 2003
Parkfield & Huck Finn 2003 Early Frog Camps (2003-2005)
   
2004
Paso Robles & Parkfield 2004 Road Trip 2004 (Ohio & Back)
Bullhead City Bluegrass, Mesa, Superstition Bluegrass 2004 Bluegrass in the Foothills 2004
   
2005
Arizona-Southern California 2005 Huck Finn Bluegrass 2005
Morro Bay 2005 Stargazer Rock Camp 2005
Parkfield Bluegrass 2005    
   
2006
Huck Finn Bluegrass 2006 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2006
Rock Creek Non-Camp Stargazer Rock Camp 2006
Parkfield Bluegrass 2006 Oregon 2006
Bluegrass in the Foothills 2006    
   
2007
Bullhead City, Bakersfield, Joshua Tree 2007 Frog Camp 2007
Eastern Sierra Journey 2007 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2007
Stargazer Rock Camp 2007 Roundup #1
(Mother Lode; Kings Canyon, Yosemite)
Bluegrass in the Foothills 2007    
   
2008
Nevada-Arizona Hockey & Bluegrass 2008 Parkfield Bluegrass 2008
Frog Camp 2008 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2008
Stargazer Rock Camp 2008 Bluegrass in the Foothills 2008
Hobbs Grove Festival 2008     
   
2009
Roundup 2009
Las Vegas, Mariposa, Table Mountain, Orange County
Frog Camp 2009 Southern Journey 2009
Parkfield Bluegrass 2009 Stargazer Rock Camp 2009
Bluegrass Tour 2009
Brown Barn, Plymouth, Hobbs Grove
Hensley Lake Camp
   
2010
Mojave National Preserve & Havasu Bluegrass Roundup 2010
Hensley Reservoir, Mojave Preserve 2 & 3
Parkfield Bluegrass 2010 Lake Almanor & Mt. Lassen 2010
Las Vegas Expo Summergrass
   Brown Barn, Watsonville & Hobbs Grove
   
2011
Roundup 2011
Mariposa, Hensley, Table Mountain
Frog Camp 2011
Parkfield Bluegrass 2011 Frank, Pat, Dick & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Northern Coast Journey 2011 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2011
Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Chilkoot & Stargazer Rock Camp
Kings River & Brown Barn Bluegrass Festivals Hensley Camp 2011
    
2012 
Parkfield Bluegrass 2012 Four Squaw Leap Hikes
Northern Coast Journey 2012 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2012
Stargazer Rock Camp 2012 Bluegrass in the Foothills 2012
A 3-Event Weekend
Farmer's Market, Kings River Bluegrass, Antique Fair
2012 Las Vegas CAN AM Hockey Challenge
Fall Hikes
Finegold Trail; Bower Cave
Into Los Gatos Canyon
  
2013
Silver Stick Tournament - Canada Sierra Foothills - Winter 2013
Finegold Trailhead, Hensley Lake, San Joaquin Gorge
Death Valley - Alabama Hills - Whitney Portal Sierra Foothills - Spring 2013
San Joaquin Gorge Hike, Big Creek Drive
Parkfield Bluegrass 2013 Shaver Crossing Station & Big Creek
Lake Almanor & Caribou Crossroads Mono Hot Springs
Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival A Wedding in Duluth
Sequoia Park Hiking Roundup 2013
Kings River Bluegrass, Buena Vista Peak Hike, Hensley Lake Camp, North Fork Mono Museum, White Rock Road, Hockey in Denver
     
2014
2014 Winter Hikes
Millerton South Bay Trail, Clovis Trail, Hite's Cove Trail
San Joaquin Gorge Campout
Colorado Springs Hockey Tournament Lake Havasu Bluegrass
2014 Spring Hikes
Stockton Creek Preserve, San Joaquin River Trail, San Joaquin Gorge, Millerton Lake, Sycamore Creek, Buena Vista Peak Again
NORCAL Hockey Playoffs and Santa Cruz Visit
Greeley Hill Road Trip Parkfield Bluegrass 2014
Journey of 2014 Journey of 2014 Photos
Nelder Grove Hikes 2014 Sentinel Dome Hike
2014 Fall & Winter Hikes
San Joaquin River Trail South & North, Red Rock Canyon Nevada, San Joaquin South Again
California Flat Campout
Snow Day with the  Upshaw's   
 
2015
Rambler Hikes 2015 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2015 Part 2
Adventures of 2015 - February to May
(Goofy Smith Flat, Coast Redwoods & Big Sur, Pine Flat, Finegold Trail, Edison Point Trail, Nelder Grove)
Adventures of 2015 - June to December
(Lewis Creek Trail, Kaiser Pass, Kaiser Pass Again, Taft Point, Kings River Bluegrass, Shaver Logging Road, San Joaquin River Trail, Lewis S Eaton Trail, San Joaquin River Gorge, Thanksgiving at the Gorge)
Lake Tahoe & Virginia City Parkfield Bluegrass 2015
Colorado Springs Cousin Convention 2015 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2015
Stargazer Rock Camp 2015 Grand Canyon & Arches National Parks
  
2016
Adventures of 2016 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2016 Page 1
Adventures of 2016 Part 2 Rambler Hikes 2016 Page 2
Adventures of 2016 Part 3 Rambler Hikes 2016 Page 3
Adventures of 2016 Part 4 A Pennsylvania Adventure
Adventures of 2016 Part 5 Parkfield Bluegrass 2016
Adventures of 2016 Part 6 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2016
Adventures of 2016 Part 7 Stargazer Rock Camp 2016
     
2017
Adventures of 2017 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2017 Page 1
Adventures of 2017 Part 2 Rambler Hikes 2017 Page 2
Adventures of 2017 Part 3 Rambler Hikes 2017 Page 3
Adventures of 2017 Part 4 Hiking and Hockey
Adventures of 2017 Part 5 Lake Almanor
Adventures of 2017 Part 6 Northern California Redwood Hike
Parkfield Bluegrass 2017 Stargazer Rock Camp 2017
Travel Blog 2017 (an experiment) Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks
  
2018
Adventures of 2018 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2018 Page 1
Adventures of 2018 Part 2 Rambler Hikes 2018 Page 2
Adventures of 2018 Part 3 Rambler Hikes 2018 Page 3
Adventures of 2018 Part 4 Parkfield Bluegrass 2018
Adventures of 2018 Part 5 Northern California Journey 2018
Adventures of 2018 Part 6
  
2019
Adventures of 2019 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2019 Page 1
Adventures of 2019 Part 2 Rambler Hikes 2019 Page 2
Utah National Parks Rambler Hikes 2019 Page 3
Adventures of 2019 Part 3 Parkfield Bluegrass 2019
Adventures of 2019 Part 4 Adventures of 2019 Part 5
   
2020
Adventures of 2020 Part 1 Adventures of 2020 Part 5
Adventures of 2020 Part 2 Adventures of 2020 Part 6
Adventures of 2020 Part 3 Adventures of 2020 Part 7
Adventures of 2020 Part 4 Rambler Hikes 2020 Page 1
  
2021
Adventures of 2021 Part 1 Adventures of 2021 Part 5
Adventures of 2021 Part 2
Adventures of 2021 Part 3 Rambler Hikes 2021 Page 1
Adventures of 2021 Part 4 Rambler Hikes 2021 Page 2
 
2022
Adventures of 2022 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2022 Page 1
Adventures of 2022 Part 2 Rambler Hikes 2022 Page 2
Adventures of 2022 Part 3 Rambler Hikes 2022 Page 3
Adventures of 2022 Part 4 Utah Parks
  
2023
Adventures of 2023 Page 1 Rambler Hikes 2023 Page 1
Adventures of 2023 Page 2 Rambler Hikes 2023 Page 2
Dinosaur National Monument Rambler Hikes 2023 Page 3
Adventures of 2023 Page 3 Rambler Hikes 2023 Page 4
  
2024
Adventures of 2024 Page 1 Rambler Hikes 2024 Page 1
Adventures of 2024 Page 2 Rambler Hikes 2024 Page 2
Mendocino Coast Rambler Hikes 2024 Page 3
  
Other
Fresno Area Canal Walks Clovis Trail Walks
Butch's Blog Walker Family Trips
Parkfield Earthquake Kim & Morgan Brown Trips & Photos
Travel Report Menu Estel Home Page
Photo Albums Slide Shows
Laurie Lewis' High Sierra Hikes Email
     
 

Updated October 1, 2020