Alkali Flats

Loafer's Glory

Parkfield Bluegrass Festival 2012

 

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People have been asking if I've been on any trips, or when my next trip is. Actually I've done a number of trips, but for various reasons I haven't written about them. There have been several trips for hockey, but few of my readers have any interest in that. I've done a number of day hikes, but each one alone hardly seemed worth writing about. Perhaps I will combine several of those into a single report.

However, right now it's time to write about the 14th Annual Parkfield Bluegrass Festival. You can read about the town and see photos here, with more stuff here and here.

On the day of departure, Thursday, May 10, I had a retirement association board meeting that would end about the time I wanted to get underway. I got everything loaded the night before so I could drive the motor home to the meeting and get on the road as soon as it ended.

The meeting ended a bit earlier than usual so I was on my way about the time I would normally have left. The trip was uneventful other than a half hour delay due to construction just past Kettleman City, but that was a fairly dull event. 

It looked like there were not as many people as usual when I arrived, but walking around the grounds on Saturday, all the camping areas seemed full. The weather has been close to too hot, but there is a good breeze most of the time and it's been comfortable sitting in the shade.

We have the usual mix of known and unknown bands, local, regional and national, some better than others.

In the category of pleasant surprises are two bands, one previously unknown to me. The Alkali Flats are from the Sacramento area, and are really a traditional country band. They perform with a lot of energy and fit into the bluegrass/old-time mode just fine.

Looking at the festival program, I recognized the name of the Darrell Webb Band as one I had heard of, but was not sure I had heard them. They are a very hard-driving young band from the southeast, and were a big crowd favorite. As their web sit puts it, "acoustic music with electrifying energy." As it turned out I had downloaded their newest album over a year ago, so I was lucky I did not decide to buy it at the event.

In addition to these new (to me) bands, several favorites from previous shows were on hand. The biggest name is the Special Consensus, a group that's been in existence for 37 years, all under the guidance of banjo star Greg Cahill, past president of the International Bluegrass Music Association. The revolving cast of supporting players and singers is always good.

Every bit as good in my opinion is a quartet of California artists that have been performing something like a total of 120 years or so. This group, Loafer's Glory, was at Parkfield last year and is fairly new, but some of the members have performed together for 30 years or more. I could fill up several pages with their accomplishments, but if you're interested, it's easy enough to find information on line.

Of course, rising above all others in my opinion, is Snap Jackson & the Knock on Wood Players. I first saw them at the Brown Barn Festival in 2009, and became an instant and enthusiastic fan. Since then I've seen the group at least four more times, and look forward to the next time, and their second CD which will be issued shortly.

The rest of the show was the usual mix of OK to great. Red Dog Ash deserves special mention - they are based out of Turlock, and have been together a few years. They added a top level banjo player a little over a year ago, putting them into the realm of good quality festival bands, and have continued to improve. They have a CD available on line.

Overall the weather was fairly good. It was warm from day one, and got a little warmer, but I had shade on me nearly all the time during the music, and there was a good breeze a lot of the time. Nights were cool enough to put on a long-sleeve shirt and sweat shirt.

Although I enjoyed the music, weather and people, I did not seem to have my usual enthusiasm for this event. I have become somewhat spoiled having my friend Janell with me at three of the festivals I've attended the last two years, but she could not make it this time. Even though I've attended the vast majority of festivals alone, it's always more fun to share it with someone.

This reduced interest, plus some problems I have to take care of with the motor home, caused me to do something I have never done before - leave early due to something other than rain. I took a couple of photos of the first group Sunday morning, but did not sit down to listen, and was on my way home by 11 a.m.

--Dick Estel, May 2012

 

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

 

California Pearly Blue

The Alkali Flats Virtual Strangers
California Pearly Blue The Alkali Flats Virtual Strangers
   
Loafer's Glory Shane Kalbach, Snap Jackson, Brian Clark Eric Antrim, snappy guitar picker
Loafer's Glory Shane Kalbach, Snap Jackson, Brian Clark Eric Antrim, snappy guitar picker
           
Little Black Train The Get Down Boys Darrell Webb Band
Little Black Train The Get Down Boys Darrell Webb Band
       
Special Consensus LeRoy Mack 2012 Parkfield T-Shirt
Special Consensus LeRoy Mack 2012 Parkfield T-Shirt
 
See more Parkfield photos here
 
Related Links
 
The Alkali Flats Darrell Webb Band Special Consensus
Loafer's Glory Snap Jackson & the Knock on Wood Players Red Dog Ash
California Pearly Blue Virtual Strangers The Get Down Boys
LeRoy Mack Little Black Train Parkfield Events
   Parkfield Bluegrass   
  
 The Get Down Boys

Shane Kalbach, Snap Jackson, Brian Clark

 
Travel Reports
   
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Before 2002
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Bluegrass Odyssey
   
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2002
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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
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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
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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
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2022
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Adventures of 2022 Part 4 Utah Parks
  
2023
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Dinosaur National Monument Rambler Hikes 2023 Page 3
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2024
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Updated July 16, 2017