The Venue

And the Louisville Folk School A big part of the reason many of us enjoy bluegrass music is because of the tight-knit bluegrass community.  Getting together with other bluegrass fans to listen to, or play, bluegrass music is part of the appeal.  People gathering together to play music in a private home; at a school, church…

Photos By Gary Hatley In a celebration to recognize the amazing musical heritage of their state, the NC Music Hall of Fame inducted its newest members during a red carpet event in Kannapolis, NC, on October 21. Since no ceremony was held last year due to the global pandemic, a “double-induction” of eight new members…

Photos Courtesy of Ralph Stanley Museum Nestled in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains about eight miles northeast of Ralph Stanley’s birthplace, McClure, Virginia, sits a bastion of traditional mountain music.  Old familiar dirt roads wind through the piney glade Where all the longings of childhood dreams were made Where we passed the mossy mounds where I…

Hills of Home Bluegrass Festival The Dr. Ralph Stanley Hills of Home Memorial Day Weekend Bluegrass Festival held at the Hills of Home Park in McClure, Virginia is one of the longest running bluegrass festivals in the United States.  With the exception of the 2020 and 2021 events being cancelled due to the pandemic, the…

The Man Behind the Curtain “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain,”is a famous line from The Wizard of Oz. Musical promoters often are the ones behind the curtain that rarely receive recognition, but without them, both musicians and fans would be at a total loss.  Milton Harkey is an important man behind…

One Filmmaker’s Perspective I first heard live bluegrass music when I was 26 years old. Growing up in New Jersey, and going to college in Washington, DC, meant that my experience with bluegrass was limited to seeing Bonnie and Clyde in 1967, and hearing parts of Hee Haw, or The Beverly Hillbillies on TV. That level of personal exposure was…