First-the rally was fun and I met some nice people. I am certain that many people worked their tails off putting this together!However,I feel compelled to make this statement:The theme of the rally was Mountain Magic, Southern Style. I had a tent just opposite the beer garden and heard all the performers( even if I didn't want to) except those late Saturday. It is a fact that there are different kinds of music out there and that our tastes vary a bunch. In talking with a local(a vendor) , and his learning that I lived not so far away( and a hillbilly too), he asked me what I thought about the music. My reply was "it was not so good and not in keeping with the theme/location of the rally".He was of the same mind and thus the reason he had asked me the question.
Now, I wasn't expecting Dolly Parton or Dr.Ralph Stanley, but people, that was not what we all call our traditional mountain music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The closest thing I heard to country was Delbert McClinton and he switched from country to blues some time ago. Don Imus used to have him on and he has been switched for some time . The ex-boxer had some nice songs, for me, but was a southern rocker mostly.
I have to say that there should have been some high quality bluegrass and some true country music if you were to go after the areas cultural music. I was thinking that Nashville is in TN? Maybe even some mountain style dancing?
I am ignorant on contracting music, but perhaps it is not possible to get groups with only a one year notice , as a rally is planned?I know many of the groups(bluegrass) that I would have liked to have seen there, do the same venues year after year and with the rally moving all the time, that could create an impossible issue. It just seems nuts to me that I took the hwy home from the rally site and almost the whole 200 miles is named as the music hwy of one kind or another(varies in the states of VA,TN,KY) and signs are posted constantly for the entire distance reminding you as this is the home of so & so country music person and we got what we did! My cup is not half full-it is empty!
It is this simple: I was expecting music/entertainment that represented the area and an opportunity to do something along the theme of the rally in a great location, just did not happen!
Now, I wasn't expecting Dolly Parton or Dr.Ralph Stanley, but people, that was not what we all call our traditional mountain music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The closest thing I heard to country was Delbert McClinton and he switched from country to blues some time ago. Don Imus used to have him on and he has been switched for some time . The ex-boxer had some nice songs, for me, but was a southern rocker mostly.
I have to say that there should have been some high quality bluegrass and some true country music if you were to go after the areas cultural music. I was thinking that Nashville is in TN? Maybe even some mountain style dancing?
I am ignorant on contracting music, but perhaps it is not possible to get groups with only a one year notice , as a rally is planned?I know many of the groups(bluegrass) that I would have liked to have seen there, do the same venues year after year and with the rally moving all the time, that could create an impossible issue. It just seems nuts to me that I took the hwy home from the rally site and almost the whole 200 miles is named as the music hwy of one kind or another(varies in the states of VA,TN,KY) and signs are posted constantly for the entire distance reminding you as this is the home of so & so country music person and we got what we did! My cup is not half full-it is empty!
It is this simple: I was expecting music/entertainment that represented the area and an opportunity to do something along the theme of the rally in a great location, just did not happen!