Saturday, June 29, 2019

Master Musician's Festival 2019



Less than a month from now thousands of us will gather again for the annual installment of The Master Musician's Festival or MMF as it is becoming known to an increasing number of fans. Last year's edition was very likely the best one yet. It featured John Prine who had been an object of desire for festival planners for many years. In addition the festival itself ran better than any I have seen since I have been attending.




This year the featured artist will be Jason Isbell and the 400 unit. He was here a few years ago and has been perhaps my favorite singer/songwriter since. His songs feature not only his Alabama twang but also some of the finest lyrics I have heard for many years. To say that I am looking forward to seeing him again is a gross understatement.

But, make no mistake. He is not the only performer on the playbill that will leave you wanting more. Cedric Burnside closes out Friday night with his brand of rocking blues. Burnside comes from a long line of blues singers and if you love blues then you won't want to miss this one. He was nominated for a Grammy in traditional blues this year and it's easy to see why.

Since I was a young man the festival circuit has changed quite a bit. There are quite a few small festivals that give musicians a forum that they would not have had before. For them it is just not as important to have a hit on radio in order for them to be recognized. The blossoming field of Americana is a diverse conglomeration of styles that do not fit neatly into either pop or country and this allows for great diversity in music. The Master Musician's Festival has become adept at recognizing them and bringing them to our stage and this has been a monumental benefit to music lovers and commercial interests in our area. The festival scored The Avett Brothers while they were on their way up and John Prine during what may be his most in demand period in his long career. One of my favorites has been here twice. Robert Randolph and the Family Band bring it with the opening chords and don't give it up until the last one. They have been featured in Eric Clapton's Festival of the Guitar that he does every couple of years or so. To be recognized in the same league with those performers is to walk in tall cotton indeed.

If you haven't heard of or listened to War and Treaty you will want to make this a must see show. Their songs of gospel influenced blues will leave you begging for more. The music will remind you of church. Just not one around here. I became aware of them a few years ago and their popularity has grown steadily since then.

A few years ago the Festival added another stage over in the hollow that features some musicians who maybe are not so well known but there are some surprises to be had there. Bee Taylor was there last year and that woman knows how to rock. She has been seen often locally by those who appreciate her music. She even did a little recording with some local people. This year the Eastwood Stage promises to be more entertaining than ever so you might want to be prepared to walk a little if you don't want to miss a chance at something amazing.

If you haven't heard The Mama Said String Band and you love down home string band music you won't want to miss these ladies. Same goes for Spooky Fox. This guy can get more out of a guitar than most musicians that I have seen.

Image result for Kevin Daulton and the Tuesday Blooms photos
Home town writer and performer Kevin Daulton and the Tuesday Blooms will be on the Eastwood Stage and I will guarantee you that you will be hard put to find a better singer/songwriter anywhere. There is also a special tent set up to feature some other local artists. To my chagrin, I have not heard all of them but I am familiar with Pearlie Jenkins and he is one of the most vivid, incisive writers I have had the pleasure of meeting. I am in awe of people who have the gift of expessiveness and can also put that gift on paper. If they can then perform it then that is very special.

This festival was established by a group of friends some 26 years ago to give local musicians a forum and the way it has met that goal in the past several years is not only gratifying but has been a blessing to those performers who may not get to play the big stage until they develop a larger following. Even if they don't these musicians are often, note for note, the equal of the bigger names. The arts community in Somerset/Pulaski County is far more extensive and talented than I ever could have imagined. People my age despaired that we would ever be able to seen such talent locally but, I can say without reservation, that despair has been washed away by the outpouring of talent and venues to give it voice.

As I have said before, this is the only weekend of the year that I block out everything else and enjoy music and good friends. I have had many of these friends for decades and I enjoy hanging out with them as much as the music.

Many thanks to Tiffany Finley and the Board of Directors who work all year long to bring this gem of a festival to our beautiful area. The job they do as volunteers brings what is very likely the premier festival of its sort.

July 19-20. Be there for a good time.

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