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.
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.
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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