Yesterday we spent a great afternoon and evening outdoors listening to bluegrass music.
Harlene visited us from Mankato, specifically so we could attend the Backbone Bluegrass Festival. It’s located about three miles straight south of Strawberry Point and very near Backbone State Park—and thus the name, no doubt.
There was practically non-stop music from 1:15 until 10:15, although we left about 8:30. Four guest groups entertained in 45-minute sets. Between the afternoon and evening sessions, there were six “volunteer” groups who performed. They, too, were quite good!
The setting is a small wooded area which also serves as a cow pasture. (That could be easily proven.) It’s a hilly area, so the hills provide natural “stadium seating.” Down in the “holler” there’s a stage for the performers, constructed to look very much like a porch!
It is the perfect setting for such an event.
The first picture shows most of the appreciative crowed.
Audience at Backbone Bluegrass Festival, 2012
Here’s the neat stage:
The Stage at Backbone Bluegrass Festival
The featured group was Southern Gentlemen from Alabama.
Another group hailed from SE Minnesota, with members from Byron and Rochester, plus a 20-year-old banjo player from Chatfield. He was GOOD! Here’s a video of them, from YouTube, not from yesterday’s performance.
Next year’s event will be July 26, 27, 28. If you enjoy bluegrass music, put it on your calendar now!
Here’s their website: http://backbonebluegrass.com/