Photo by Kelley Gibson
On July 15-18 Katy Daley attended her first Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival on Walsh Farm in Oak Hill, N.Y. Katy shared Main Stage emcee duties with Nick Barr, Bill Knowlton, and Stan Zdonik. Below, several contributors (Kelley Gibson, Bob Perilla, Joan Kornblith, Katy Daley) share their photos from the event that Katy describes as “the Grey Fox Spirit– the perfect blend of music, learning and community.”
| This year’s schedule included performances from:
Del McCoury Band |
|---|
The Full Bluegrass Experience
Even before leaving your front door it’s easy to see why Grey Fox won the 2009 Bluegrass Event of the Year. Their website could be published as The Complete Camper’s Guide to Attending and Enjoying a Bluegrass Festival.” It goes far beyond the standard website info: directions, line-up, ticket prices, etc. and includes, among other things, a list of what (and what not) to bring plus suggestions on how to be a better camping neighbor,
A highly competent staff and an army of volunteers are to thank for running the festival like clock-work. There doesn’t seem to be any detail overlooked. There’s a Master Stage for workshops, mini-concerts, and conversations with the artists.
The Dance Tent opens at 10am with Festival Yoga run by Lucy Weberling to work out the kinks brought by those camping lumps and bumps. Later in the day you can take a few lessons or dance the night away to live bands. The Family Stage features crafts and shows for all ages.
And while I don’t want to take anything away from the world-class talent on the Main Stage, perhaps the most impressive program is Grey Fox’s Bluegrass Academy for Kids. That’s a free, four-day learning program designed to teach kids (ages 8-17) to sing, play and perform bluegrass music. A standing ovation, please, for the BGA Staff: Brian Wicklund, Ellen Carlson, Lew Gelfond, Ira Gitlin, Cathy Goode, Louis Kaplan, Chris Panfil, Mark Panfil, Akira Otsuka and Ben Pearce.
And after years of attending festivals and outdoor events all over the country, may I add a very special thank you to Grey Fox Producer Mary Doub for insisting on the cleanest porta-potties on the planet.
Mark your calendars for next year: Grey Fox, Oak Hill, NY July 14-17, 2011.
- Katy
Check out Tom Thorpe’s photos in the video slideshow below.
Click on the photos below to view larger versions and read Katy’s captions
-
- Main Stage Banner
