Text and photos by Lilly PavlakIn the south-west of the Czech Republic, near the German border, the second oldest European festival, Bluegrass Marathon, started last weekend (3–5 September 2010). I wanted to go there at least for the last fifteen years and finally made it. One of the last white spots on my Czech bluegrass map disappeared.
Bluegrass Village Borovany welcomes youBorovany is a small village near Tachov, at the end of a road, with population about fifty. Each year for the first September weekend, multiply ten times the number of its inhabitants and it turns into a real bluegrass village. An inimitable atmosphere reigns there. Most people know each other and have been coming there for years, and the few new faces feel here at home soon. The event is located around two old farms and their farmhouses. The former old cultural house is available in case of rain.
MC Jerry SterbaIn the last thirty years almost all Czech bands have played here. The only one that had participated every year since the beginning is the cult band
COP. The 30th festival started Friday already, with local bands such as
Carrabina,
Twisted Timber,
Fryda & Co.,
Apple,
Chval Brothers Quintet,
High Grass, and
Jam Station. Jam sessions took place around the clock, everywhere. That’s why it is called BG Marathon...

I arrived Saturday noon; short before the first band,
Veget, came on stage. On the afternoon program stand bands like
Flashback,
Kvintet,
Handl,
Bluegrass Cwrkot,
Album, and the
New Section – Nova Sekce.
Flashback
Kvintet
Bluegrass Cwrkot
The farmhouse

The rain came with Album
Beware of bad women
Blue Ground on stageThe evening started with the modern American country band
Blue Ground, whose members came originally from different bluegrass bands, like Vabank Unit, Cop, and so on.
Soldier's joy

ModrotiskWyrton you had the opportunity to see at EWOB (Holland) or La Roche (France);
Modrotisk – another legendary band.


The only 'foreign' band was
Grass Country (above) from Slovakia, also no strangers to the most of you.
BrzdariLast two were the traditional beautifully singing
Brzdari (the Breakmen) and
Blue Gate with the female leader and bass player
Ilona Leichtova.
Jam in the farmhouseMany jam sessions followed. Till the dawn and some even till the noon.





The audience for the Sunday programme
COP from Pilsen, for the 30th time on the festival stage
Cop with Robert KrestanNew this year was the Sunday double concert with the two most successful bands, Cop and
Druha Trava, who play lately often together. That was for many the festival highlight and a lot of extra people came for this. The area was quite full. Cop started with their old hits and audience was singing along. As guest came
Robert Krestan on stage and they sang together 'White horses'.



Robert Krestan & Druha TravaThen Robert Krestan & Druha Trava played their set and as guests
Jirka Vopava and
Misa Leicht (the frontman of COP) sang together with Druha Trava. At the grand finale both bands performed together. An unforgettable experience!
Double banjo: Lubos Malina and Martin Fridrich
Misa Leicht and Druha Trava
Robert Krestan & Druha Trava
Jirka Vopava and Robert Krestan
The grand finale: COP and Druha Trava
... and the festival was over!Many encores followed and after more then three hours the concert was over. It was a phenomenal festival. I was very pleased to make it finally there!
Thanks to all promoters, sponsors, all the performing musicians, who played there just for travel money and all the people of Borovany, the Bluegrass Village. Hope to be able to come back again next year!