Just Grass News 20 Aug. 07

Patrick Russell of Just Grass reports:

Hello bluegrass fans and friends of Just Grass!

This spring and early summer has been exciting for Just Grass and bluegrass music. Our show for the Wiesloch German / American was a wonderful time of music, fun, and great food. Mike Biley cooked up some wonderful BBQ ribs which were a big hit by all. What started out as cloud cover opened up into a beautiful day. Some of you saw Just Grass for the first time and it was nice meeting all of you. We had a near-fatal accident when the wind blew the upright bass over and our sweet-sounding bass broke in half. But banjo-playing Jay jumped into action, showing all of us he has multiple skills, and coming back with a back-up bass. We finished the show and all had a good time. The broken bass has since been repaired and all is well.

Several of our shows recently have been private shows. We played two birthday parties, one at the Rod and Gun Club in Oftersheim, and one at a residence in Wiesloch. Both shows had wonderful audiences and very enthusiastic in their support. We didn't break anything during these shows! :) We used Bob's sound system for the R&G show and it worked out very well. At the residence, we played our first gig in the old gypsy style... no sound system.
Playing without a sound system prepared us for our first concert on the riverboat Heidelberg on August 3rd. We played for the IMCOM-Europe Team and Mr Hall and all his staff were a wonderful audience. I have wanted to do a bluegrass show on a riverboat ever since I was a child, when my friend was playing a regular gig on the Tennessee River back home.
The fourth of August saw us back at the Rod and Gun Club for the Heidelberg German / American friendship meeting. Rick, our host, proved he also could cook by barbecuing the Texan-style brisket that would melt in your mouth. Although this was a semi-private event, a few of you still found you way over to listen to some live bluegrass. It was nice to see familiar faces and hope you all had a good time.

Future shows look like this.

31 Aug. - Tentative; I am working with the PHV - VP lounge to play bluegrass for their upcoming Right Arm Night. I will let you know when this show is locked in.

8th Sept. - Locked; we are playing gypsy-style (without sound system) at the MPRI group friendship gathering. I have to be at this one, cause it's at my house! :)

14 Sept. - Locked; we are playing in Heidelberg on Patrick Henry Village (PHV), starting at 18:30 hours, in support of the 'Run for your Life' event that's taking place there. This is a public event and should be loads of fun, plus you can walk/run to support them or just listen to our music.

13 Oct. - Locked; this gig takes us to Landau, near Karlsruhe, to play at a fraternity gathering. Not sure if this is open to the public, but the venue sounds awesome! More to follow as I learn more about this gig.

We look forward to seeing you all at upcoming gigs. Stop by and say hi, and maybe we can play a tune together if you are a picker?