Charlotte Bluegrass Festival

At the Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival, last June. I do believe he's spotted me. Edgar played bass for IIIrd Tyme Out for nearly seven years. Since I took this photo he's set out on his own, in partnership with Dave Adkins .

Eaton County Fairgrounds, Charlotte, Michigan.

Those of you who follow me on Flickr know that I've been attending the Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival for over three decades. Most years the festival follows a day or two after our St. Ignace vacation. The idea for my 366 Snaps photo last June 21 was to wander around the Eaton County Fairgrounds until I found something interesting--in the concert area, or the campground, or elsewhere on the grounds. I had a notion I could get the shot in before the players began because at that point I'd be using the big camera and trying to capture the bands "on film." I really didn't need any little-camera complications. I chose to post a project photograph (it's below) of The Sound Guys--the skinny seated guy is Ralph, the stocky shorter guy is Jimmy, and I've forgot the other name--getting the equipment configured before the concerts began. (This year's festival, under new management, had a new sound team. Sad, but such is life.) I rarely shoot candids, and didn't include many people in 366 Snaps. This photo worked well, I think. ========= The microphone photo doesn't really need any explanation, now does it? You can see a bit of the old stage, which seems to have been converted from a house trailer. Without a band the mikes look naked. ========== This photograph is an outtake from my 2012 photo-a-day project, 366 Snaps . Number of project photos taken: 22 Title of " roll :" Eaton County Fairgrounds Other photos taken on 6/21/2012: Mostly I shot pix of the bands on the stage. Some got posted to Flickr .

For many bluegrass fans the real point of a festival is the opportunity to get together with friends in the parking lot. There's always someone picking a banjo or mando or guitar in the campground during the festival. After dark there are little pockets of players scattered through the camp. The playing starts in the morning and never lets up until the last player falls asleep in the wee small hours of the next morn. ========== As on the 21st, I wandered around the fairgrounds last June 22 looking for photo ops. The 366 Snaps photo found a trainer working out a horse on the fairgrounds track. ========== This photograph is an outtake from my 2012 photo-a-day project, 366 Snaps . Number of project photos taken: 21 Title of " roll :" Eaton County Fairgrounds Other photos taken on 6/22/2012: Repeating myself! Mostly I shot pix of the bands on the stage. Some got posted to Flickr .

35th Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival

35th Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival

35th Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival. Kenny plays with Rhonda Vincent these days; long ago was one of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys.

35th Charlotte (MI) Bluegrass Festival

Taken at the Charlotte [Michigan] Bluegrass Festive, June 21, 2007. Blair Heddle on the Dobro (see below). I posted a few pics from the Charlotte festival last June; they didn't draw much attention. I'm fairly pleased with some of them, and have decided to post a few others, and/or different versions of the earlier pix.

Our host--the organizer of the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival. This set is often fuzzy on the bottom because I was shooting through a crowd with a long lens; those are the backs of peoples' heads. Far from ideal conditions, but I was having fun anyway.

Tommy and Rachel Brown of County Line Bluegrass ; Charlotte (Michigan) Bluegrass Festival, 2007.

Paul Williams and the Victory Trio celebrating the Lord at the 2007 Charlotte Bluegrass Festival. That's Paul's mandolin.

Bluegrass fan, at the 2007 Charlotte, Michigan, Bluegrass Festival.

James and Marcie Malicote of the Bluegrass Thoroughbreds (and a youngster I can't identify; likely related, though) behind the stage at the Charlotte (Michigan) Bluegrass Festival.

Jimmy Kittle running the sound board at the Charlotte, Michigan, Bluegrass Festival.

Rhonda Vincent , of course, at the 2007 Charlotte Bluegrass Festival, with Kenny Ingram behind and Hunter Berry's hands. Rhonda's surprisingly aware of the cameras in the crowd, and mugs for us....

More bluegrass fans at the 2007 Charlotte (Michigan) Festival.