jsinjin - Posted - 08/16/2024:  12:36:50

I live in Texas although that can be a 10 hour drive from place to place. I grew up going to big bend with my family and have done many of the tougher hikes there and love terlingua, alpine and marfa as destinations. But I’ve never been to a bluegrass festival.

bigbendbluegrass.com

This one says they have workshops but I’m not sure if any of it is banjo specific or if any of it is at a level that is for a beginner. Has anyone been to this event and if so what did you think and would there be a benefit to someone wanting to learn banjo playing. I know very little about bluegrass music.

Texasbanjo - Posted - 08/16/2024:  14:27:47

Wish they'd had something like that when we had our place down in Terlingua.

We used to go to Alpine for the hot air balloon races many years ago. Guess the bluegrass festival has taken its place now.

I've never been since they didn't have them there then, but as you know, the scenery is beautiful and you can spend many happy hours just looking around, hiding, biking, etc.

I've love to go, but that's out of the question.

Wonder if the RV park we stayed at is still up and running? Last I heard it has been repossesed and looked like it wasn't being taken care of. That would have been way back in the late 90s. Gee, didn't realize it had been that long.

But, to answer your question, you could all the Alpine C of C and ask them. They could find out from some of the bands if there were any workshops and what level(s) would be worked/taught.

RioStat - Posted - 08/16/2024:  16:59:30

You state that you've "never been to a Bluegrass festival" and that you "know very little about bluegrass music".......here's what I'd do.....take yourself to the festival, leave your banjo at home.

Take a chair, get close as you can to the stage, and watch the groups up on stage, observe how the different instruments contribute to the band and complement each other, especially the banjo, since thats where your interest lies. Watch at least 2 or 3 bands perform, to get a feel for the different styles, sounds, and "synergy" that each individual band, and musicians, bring to the stage. 

At some point, usually after dinner and heading into evening, stroll thru the campgrounds, and hopefully you'll come upon some festival-goers "jammin" at their campsites. Usually, you can approach these jams and watch and listen to them. Sometimes some of the band members that were up on stage will be picking in one of these campfire jams. Watch, listen, and absorb what they're doing, how the musicians and their instruments interact with each other. This is the best way to get familiar with bluegrass music. Also, sometimes the best music you'll hear at a festival is at these improvised little jam sessions.

I've never gotten much out of the "workshops" held at festivals.....they're too short time-wise, too many people, and normally its assumed that those attending a workshop are somewhat proficient (though amateur) musicians. If you want personalized one-on-one instruction take some lessons, then go to one of the established banjo/bluegrass camps, for a week.

For your first festival just go, watch, listen, observe, and immerse yourself in live bluegrass music and culture. 

Edited by - RioStat on 08/16/2024 17:01:32

Mike Thompson - Posted - 08/18/2024:  06:02:45

We’ll be attending this festival, camping at Lost Alaskan RV Park in Alpine. We like Special Consensus who will be there this year.