The extraordinary and surprising band mutations have taken a serious uptick. First it was the Jerry Douglas, Viktor Krauss, Omar Hakim trio mysteriously turning into a quintet with the addition of Alex Hargreaves and Bryan Sutton for a version of Edgar Meyer’s “Unfolding”. Bryan exited and Bela sat in for a version of “Pushed Too Far”. Bela stayed on to drive the Chick Corea classic “Spain”. Not content to be left out, Peter Rowan and Sam Bush came on stage to sing “Sittin on top of the World”.
By far the most dramatic turn was during Sam Bush’s set last night where a seamingly harmless cover of “Maggie May” set forth a landslide of mandolin players. Tim O’Brien, Chris Thile, and Drew Emmit took turns with the mandolin line that makes the tune unforgettable. Later the stage was burdened even more with the addition of Edgar Meyer, his son George and wife Connie along with Alex Hargreaves, Sarah Jarosz, and Dominick Leslie. They all took a rollicking turn on “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”.
Pointed questions to Planet Bluegrass staff about secret mountain springs where musicians are given sips of holy water were replied with a cryptic”We can neither confirm nor deny”.
The set by Imelda May set the crowd on fire. This Dublin based blues, R&B and rockabilly singer held the crowd in her palm as she stalked the stage belting out classics and newly written material.
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You will hear more from this woman. She is a force of nature.
Local radio station KOTO is streaming the festival.
