OK, folks, I need some rapid-response here. Jason and I have spoken at length on the phone, and I've spoken with his manager. We are taking the next step here and floating a somewhat firmer proposal, which I sketch out below.
The key question is which weekend. Late May now looks like the best time. The event will start midday on a Saturday and run through Sunday evening. (Sunday evening is the traditional time for blues get-togethers in north Mississippi. Junior Kimbrough's juke always rocked on Sunday nights.)
His manager and I have provisionally agreed on May 22-23.
But the following weekend is Memorial Day Weekend, so if I had VERY strong response for that here, I would go back to Mary and ask if that's possible. That would be May 29-30.
Before I describe the weekend, I'll make my plea: if you think that there's a good-to-excellent chance you might attend this thing, please email me (asgussow@aol.com). Put "Hill Country Harmonica" in the headline. Let me know whether you have a strong preference for one or both weekends, or whether each works equally well.
I know that some of you have already emailed in response to an earlier query, but this is the real query, because we're starting to talk about dates.
Here's the event, starting with the participants:
Satan & Adam (w/Dave on Drums) Jason Ricci (without his band) Eric Deaton Band (to back up Jason and work with jammers) Terry "Harmonica" Bean (Mississippi-based guitar/harp/vocals/one-man-band Brandon Bailey (needs no introduction) Billy Gibson (has expressed interest; will be brought in if registration #s justifies it)
Price: $125-150.
--begin at noon on Saturday with a meetup at "the crossroads" on Old Sardis Road in rural Lafayette County. Mass jam, chance to look at freshly-planted cotton, incredible photo op, etc. Among other things, this will be a chance for YouTube friends, students, and disciples of Jason and Adam to experience themselves as a real (as opposed to virtual) community in the unparalleled blues-land of rural Mississippi
--mass drive 15 miles up to Foxfire Ranch, where BBQ lunch and cold beer will be available
--Adam, Jason, Brandon, and Terry will give lecture-style and breakout clinics over the course of Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday on every conceivable aspect of blues harmonica. Terry will give attendees a chance to jam one on one with his fierce driving solo guitar & foot. The Eric Deaton Band will give attendees a chance to jam in a band context
--performances by Satan & Adam, Jason w/Eric Deaton, Terry Bean (solo and possibly with Brandon Bailey). Brandon will demo his solo looped post-contemorary Memphis harmonica style.
--Here's a video of Terry Bean:
--Here's a video of Brandon:
--Here's a video of Satan & Adam doing "Little Red Rooster" last summer:
--Here's a video of Eric Deaton and his band. That is the North Mississippi sound!
--The focus will be on integrating traditional and contemporary approaches to the harmonica--the down-home and the modern-as-hell, you might say, with a heavy stress on groove and feeling. Jason and I will be sharing everything we know, but you already knew that. And we will be listening to YOU. We will be asking you to play for us in every conceivable way and we will be telling you what we hear and what we think you should work on.
--This is a no-frills event for harmonica enthusiasts. The clinics and performances will all be held OUTDOORS, under the gazebo of an amazing structure that Bob Hollowell has erected on his property at Foxfire Ranch. It's good rain or shine. Great PA system! Lunch and dinner will be available for $8 to $10 a meal, both days. Bob and his wife Annie cook great! Lots of cheap cold beer will be available for purchase, and you may BYOB if you wish.
--Except for the fact that we don't want y'all breaking down the fences and don't expect quite as much nudity (or mud), the spirit of Woodstock will hopefully prevail: memorable music, memorable fellowship, memorable location, memorable experience.
--Plenty of motel rooms available for $69 a night at the Days Inn, etc., in nearby Holly Springs, MS. (About 5 miles away.)
--Satan and Adam will probably be playing in Oxford on the Friday night, too.
That's it. That's what I'm trying to organize. If you think you'd like to attend, please email me and specifically tell me whether the weekend of May 22-23 will work. If May 29-30 is better, tell me that. And if both work equally well, let me know that too.
This sounds awesome, and i'm not only gonna ask my boss(Mrs. Greene), but I will share the link with the rest of our club and see if there's any interest. Thanks for perservering, Adam.
Agreeing with Oliver, it sounds like an excellent event, just a bit to far for me in the UK. I can imagine it would be great for all levels of player.
Hope everyone that attends, both visitors and musicians, have a great time, and hopefully they'll be a good selection of vids for us all to view afterwards.
im down for sure as long as i can afford the travel expenses. i think ill get enough by then. meeting up at the crossroads sounds like an awesome idea. i guess ill have to rent a car an drive down. adam how long of a drive is it from mississippi to philly/jersey? ----------
There is a very good chance that I'll be able to attend, but I may have to sort out a car share scheme with one of you fellas. Jon, would you be up for that: I pay half of the car for the duration of the event?
There is just one thing I've got to check before I fly 3 or 4,000 miles: whether I can smoke indoors in that state. I know the event is outdoors, but I might extend my trip/stay a little, and I really hate stepping out to smoke all the time.
Still, I'm not trying to start a smoking debate. I'm just saying it's a really big deal to me, especially if I'm going all that way. I'll try to find the link that Buzadero put up a few weeks back in my busking thread that had the info I need. ---------- YouTube SlimHarpMick
I'm in. Only an 8 hour drive, that would be more than worth it. If it is on memorial day weekend, then I can be there for the whole thing. I'll be coming from the Louisville area if anyone wants to carpool. Looks like there's a national forest nearby, so I can camp too!
@ mick ya ill split the rental. if any one else wants to get in too an split the price down even more. maybe ill rent a mini van. where are you from mick? ----------
Last Edited by on Jan 14, 2010 4:01 PM
I'm from London, Jon. I've found the link on smoking, and am just taking a break from reading it. I think I'll just stop for a smoke, too. ---------- YouTube SlimHarpMick
I'll be flying into Little Rock and driving from there..If anyone wants to share a car. Flying to L.R. as opposed to Memphis is MUCH cheaper. I'll probably get a motel in Holly Springs or a cabin in the National Park....they are available. Coming in Friday to see Satan and Adam that night I think. ---------- Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
Adam, I've been playing about a year, following your videos and reading this forum. My question is: Since I consider myself a low intermediate player, is there a place at this event for someone who may not be as advanced as most in this forum? I would love to hear you and Jason, and even learn alittle but wouldn't want to be a fish out of water, so to say. It isn't that it would hurt my ego if you thought I would be better off elsewhere since this would be my first such event. Peace.
daz: I've been playing several years but still consider myself to be an intermediate player and have only recently decided to leave my "comfort zone" and improve my playing. I'm planning to attend. ---------- Ozark Rich
@daz: Excellent question. The event Jason and I envision is NOT reserved exclusively for advanced players. In that specific respect, it's more like a Gindick camp: we want to make a space for players of all levels. In fact, I'll say right now: advanced players who want ONLY advanced concepts should not come. Exclusivity will have no place at this event. A true community has a place for many varieties of student/pilgrim. Think the Haj at Mecca. Nobody says "You can't come on the Haj because you haven't been a Muslim long enough".
Hasn't Jason put a number of lessons for beginners on YouTube? Haven't I put a number of lessons for beginners up in the MBH store? Have you viewed one of those lessons--or purchased one of those lessons? Do you want to know what the songs sound like live? We will give you that. Have you been playing a year and do you want to meet other journeyers who have been playing for one year? Have you been playing for five or ten or fifteen years and do you want to be pushed to a new level by watching Jason and me push each other to a new level on the stage? You will get that. Do you want to hear some Mississippi blues played on guitar and harmonica, and sung, by a Mississippi native who is one of the best Mississippi bluesmen of his generation? Terry Harmonica Bean will give you that.
Or do you just want to sit back, watch harmonica players all day, drink beer, shoot video, and hear incredible harmonica music into the evening hours while the sweet scent of Mississippi--not the steamy Delta, but the fragrant hill country--blossoms all around you and the drums boom-echo in the hills? You'll get that, too, if that's what you want.
Solid, I'm there no ifs ands or buts about it. Anybody coming through or leaving from around Chicago? If not I'm gonna have to rent a car too I think. Phogi, I think I'm gonna be camping as well, wheres that forest?
@wallyns10: Actually, I'm REALLY glad you raised the question about camping.
Wall Doxey State Park is less than 4 miles from Foxfire Ranch. It's between Foxfire and Holly Springs, right on Rt. 7. It has campsites. They're much cheaper than motel rooms. That is the way to go, my friends. This event is going to happen, and it's going to be memorable.
Here's the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Doxey_State_Park
Last Edited by on Jan 14, 2010 9:44 PM
It's too far from Belgium, but the event sounds supergreat. I wish you all a very good time !
EDIT : after some research, the plane tickets are much less expensive than I thought ! I won't make it this year, but if it becomes a recurrent thing, maybe next time, who knows ?
Last Edited by on Jan 15, 2010 1:30 AM
I just did the math - I can't get there from here, short of sneaking into OldWailer's suitcase. The event price and lodging is really fairly and nicely priced, it's the flying there from Seattle round trip that kills me. I feel a blues song practically writing itself right here while I think about it out loud on the internet.
Hi Guys, I will be coming to the event from London. I have checked the ticket prices yesterday and apparently you can get a flight for £350!!! It cost me more to fly to Russia and it is only 3 hour journey. Anyway, UK based folks kepp this info in mind. We can get on the same flight and possible share a car.
Hey guys..if you are flying....compare rates. I found, from here...It is MUCH cheaper to fly to Little Rock...It's only a little farther of a drive. ---------- Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
@ Jon-no, no bear. Coyote, bobcat,raccoon and rattlesnakes, though-but they only attack yankees with tattoos, so no worries;-). As for camping, that far north in the state will probably yield overnight temps in the 70s, and it'll get anywhere from the low 80s to low 90s during the day, and HUMID. Depending on how many I go with(and whether I bring my fair lady)I may attempt it, but camping there is not for those who like it cool at night, like me, but I might man up. I'll check around for campsites and post my findings.
Last Edited by on Jan 15, 2010 4:26 AM
@Leon, is that price flying from London into Memphis? I'd like to attend the event if funds will allow, and would be interested in sharing a car if so..
@todd: Actually, the weather at that time of year is slightly milder than that. You're thinking New Orleans weather, but Oxford's weather isn't as bad. (Oxford is 20 miles south of Foxfire Ranch.) I checked WeatherUnderground.com. The average high and low for May 22nd are 82 and 60. The actual daily high and low for the last three years for that day were:
Haha, I just checked Weather.com for my info...either way, it's tolerable, but I like the wunderground numbers better! Ten degrees makes a world of difference when it comes to camping. Awaiting responses from my Crescent City Harmonica Club flock-I think it would be a fun road trip!
It sounds AWESOME! But alas, the economy has hit me particularly hard. So I'm not gonna be able to make it, despite the tremedous value offered. Several years back, and I'm there in a heartbeat.
Already jealous of those who will be able to attend. Best of luck with the whole thing Adam.
I plan on being there. I'm taking a new job in New Orleans next month, so I'm not sure about getting 2 weekends off in a row. My daughter gets married Memorial weekend. I guess I need to go to that, since I'm giving her away. Hey Todd, I hope to meet some of you guy's from the Crescent City club once I move down. I have a lot of camping equipment and a pickup, so I could haul another rider from New Orleans. I would have enough tent space to sleep an additional 5 or 6 people.
Ok I'm there!! I can get my work details together in plenty of time. Jon, I'm in Baltimore, if you wanna Bus down to the Baltimore Terminal I'm going to drive from here. Plan on leaving Baltimore Thursday Late evening after rush hour back by Monday night Friday Night we can go out and party at whatever gig Adam & Jason cook up. Would help tag team driving if you can drive stick. Ryan? How Bout you?
sorry Kudzu...Thanks, I missed it in all the posts. Good info;I wanted to send out an actual campground name to the club folks. Trying to be as persuasive as possible.
Last Edited by on Jan 15, 2010 9:21 AM
Just to let everybody know: at this point, less than 24 hours after I've put out the call, I've had quite a few responses. The May 22-23 and 29-30 weekends are running a dead heat, with 30 people expressing strong interest in the first weekend and 30 people expressing strong interest in the second weekend.
Actually, I should clarify. I created an Excel spreadsheet. If somebody said, "Yes! I'm good for both weekends," I put "1" in both columns. If they said "I'm 50% likely for the first weekend and can't make the second weekend," I put a .5 in the first column and a 0 in the second column. A total of 35 people expressed strong specific interest, in other words, in one or both weekends.
I'm pretty convinced this thing will fly. If I haven't heard from you yet via email and you have strong interest in one of both weekends, please email me: asgussow@aol.com
Thanks very much to all who have emailed me already. Your excitement is stoking mine.
Last Edited by on Jan 15, 2010 8:14 AM
Grrr.. I'm away for a short while only to return and read about this event idea knowing I won't be able to make it. I'm very jealous. I would love to attend if there was a way. I know this may be jumping the gun but if this thing goes off swimmingly, then I could only hope a second stab would be made the following year. Adam- I send well wishes and good juju to you during the process of putting this thing together.
Loaf of bread and pack of bologna? check Pillow and blanket for the sleepover in my vehicle? check All my harps/camera/wallet/etc? check
Oh Im already dancing a jig in the warm spring air, putting faces to names and soaking it all in. Great bargain Adam. all: Hello, my name is Kyzer Sosa and I WILL be seeing those of you who will attend...
I've been going over in my head...how to set up my "carry on" so all my needed gear stays with ME on the plane. LOL ---------- Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
