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Thousands jam Grey Fox

Hudson Catskill Newspapers

DURHAM — The venue may have changed, but a crowd numbering in the thousands once again arrived this year to camp out for the four-day Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival.

For the past 31 years, the Grey Fox Festival was held on a farm nearer the Berkshires than the Catskills, on the Rothvoss Farm in Ancramdale, Columbia County.

The 2008 festival, however, is being held at the Walsh Farm in Oak Hill, off Oak Hill Road, and the crowd is “larger than ever,” according to festival officials.

More than 8,000 people had gathered there by Friday afternoon and cars bearing tags from Canada, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Maine and from all over New York, were still converging on the festival grounds, located in rolling hilly country with the main stage on a natural amphitheater against a backdrop of heat hazed Catskills.

Temperatures Friday soared into the lower 90s, but failed to wilt festival spirits and the fun and enjoyment of people who genuinely love the music that originated in the Appalachian Mountains.

The instruments of choice are primarily violin, mandolin and guitar, with an addition of drums and occasional brass instruments filtered through blues and jazz.

The festival has an international flavor, with folks from as far away as Germany, France and Canada thronging the midway where everything from ice to haircuts can be found.

Most popular of all the vendor stalls are those selling mandolins, violins and guitars, as well as instrumental accessories. There also were plenty of clothing, jewelry, gem rock and other vendors.

Food offerings for sale range from ice cream and iced confectioneries, to Maryland crab-cakes, Thai cooking, sandwiches and burgers, and — of course — barbecue.

Some of the children’s activities included square and circle dancing under the large white dance pavilion tent keep youngsters and oldsters alike dancing and stomping to the strains of the group, John Kirk, Trish Miller and the Fiddlestyx of Baltimore, with caller Miller leading the dancers through the intricate steps that are today’s direct descendent of English Dancing Master John Playford’s 1651 square and circle and contra dancing exposition.

The dance pavilion is fitted out with a wooden dancing floor that encourages dancers to stomp and romp at their best. Activities in the Dance Stage Friday kicked off with Yoga with Lucy Weberling and Kindling Stone; Clogging with John Kirk and Trish Miller, followed by Fiddlestyx, Adrienne Young and Liddle Sadie and Friends, Uncle Earl, the Infamous Stringbusters, The Wilders, Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys.

For the bluegrass music enthusiast interested in learning more about their favorite genre, The Grass Roots Tent Friday hosted “Bluegrass Jam 101” with Pete and Joan Wernick, “Harmony Singing 101” with Jeff Horton and Mary Maguire; “Mandolin Technique” with Brian Aldridge, “Guitar 101” with Tony Watt; “Banjo 101” with Bill Keith, “Fiddle 101” with Andrew VanNostrand; “Dobro 101” with Pete Reichwein and Alex Sens; “Acoustic Bass 101” with Jeff Horton and Friends. The Grass Roots stage that night was open for jams from festival-goers, compliments of Nechville Musical Products.

There is also a family stage, hosted by the event company and the Greene County Department of Tourism.

They come well equipped to handle several nights’ stay, most with tents, folding chairs and all kinds of camping gear. Others arrive in motor homes and vehicles pulling camping trailers and a great many of those have brought their own portable shower stalls.

The majority, however, come equipped with one-to-eight-occupant tents, with folding tables and chairs, their own cook stoves and ice chests. Many, if not most, bring in their own food and drinks, but also check out the food vendors, and other wares available for purchase on the midway.

Friday’s entertainers on the main stage included the Chatham County Line, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Greencards, Uncle Earl and ever popular Tim O’Brien; The Grascals, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet, The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience, Del McCoury Band and Infamous Stringbusters, with Tim O’Brien. The lineup for Friday’s masters’ stage entertainers included Gravity, Songwriting with Adrienne Young, Kristin Andreassan and Sarah Siskind, Sarah Jarosz, the Chatham County Line, Ron Thomason, Old Time Country with the Wilders, Banjo Masters Bela Fleck, Pete Wernick, Bill Keith and Chris Pandolfi, and Mando Madness: David Grissman, Ronnie McCourtney and Sarah Jorosz.

Today’s events, will be much the same in all areas, with the addition in the main stage of Dan Paisley and the Southern Grass, The Gibson Brothers, Hot Rize and special guests, the Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush Bands through until 11:30 p.m., while the masters’ stage will feature karaoke with Kitsy Kuykendall and Friends and other groups.

The dance pavilion will see the addition of the Red Stick Ramblers and Red Knuckles, while the bluegrass tent will feature programs similar to those held Friday.

Entertainment, Saturday, on the family stage, will also include crafts and jewelry making, balloons and juggling with Tom Lilly, creative dance with Stephanie Anderson, “Banjer Dan,” a magic show with Tom Lilly and Beowulf the Wonder Bunny; Gary, the Silent Clown; Ventriloquist Steve Charney and Harry; “Astrograss for Kids,” Cristo Lewis, “Fiddlin’ and Singin’ with Lew Gelfond, Waffles the Clown, movies and snacks.

The festival ends Sunday.

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