Remember the Broken Arrow?

Every year, the weekend after Labor Day, they host a Bluegrass Music Festival. It is not hugely advertised as it is not really for spectators. It is an informal gathering and three day jam session for those who love to play bluegrass. We dropped in on them last night, with Brojer who is visiting this weekend, and what a treat that was!

This is an annual congregation of all levels of bluegrass musicians, from amateur to some of the finest in the country. The location is the Broken Arrow campground and RV park in Gibbonsville. We were a little surprised to find the usually empty grounds an absolute maze of trailers, vans, square white tents, little log cabins. crappy old trucks, shiny new $40,000 trucks, porta potties, tent trailers and many smiling faces in winter coats, cowboy hats and lawn chairs.

Groups of musicians would gather in the space between two trailers, or around a campfire, and just begin to play. We heard some fabulous music, from soft and mellow to lively and rousing.

It was dark when we arrived and covertly slipped on to a log by a fire where some gentle music was being shared by a group of 6 mellow musicians. It was calm and relaxing, the stars overhead, cool mountain air on the face, the crinkle of our new winter coats and a crackling fire in the foreground. We enjoyed sitting and listening to this unfamiliar, but catchy, music and watching all the artist types and native mountain types. Someone handed a violin (fiddle) to a youth, maybe he was 20. The curley blonde haired boy demurred at first, then said 'oh, I don't know... He took the bow and struck a strong test chord...our ears pricked up...He scooted over toward the other musicians and said shyly 'let's do 'Snowshoes'. He then lit out into a vibrantly colored, fast paced and confident played piece of lively music. The various guitars, mandolins and string bass accompanied him with improvised rhythm and harmony; we spectators spontaneously started clapping along. It was a delightful moment!

We then drifted to a tent where some obviously very experienced players were warming up. Their performances were mesmerizing and we stayed for some time. The banter between the musicians was good natured and full of humor - it was obvious they were in love with their craft, and enjoying each other's presence.

When it was time to wander home we all felt warmed in our hearts, as much by the music as the ever present expressions of the goodness in human nature we encounter over and over again here in this hidden and beautiful little valley.