It surely is fun to be back involved with the Kerrville Festivals, where I worked for years as assistant to the producer and where I lived on the ranch during those years. And to top the fun off, I’m getting to do what I love most — photograph it all!  Many links to click on. And, feel free to upload anything for your own use. Just would appreciate getting the photog credit if you do. Thanks, and see you at 2016 Kerrville Folk Festival.

Dana Louise & The Glorious Birds — Friday. Dana Louise backed by her dad and his friend, who make up Trout Fishing in America

Gretchen Peters — Friday

Shake Russell trio — Friday

Tejas Brothers — Friday. A definite hit!

Tejas Brothers

Ballad Tree – Friday, led by Butch Morgan

Bottom Dollar String Band — Saturday. Made up of young men, three of whom grew up attending the festivals with their parents. Original songs, almost exclusively

Eric Taylor — Saturday

Valdy — Saturday. Canadian folk singer, first appeared at the festival sometime in the early 1980s.

Peter Case — Saturday. This performer was, like the Tejas Brothers had also been, rained out the one night at the Memorial Day-and-beyond weekends on the one night that Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell were to have played. He, like the Tejas Brothers, were invited back.

Dana Cooper — Saturday. Steller performance by this Texas longtimer.

Ballad Tree — Saturday, led by Mike Blakely

Miscellaneous Saturday photos 

Mike Blakely — Sunday. Ahh… finally some Texas country music!

Bluehouse — Sunday, this duo from Australia was perhaps the most dynamic of this festival. Good music, good harmonies, good humor, good fun

Chuck Pyle — Sunday. I’ve been listening to and loving Chuck Pyle since 1974, when he played the Iron Tender in El Paso. He’s always been great, but never as good as he was at this festival.

John Gorka — Sunday. Invited Karen Mal, incredible mandolin picker, on stage with him, as Chuck Pyle had in the previous set.

Ballad Tree, Sunday — Led by Dana Cooper.

Other Sunday photos

Mark Phillips of IIIrd Generation

Press release — MJ’s note:  This event is always held indoors, in air-conditioned comfort, and is very comfortable and friendly, as most (if not all) bluegrass events are. Actually, maybe even more so at Melody Ranch!

We hope you have plans to attend our Deep Summer Bluegrass Festival August 26-29. All events are inside the air conditioned Chrystal Opry House. We have a kick-off potluck supper on Aug. 26 at 6 p.m., which is free for campers. If you aren’t camping and wish to come, please call 903-546-6893 for more information. There will be fellowship and jamming afterwards.

The gospel section of the festival begins at p.m. on Thursday evening, with Tanner Young & Friends, Dueling Hearts, Phil Ferguson & Texas True, and Copper Canyon for that evening.

Friday’s events begin at 1 p.m. with Pearl & the Polka Dots, Janet Schaffer & The Upper Grassmen, Dueling Hearts, and Mark Phillips & IIIrd Generation Bluegrass Band.  The evening performance will begin at 6:00 p.m.

Saturday’s musical events begin at 1 p.m. with Tin Top Road, Southbound Mule, Blue Valley III, and Mark Phillips & IIIrd Generation Bluegrass Band. The evening performances will begin at 6 p.m.

The Chrystal Opry House is located at 1977 White Mound Road, Tom Bean (Sherman), Texas which is 1.5 miles west of Tom Bean or 6 miles east of Howe on FM 902 and a half mile south on White Mound Road.  No alcohol is permitted and there is no smoking inside the building. Seating is provided.

Food is available at the snack bar inside the Opry House during the shows. We serve hamburgers, hot dogs, chopped brisket sandwiches, and during the dinner hour on Friday and Saturday evening, we will serve an enchilada, bean, and rice plate.

Individuals or bands interested in performing at the Chrystal Opry House should contact Bill Hayes at 903-546-6893 or “http://www.chrystalopryhouse.com/“

(“Like” us on face book–chrystalopryhouse and melodyranchbluegrassfestival.com)

Gary P. Nunn and band

Saturday (April 11, 2015) the sleepy little town of Ivanhoe came alive with sounds of music, sounds of children and their adult people laughing, and sounds of volunteers hoping to make a little income to help Save Lake Fannin for their own use. Lake Fannin, for those who don’t quite know, the National Forestry Service shut down Lake Fannin, which was the lake that was former Speaker of the House, Mr. Sam Rayburn’s, legacy! Volunteers work continuously not only in raising funds, but to keep portions of the lake available for public use. This takes money and time. And the Saturday event was one of the fundraisers held to help with this project.

Three bands played, plus it was Charlie Manhart who opened with what he calls his “once-a-year” voice. Following were the Sons of Fannin, Chase Sanford Band, and

Cristyn Manhart, organizer of all things music

Gary P. Nunn and his Bunkhouse Boys. There were vendors all around with wares that included classic rustic items, new cars and tractors, barbecue, and more.

Another fundraiser, for another cause, will be held Oct. 24 on the same grounds in beautiful downtown Ivanhoe, this one with Charlie Robison headlining, and also the local favorite Chance Cody & Spur 503, maybe more. Save the date.

All of the success is the result of hard work on the part of many interested people who chose to get involved!

People, vendors, and such… pix

Music of Charlie Manhart and the Gary P. Nunn impromptu choir… see the pix to understand.

Sons of Fannin photos

Chase Sanford Band photos

Gary P. Nunn & Bunkhouse Boys photos

Dang, it takes a long time to go through thousands of photos and pick the best few for you. But, I hope you find these worthwhile.

Friday, May 29

Saturday, May 30

Sunday, May 31

Also, Sunday — New Folk winners concert