The Red Rocks are Alive with the Sound of Bluegrass
Sedona Bluegrass Festival 2008
by Hillary Smythe
Chamber Music Sedona's 25th anniversary season will soon come to a resounding close with a five-day residency featuring five of bluegrass' finest pickers, strummers, bowers, and pluckers - a.k.a.
Psychograss, April 30-May 4.
Psychograss has been described as, "... five of the most virtuosic and creative progressive bluegrassers
around," with a "whimsical, goofball attitude," and "it'll make you gasp one minute and laugh out loud the next."
Members include mandolinist and Chamber Music Sedona artistic advisor Mike Marshall, fiddler Darol Anger, guitarist David Grier, banjoist Tony Trischka, and bassist Todd Phillips.
"The 25th season has been one filled
with artistic diversity and brilliant performances," said Bert Harclerode, CMS
executive director. "Psychograss' five-day residency will reach out across the community with multiple points of entry for the bluegrass aficionado to the curious."
Psychograss is featured in multiple activities, with an Informance at the synagogue, four in-school concerts, a bluegrass bbq and concert, workshops in Flagstaff, and a Sunday festival featuring four bands.
"These are five of the very finest
chamber and bluegrass musicians that have come to town," said CMS trustee and local musician Chris Seymour.
"I call them chambergrass artists. Each of these artists has a very special history with multiple connections to everyone from Jerry Garcia and David Grisman to Willey Nelson and Edgar Meyer."
The schedule includes:
Wed., April 30, 7 p.m., at The Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, 100 Meadowlark Dr., at Highway 179. Psychograss will give a 60-minute presentation including dialogue and performance. Admission is two cans of food to be donated to the Old Towne Mission.
Thursday and Friday, Psychograss will perform concerts for the students at four Sedona schools.
Thursday, May 1, 5:30-9 p.m., Psychograss will mingle with guests at a local ranch - dining, schmoozing, conversing, and from 8:30-9:00 p.m., exchanging musical notes in a performance for only 35 guests. Reservations are required, tickets are $75 per person, $65 for members.
Friday, May 2, from 4:30-8 p.m., the Burnett Family Bluegrass will perform at four Sedona gallery locations. From 4:30-5:20 p.m., at the Tlaquepaque North Courtyard; 5:30-6:15 p.m. at Lanning Gallery; 6:30-7 p.m. at Sedona Arts Center; and from 7:15-8 p.m. at Goldenstein Gallery.
Saturday, May 3, from 1-3 p.m., in Flagstaff, Psychograss will give five different workshops for mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo and bass. Cost is $25 per person and advanced purchase is encouraged. Private lessons with each artist are available and must be paid for in advance.
Sunday, May 4, from noon-6 p.m., Chamber Music Sedona presents the second Sedona Bluegrass Festival, at Los Abrigados Resort, near Uptown Sedona.
"With kids prices available, food this year, and four outstanding bands, we think we've got a very special program this year. We'll have parking at various locations in Sedona listed on our Web site. No food or drink is allowed."
Tickets are available in Sedona at Bashas', in the Village at Rycus' Corners, in Cottonwood at Planet Video & Music, and in Flagstaff at Arizona Music Pro and Cedar Music.
For additional information, call (928) 204-2415.