Guildford Banjo Jamboree 07

Warm thanks go out to the generous and friendly folk of Guildford in Central Victoria for organising and running the 4th Annual Guildford Banjo Jamboree. Despite a rainy three hour drive to get there, the weather cleared up until mid Sunday afternoon. The cold nights were made tolerable by the CFA boys who gave us a fire place and wood to burn in it.

It was great to catch up with friends old and new and to hear lots of great sessions. Saturday night was my personal favorite - seeing Pa Coates and the Loddon River Ramblers before retiring to the campfire around 11.00 pm and an unexpected session singing Townes Van Zandt songs with a couple of young folk I'd never met before. Even Yardup managed to stay up until after midnight and knock back a couple of shots of whiskey.

The campfire session kept going until around 5.00 am with lots of guests dropping in. An inebriated full-on bluegrass session was in full flight around 3.00 am with various members of Hard Drive present and past.

Up again at 9.00 (when the CFA captain tests the emergency siren) for coffee and breakfast. High & Lonesome performed an unplugged concert rehearsal in the restaurant over the road to an enthusiastic audience. Someone videoed us, so I'm hoping to get some YouTubes happening when I get a copy.

After breaking camp and packing up it was off to the Beer Garden concert where we were second cab off the rank. We played there last year with the Cornhuskers and the sound was excellent. After a few hiccups were sorted, we played as good a concert set as we've ever done. Fantastic!

Most of us hit the road afterwards for the long haul home and a hot shower, but I believe Chips stuck around for some more pickin'. I gather the afternoon concert had to be moved in a hurry to the Hall after the rain began.

Check out the Gallery. Jasmine has more photos at her gallery.