The Bluegrass Country by the Del McCoury Band
[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/del2001-07-21a.shnf/del01-07-21a10_64kb.mp3]
It has been a few years coming, but it seems that the farm that has been home to the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, and the Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival before that, and the Berkshire Mountain Music Festival before that, has been sold. I’ve gone to this festival every year of my life, and it has always been on the Rothvoss Family Farm in Ancramdale, NY.
A few years back, when we went up on the hill fully believing that it was the last year we would have there, I brought up a camera of my own for the first time. That was when I took these pictures, hoping I’d be able to remember the place itself. There aren’t many pictures of the stage or the performers because many other photographers have taken far better pictures of those subjects than I ever will. But I tried to take pictures that would remind me of walking around the hill, what it sounded like sitting in the amphitheater, or the sound of the music I heard from my tent as I drifted off to sleep. We were lucky enough to get two more festivals before the sale of the farm was official.
There are folks who I see only once a year at Grey Fox, and they’re as close as any friends I have. There was a certain atmosphere on the hill that came from both the people and the place. The people will certainly stay with the festival as it moves, but what I hope for more than anything is that the atmosphere comes with them.
I’m grateful for the 21 years I had on the hill. I’m certainly sad to have to move on. Grey Fox was always my image of a perfect society, and I’ve always identified it as home – where I felt most comfortable. I just hope I can keep the memories of the hill alive in my mind.
I’m going to try and post some stories from the hill over the coming weeks.