It ain't your granny's bluegrass!

I am officially on summer break, and I graduate in less than a week! No more papers to write or articles to read, and although I'm letting out a sigh of relief, it's followed by a feeling of bittersweet sadness - no more exciting class discussions (in the role as student, of course), no more visits in the TA office, and no more getting paid to read and write stuff that I enjoy.  Though I'm sad to be leaving this time with an awesome group of people, I'm excited for the next step...playing the waiting game after sending out applications, hopefully getting a job soon, and (my favorite part in all this) sitting back to enjoy a little bit of downtime . . .

To kick off the summer, this past weekend my husband and I ventured to Scottown, Oh to our first Appalachian Uprising Music Festival! Even though we were in Ohio, we definitely felt like we'd ventured south, back home to the foothills of Appalachia.  The bluegrass festival was held in a 'grand field' (as Chris Thile from The Punch Brothers called it), where people could camp out between the three days of endless music.  We only stayed Saturday night but we listened to more than 11 hours of bluegrass including music from The Vespers (my new band obsession) and The Punch Brothers (my husband's current favorite).

The road trip there was half the experience, venturing off the beaten path and on to winding country (and sometimes) barely-paved roads.  We took our tent and camped out with the rest of the festival-goers, and spent the day in our folding chairs, eating pulled pork sandwiches, corn on the cob, and fried potatoes on a stick, listening to some awesome bluegrass.  But this wasn't your granny's bluegrass!

I have my husband to thank for introducing me to The Vespers who played a couple acts before The Punch Brothers.  The foursome rocked out with their unique, spiritually-inspired, soul-driven music, bringing people out of their chairs not only to 'flat-foot,' but also bang their heads.  To give you a little taste, here's a video clip I took - the chorus of one of my favorite songs, "Got No Friends."  You can listen to the whole thing here, and watch more of their videos here.

Well I got no friends today, and I wonder if tomorrow will be the same. But I know no matter what I do, Jesus I will always have a friend in you!

Some other highlights from our first 'Appy Up' experience . . .

"Appy Up Ya'll"

. . . venturing off the beaten path . . . 

the camping folk in 'the grand field' of Eden Valley Farm 

our little campsite

The VESPERS performing "Grinnin' in Your Face"

signed merch.

The PUNCH BROTHERS