Berklee Assistant VP for Public Information Rob Hayes writes from the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival with Berklee’s Roots Music Roadshow in New York last weekend. (Read the official press release here.)

They were pleased to be asked, and even happier to play — 14 students comprising Berklee’s Roots Music Roadshow hit the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, the weekend of July 16.

The Roadshow did 7:00 sets on Friday and Saturday, to audiences that truly appreciated their youthful artistry and verve. Grey Fox is the IBMA event of the year, and the crowds here know their music, and don’t stint on showing their love when they hear something great.

Some personal highlights:

– ’06 alum and most modest mandolin monster Joe Walsh sitting next to, and trading hot passages with, David Grisman, one of the giants of the instrument.

– Sierra Hull, charming the capacity-plus throng at the Berklee a.m. Roots Music Clinic with her tale of coming to Berklee, then blowing the crowd’s collective mind with her inventive mandolin playing and angelic voice.

– Berklee bluegrass guitaress extraordinaire Courtney Hartman playing (beautifully) alongside Nashville studio wizard Bryan Sutton, winner of last year’s bluegrass Grammy. Courtney later was named a recipient of this year’s Grey Fox Scholarship!

– The entire Berklee Roots Music Roadshow — Chasin’ Blue, Frankie’s Little .44, the Up Jumpers, and Sierra Hull and Courtney Hartman— holding the crowd close with their youthful verve and virtuosity.

The feeling at Grey Fox is so family, so all about the music, and the Berklee students are in pure, hot-buttered heaven here. On a day like today, one could be forgiven for feeling that we all belong, all men are brothers, and you only need a well played mandolin at any peace conference or international border.


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