The Documentary Film "High Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music" Airs Tonight in Cha...

Bluegrass music (in all its many forms) is undeniably a part of my musical make-up. Growing up in rural western Virginia, the sounds of a banjo, mandolin, or flat-pick guitar were never too far away. Don't get me wrong, I rebelled like hell to listen to bluegrass music when I was young, preferring instead to dive into the modern rock sound (or college rock as it was then called) that was beginning to rise to prominence in the late 80's and early 90's. It wasn't until I discovered the music of Magraw Gap and Larry Keel in the mid 90's that things began to change.

Since that time I have received first-rate education in bluegrass, with the biggest part of my introduction taking place during the five years I spent at Allegheny Mountain Radio. It's amazing how many bluegrass / acoustic albums I now own that spring directly from that time in my life. Even after moving to Charlottesville a few years ago, I continued to share my own personal love for the music by hosting a bluegrass radio show every Saturday evening at 6pm on WTJU 91.1FM during the winter/spring of 2007. And it was through that relationship with WTJU that this event first came to my attention.

The Jefferson-Madison Regional Library is airing High Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music, a documentary released in 1994 that is also accompanied by a 100 song soundtrack. From the film's back cover comes this description: "High Lonesome traces the evolution of bluegrass, one of America's most vital musical fusions, from its folk roots in the Kentucky hills through the innovations which shaped its most modern forms. It's a vision of how life has changed in America and a testimony to the enduring strength of a music that has continued to find voice over decades of shifting musical taste."

High Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music airs TONIGHT (Thursday, August 27th) from 7-8:45pm at the Central Branch of the Library in Charlottesville (located at 201 E. Market Street). The film is being introduced by WTJU’s own Emmett Boaz.

------------Purchase: High Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music (DVD)