On The Scene: Bacon Bombs and Bluegrass

Reportage by David Merrell

The fireball rose into the sky, illuminating the faces of the people around me. It became so bright that I had to look away, so hot that my already sunburned skin seared in pain once more. I took the bottle of whiskey from my new friend Justin, choked down another swig and said, “Good festival.” The “bacon bomb,” an IED comprised of a contained campfire and about 4 days worth of bacon grease, was placed on a sandbar in the middle of the Saint Vrain River in Lyons, Colorado, where for the past 3 days, the Planet Bluegrass Ranch played host to the RockyGrass Music Festival. I was lucky enough to stay for the whole festival, working trash duty eight hours a day, camping at night, and listening to fantastic music.

RockyGrass, a smaller festival organized by Planet Bluegrass, who also puts on the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, was headlined by some of the biggest names in the genre, including Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers (yes, THAT Steve Martin – a fantastic banjo picker), Hot Rize, and Sam Bush Bluegrass Band. However, the best part of the festival was seeing the amateur musicians jamming together late at night in the campsite. In addition to scheduled performances, RockyGrass also hosted instrument lessons and competitions. I spoke with the winners of the full band competition, a Kentucky-based five piece named, inaccurately, The 23 String Band. This friendly and talented group played three energetic, musically intricate bluegrass tunes that made me want to stomp my feet and sing along without knowing the words. As I was accidentally seated next to the judges, I constantly tried to sneak peeks at the scorecards, and was pleasantly unsurprised when they were announced as the winners.

Among the other standout performances were former competition winners Henhouse Prowlers, from whom I received a free beer coozie (my allegiance can be bought quite cheap, it seems) and an hour of clever, inspired lyrics tied to impressive musicianship. Joy Kills Sorrow, a collection of young musicians, also impressed with incredible talent and the frontwoman’s smooth, soulful voice.

The Planet Bluegrass Ranch is a near perfect setting for a music festival, as one can lie on the smooth grass and nap for a spell, enjoy a New Belgium beer, get a tan in the daytime, enjoy the crisp air in the high altitude at nighttime, or lazily tube down the river to cool off while listening to great music. Next weekend, August 19-21^st, the Planet Bluegrass Ranch will host “Folks Festival,” which I dearly wish I could attend. However, you should go if you are able! Headliners include Josh Ritter and the Civil Wars. Have a good time, tell the trash crew I say hello, and eat a lot of bacon, it will make for a better bomb later on.

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