COMMUNITY Heard on the hillside

Bluegrass Festival takes place at Luckenbach

By Brent Burgess Standard-Radio Post reporter

The mountain music sounds of the banjo, mandolin and fiddle rang throughout the Luckenbach property on Saturday, April 23 during the Luckenbach Bluegrass Festival. The festival was the first of its kind at Luckenbach and featured a lineup of bluegrass and Americana music.

Ricky Skaggs headlined the event following performances from Tony Kamel, Springstreet, Breaking Grass, and Cruz Contreras. While roots music and regional country bands are the norm at Luckenbach, bluegrass music is a new endeavor.

“I did my research to find these bands,” said Jamie Glover, booking manager at Luckenbach.

It was apparent that the Luckenbach audience was accepting of the sounds as

1,100 people decorated the field and hillside surrounding the main outdoor stage.

Tony Kamel, a resident of Dripping Springs, performed his roots-oriented version of Americana songs just before headliner, Ricky Skaggs, took the stage.

Kamel’s music, while not traditional bluegrass, features banjo and acoustic instrumentation revealing a strong bluegrass influence. The non-traditional approach was enthusiastically received by the Luckenbach audience.

Festival headliner Ricky Skaggs took the stage at Luckenbach at 5:30 p.m.

During his performance, he credited his wife, Sharon White, for making him an honorary Texan when they married in 1981.

Skaggs made his way into the bluegrass music scene at a young age, sharing the stage with bluegrass fron- tiersmen Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley by the age of 5.

Skaggs recorded 12 No. 1 country music singles throughout the 1980s, including “Highway 40 Blues.” While achieving success in popular country music he maintained a commitment to bluegrass influences.

Skaggs mentioned on the stage how his favorite early radio stations featured bluegrass music alongside country music, and expressed a desire that the two genres receive more radio airtime together.

The mostly Texas audience gave Skaggs and his band a warm welcome and loud applause following each of his hits, instrumental jams, and traditional songs.

Based on the crowd response at the Luckenbach Bluegrass Festival, it seems bluegrass music fits in at Luckenbach just fine.

Ricky Skaggs performed with his band as the headliner at the Luckenbach Bluegrass Festival. Skaggs’ performance featured a variety of traditional songs, gospel classics, instrumental jams, and personal hits. — Standard-Radio Post/Brent Burgess

‘Community Night’ set at museum

The National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW) announces another funfilled night for the local community at Fredericksburg’s Night at the Museum tonight, Wednesday, April 27.

p.m. for a free visit.

“The goal of the program is to give back to the community by hosting local residents and workers to bring their families to enjoy the museum free of charge,” organizers said.

included the hospitality/ lodging, food service, and healthcare industries.

Around

Toastmasters to mark 25 years Friday

Come “Celebrate our 25th Year” with the Fredericksburg Toastmasters at a special meeting at noon on Friday, April 29 honoring the club’s founders.

“Many program participants became city leaders, in part due to the speaking and leadership skills developed as Toastmasters, said Janice Smith, spokesperson.

Chamber of Commerce

President Penny McBride will give brief comments to welcome the Toastmasters Club as a new Chamber member.

Founding and past club members will entertain with tales of their Toastmaster journeys, Smith said.

“We meet every Friday at noon in the First United Bank meeting room at 1108 Texas 16 South (next to

Burger King — South Adams at South Milam),” she said.

Visitors and members should park on the side of the bank and enter the glass double doors in the back. A light lunch will be provided.

To participate in the meeting via Zoom link, contact Janice Smith via email at janice.smith1119@yahoo. com.

The museum invites local churches and their congregations, along with workers in nonprofit organizations, from 5:30-7

Each month, the museum hosts a community night focused on a different segment of the community. Past guests have z’We have door prizes from our Museum Store, a trivia quiz with prizes, and interactive activities for all to enjoy,” said Museum Director Karen Stevenson. For more information on the musuem, go to www. https://www.pacificwarmuseum.org

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