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06/23/2008
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Staff Photo by David Leamingfrom the Kennebec Journal
QUESTIONS REMAIN
No complaints from those who switched to Somerset County center
Vote on 1 may hurt some in election
Steeple at center of debate in Whitefield
VETERANS REQUIRE ASSISTANCE: Homelessness takes center stage
J.P. DEVINE: Overcome sadness with hope
BASKETBALL: NBA Hall of Famer Barry doles out advice at Thomas College
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: Maranacook sophomore Mace dominates Class B field
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
A year later, families await answers on fatalities
Owner of topless coffee shop on the comeback trail
Officials report cheaper, better service after switch
Two people in critical condition
Young Marines stick to program
Issue of homeless veterans at center stage
GIRLS SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Winslow falls to York in Class B
Bard hits her marathon stride
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
SIDNEY -- Seventy-eight-year-old Smokey Greene was introduced to the Blistered Fingers Bluegrass Festival stage Sunday afternoon as the last of the bluegrass balladeers.
And he didn't disappoint.
Dressed in a cowboy hat, patriotic red-white-and-blue necktie and Western-style suit, Greene, who hails these days from upstate New York, launched into old-time ballads about cow punchers, a boy leaving home for the big city and a jealous wife in "Pistol Packin' Mama."
Greene, playing his time-worn acoustic guitar, was accompanied by Dick Pelletier of Fayette on four-string, acoustic, stand-up bass.
Interviewed before taking the stage Sunday, Greene said he was born and brought up in Vermont and that bluegrass is not just a Southern or a Western thing. He said his music goes way back to earlier times, when Ernest Tubb, Marty Robbins, Carl Smith, Lefty Frizzell -- all the good ones -- were on the radio.
He likes cowboy songs, Gospel songs, funny songs and just about everything blue grass that lies in between.
"It's hard to explain it -- it's old country, hillbilly -- I've got about 400 songs in my head," he said tuning up his six-string and rehearsing on a bar stool behind the stage. "I first got paid to do it in 1946. I've had other jobs, but I've always played the music."
Greene said he is inspired these days by the music itself, not by the way of life that often is associated with honkey tonks and life on the road.
"Well, let me put it this way," Green said, pausing at his guitar. "I used to drink a lot and thought that was giving me a high, you know? But now I get as high off the music as I used to with alcohol.
"All of my relative, my uncles, cousins, all played fiddles, guitars and I kind of grew up hearing Country Music -- Jimmy Rodgers kind of music. I know some Northern bluegrass groups that could knock the socks off Southern bluegrass groups."
The 30th Blistered Fingers Family Bluegrass Festival was held again this year at The Silver Spur Riding Club in Sidney on West River Road.
Festival co-founder Greg Cormier said the festivals -- held twice a year -- are in their 17th year.
In the four days of the music fest this year, he said 4,000-5,000 people attended, culminating with a big bash Saturday night and Sunday's final performances by Greene and the Muellers, a family group from Oakland.
He said The Lewis Family and The Moron Brothers also were big hits Saturday night.
"The Lewis Family is from Georgia, they travel all over the world -- they go almost 400,000 miles a year," Cormier said. "It's mostly traditional bluegrass, but it's all Gospel. They've won Grammies and everything and performed Grade Ole Opry."
Cormier said The Moron Brothers entertain with a touch of humor.
"They're a very funny group, just two guys sitting on stools," he said. "They drew people from Alaska. We had two motor homes come in from Alaska just to see the Moron Brothers."
Doug Harlow -- 474-9534 ext. 342
dharlow@centralmaine.com
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