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06/23/2008
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Staff Photo by David Leamingfrom the Kennebec Journal
Rep. Pingree hears varied proposals for health-care solutions
HALLOWELL Fire that cut communications labeled arson
MONMOUTH Police defended after slim budget rejection
State's schools chief to parley
Wasser will lead newsrooms at KJ, Sentinel and in Portland
BRIEFS
Hockey still in picture for Harrington
Portland boxer to face legend's son
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
$1.3 MILLION FOR HEALTHREACH
Families Matter grows to meet special needs
Chellie Pingree listens to ideas on health care reform
FARMINGTON Rain alters plans for 4th of July
District regroups after budget failure
Vote on county budget hits snag
Burnham driver wins checkered flag at 2 tracks on same day
Maine boxer gets unique opportunity
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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