The MusicFest 2011 - Day One

We departed our respective homes for points west, a loose caravan of techies headed for the great unknown, only occasionally glancing up from our respective hand-held's to check out the scenery. Of course, that changed when we got to the Rockies. We drove up, up through curving roadways and impossibly high peaks, and then hit Rabbit Ears Pass, carved in through the rocks, the snow piled high to the sides of the road. Ooh and aahs, and then the descent down seven miles to Steamboat in the Yampa Valley. There was a serenity for the whole trip, until we pulled into to the parking lot here. You know how life can suddenly change gears? It got kicked into 4th in a blink!

Oh man, it is so good to be back! Friends, hugs, and Happy New Year's were exchanged, set amidst the mountains and the pines and the Christmas lights. Just glorious. Joel Schoepf from Dickson Productions met us in the parking lot to ease our entry. As did intrepid 'Boat' dweller Brian Smith from Authentic Records and The Ghost Ranch Saloon, who dug the snow out of the bed of his truck to haul our equipment. Adam Odor, who coordinates the production team for MusicFest at Steamboat Springs appeared to help get us situated, too. Shannon Ford from the Steamboat Grand escorted us in, and then there was a quick trip to the Artists welcome party, where drinks were hoisted and kisses exchanged. We had dinner at the Slopeside Grill, a big thanks to Chad there. To John and Robin Dickson, we can't thank you enough for inviting us back to this incredible event, the very best way to start the year. I have been coming to MusicFest at Steamboat Springs since 2002, as we broadcast live from here on X Country through 2008. We segued into Music Fog coverage when that ended. In fact this was our very first event as a new company two years ago.

The rest of the Foggers went on to set up our production space, and I detoured for a walk through Gondola Square at the base of the mountain. Walt Wilkins "Trains I Missed" was playing on the PA system outdoors as I crossed. How totally appropriate. You never know where life is taking you, but you have to trust and have faith. In the next few days, we will bring as many MusicFest artists in front of our cameras as is humanly possible, and share at least a few of them with you in the next few days. So keep checking back with us here at the Fog. Let the year begin!

- Jessie Scott

Ray Wylie Hubbard "Snake Farm"

The drive to MusicFest in Steamboat Springs begins today for the Music Fog truck BBC (Big Blue Crew), coming from the east coast. I think the rendezvous point, to met up with those of us from Austin, is somewhere at an undisclosed location outside of Oklahoma City, OK. Denise, Sheila and I are eager to return to the state where I demanded sushi this past July, on the way to WoodyFest in Okemah. Now don't you say it too, sushi in Oklahoma! I beg to differ, I needed my raw fish fix, and it was just fine, thank you very much. Road food is hard to agree upon, though I do have a rule when we are traveling for production. When there is food, you should eat, because you just don't know when you will see it again. It could be hours and hours. The tug of war comes from those who want to dine, versus those who want to bag a burger, taco, or other fried thing and go. I will let you figure out who is who. Maybe we should start making a list of restaurant recommendations, and of course, if you have any along the route from OK City to Steamboat, please share!

I can't believe we saved one last MusicFest 2010 video for the trip to this year's celebration. In fact, the very first time I heard the song "Snake Farm" was at MusicFest in 2006. We were set up in the conference room of the Steamboat Ski & Resort office to broadcast the MusicFest on XM's X Country. Ray Wylie Hubbard played the song for us live on the air from our makeshift radio studio, which had a huge picture window overlooking the skiers coming down into the gondola area. Just magic. And I was blown away by the song, which wasn't set to come out until June of that year as the title track to the Gurf Morlix produced album. One play was all it took to light the phones up. But we waited, and didn't break the song out again until it was time for it to be released. When you get phone calls from just one play on the radio, now that's persuasive stuff.

Ray Wylie Hubbard's 3rd annual Grit n Groove Festival has been announced for April 2, 2011 at Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels, TX, and that's persuasive stuff too! Artists announced so far include Chris Robinson (Black Crowes), The Trishas, The Gourds, Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights, Cody Canada & Seth James, and of course Ray Wylie with the full band. I have been sworn to secrecy as to the remaining lineup, but an overall WOW is all I can say! Tickets are on sale now...click here. We'll miss Ray Wylie at MusicFest this year, but can't wait to catch up with him sooner than later. Here is the last video we've been holding from 2010's MusicFest, "Snake Farm."

- Jessie Scott

The Infamous Stringdusters "Magic #9"

I am reminded of that wonderful line from the A Team, delivered by George Peppard in the role of John "Hannibal" Smith, clenching a cigar in his mouth as he says, "I love it when a plan comes together." But I really do. I am a tireless rooter for people to accomplish cool things, and when they are rewarded for them, I have been known to actually jump up and down. Yes, I was a cheerleader in High School. Does that explain it, or am I just hopelessly sentimental? One of the reasons I am so impressed with artists of every stripe, is that they create out of thin air, it is something from nothing. The icing on the cake is that then it can touch people- it can excite, inspire, make you happy or sad. There is something so primal about this all, and miraculous at the same time.

The Infamous Stringdusters are all that. A finely honed hydra of an organic delivery machine, they are expressive, improvisational and exciting to watch. And they have been nominated for their first ever GRAMMY® in the Best Country Instrumental category for their song "Magic #9," off the album Things That Fly. The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held Feb. 13th, 2011 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. To get an inside look at the recording of the album, click here for a video introduction.

The Stringdusters are performing out west from January through March, which they are calling The Ski Tour. That includes a performance at the 5th Annual Big Sky Big Grass Festival on February 18th in Big Sky, MT. Ooh, we hear they are on the line-up for the Telluride Bluegrass Festival for 2011, too. Hot band, hot time, with hot stuff going on. Here are The Infamous Stringdusters, filmed during September's Americana Fest in Nashville, with their GRAMMY Nominated tune...the Music Fog version!

- Jessie Scott