THE GRASS IS TURNING BLUER IN SUFFOLK!

Our regular Bluegrass sessions began in 2000 on the first Tuesday each month, and have moved in 2005 to The George, High Street, Hadleigh, and Suffolk, where our hosts, Paul and Victoria have made us most welcome. Attendance has grown, with more visiting players joining us, and more locals learning Bluegrass instruments.

Each year since 2002 we have held a free entry event, the Suffolk Bluegrass Day. Beginning at the King’s Head, Bildeston, Suffolk, it has been held at The George, High Street, Hadleigh, Suffolk IP7 5AL since 2006. There is plenty of good food available all day, and picking sessions from 11.30 a.m. The following main guest bands have been featured:

• 2002 Rick Townend & Rosie Davis with Ivor Ottley
• 2003 The New Essex Bluegrass Band
• 2004 The Deep River Band
• 2005 Grassroots
• 2006 Wet Paint
• 2007 The New Essex Bluegrass Band, Cut The Shuffle
• 2008 Home Territory, Stompin’ Dave Allen
• 2009 The New Essex Bluegrass Band

Support acts have included mostly local bands. “Calamity” Jean Smith is always there as representative of “Southern Country” magazine, who has given us excellent reviews.

We have also introduced a "Suffolk Midwinter Bluegrass Day" at The Steamboat Tavern, New Cut West, Ipswich in January. There is a modest entrance fee for these, but otherwise run along similar lines to the May Bluegrass Days. Guest bands featured so far:

• 2006 The Deep River Band
• 2007 The One Tree Hillbillies
• 2008 The New Essex Bluegrass Band
• Plus local support.

We have enjoyed much support and coverage from BBC Radio Suffolk by Brian Mann, who always gives us an interview spot on his programme “Suffolk Country” every Sunday 12 – 3.pm. (95.5, 95.9, 103.9 & 104.6 FM) Brian has also attended in person, and for the 2006 event sent his assistant to interview visiting musicians live on air.

There are a growing number of Bluegrass and related events now in the district, including a picking session at the Orwell Crossing Truck Stop on the A14 Felixstowe Road on the fourth Tuesday each month.