La Roche Bluegrass Festival 2009

The editor reports:

A few words and images from the fourth La Roche Bluegrass Festival in La Roche-sur-Foron, among the French Alps. Carol & I had a great time, and advise any Irish band to follow the lead of the Skillet Lickers from Drogheda and come to La Roche - whether to play on the main stage, or in cafes and restaurants as part of the Festival Off (the 'Fringe').

Thirty-five bands from twelve countries took part (all sponsored by local organisations), including three US acts: Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, who had just knocked socks off at the big Craponne country festival; Chris & Sally Jones, with Ned Luberecki (banjo) and Jon Weisberger (bass); and Bob Jones (former Blue Grass Boy), backed by the fine Italian band Bluegrass Cats. Three European bands appeared by special invitation: Monogram (CZ), who won last year's La Roche band contest; Acousticure (Hungary), who won the #1 Band award at the 2008 EWOB Festival in the Netherlands; and Vodopad (SK) with Philippe Naudot (F). Of the remaining bands, twelve took part in the contest, which is decided by the votes of a qualified jury following set criteria. This year's winners were:

#1 Kreni (Czech Republic)
#2 New Essex Bluegrass Band (Great Britain)
#3 (equal): Blueland (Slovakia), Sunny Side (Czech Republic)

All the photos below are by Carol Hawkins unless otherwise stated. Warmest thanks to the festival organiser, Christopher Howard-Williams of the France Bluegrass Musique Association; to Eberhard and Monika Finke for the lifts; to the Toy Hearts (UK), for some much-needed sun screen; and to everyone for their company...

A picturesque town...

... in a spectacular setting: view from the park below the castle

The Skillet Lickers (Jim, guitar/autoharp; Mick, mandolin; Dick, banjo) were among the first friends we met at the festival; here they play a 'fringe' gig at a cafe in the Place de la Republique

The Festival Off: these musicians from the UK scene picked practically continuously in this cafe on the Place de la Grenette throughout the festival. Right foreground: Ray Whiteway-Roberts (UK), MC and member of the judging panel for the band contest

The Toy Hearts (UK) on the main stage

The square dance, Saturday

Main stage, Saturday evening

The audience, Saturday evening

View from the stage: the main festival venue is the schoolyard of the ESCR College Ste Marie (photo: Lilly Pavlak)

The Saturday night concert audience (photo: Lilly Pavlak)

On Sunday 2 August M. Thabuis, the mayor (right, in suit), welcomed festival guests to a reception at the town hall, at which the New Essex Bluegrass Band (UK) played; they had just come from singing gospel songs in the church of St-Jean-Baptiste

A historic part of this year's festival was the presence of representatives of both main European bluegrass organisations: here M. Thabuis (in Western outfit to present the awards) applauds Christopher Howard-Williams, festival organiser; Dennis Schut of the European World of Bluegrass Association (EWOBA), the original sponsors; and Angelika Torrie, treasurer of the European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA)



Terraced gardens above the Foron river

Stony creek: the Foron from the bridge on the road to 'Canada'

Sign of La Roche's resident luthier

The editor considers the bluegrass possibilities of one of the giant musical toys on the streets of La Roche during the festival