A band's memories of La Roche 2009

The Skillet Lickers (l-r: Mick Dunne, Jim MacArdle, Dick McGarry) playing the 'Fringe' at a cafe in the centre of La Roche

Thanks to Jim MacArdle and the Skillet Lickers band from Drogheda, who send this account of a memorable (and historic) bluegrass event abroad this summer (see also the BIB post of 16 Aug.):

Our decision to go to the La Roche Bluegrass Festival at a relatively late stage had much to do with the dismal Irish weather, so we found their website, and from our first contacts by e-mail the thoroughly professional approach of the festival organisers shone through.

We flew in to Geneva; a short car ride took us over the border to the medieval French town of La Roche-sur-Foron, a picturesque venue for a large and wonderfully run free festival – 38 groups appearing on the Main Stage (with the unbelievable backdrop of Mont Blanc), what appeared to be no end of musicians playing all over the town, Fringe starting Wednesday, Opening Concert on Thursday in nearby Saint-Pierre-en-Faucigny, Main Stage starting on Friday and continuing until late on Sunday evening – phew!

We arrived on the Tuesday [27 July] and had the privilege of opening the festival fringe, playing outside one of the many café-bars in the town at 6.00 p.m. on Wednesday, and played two more one-hour gigs by Friday evening, the nice thing being that this included a wonderful après-gig meal and a taste of the local amber nectar. There were plenty of picking sessions all round the town at almost every hour of the day and night, musicians from Russia and eastern Europe as well a strong contingent of French players, with the Django legacy sitting easily with straight bluegrass and old-timey.

All musicians were accommodated in the local school, a short distance from the town centre, and in the beautiful weather we went to bed and woke up to the wonderful sound of bluegrass 24/7. The Main Stage concerts were notable for the musical excellence of every act, 12 bands in the competition including Sunnyside, who blew us all away in Dunmore East last year. American headliners Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain showed us that their meteoric rise in the bluegrass world has been thoroughly deserved with a stunning performance of virtuosity and youthful exuberance.

The organisation of the festival was thoroughly professional, with chairman Christopher Howard-Williams and his 200 volunteers who provided wonderful food, transport, and assistance of every kind and made the festival the most musician-friendly event we have ever had the privilege to attend.