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Photos and story by Bill Graf
Reunion '81 bluegrass festival in Brown
ville, Neb. three days of non-stop
music supplied by local and professional
talent was, as they say, hot as a fire
works show with just as many surprises.
Unlike the festival of 75, which caused
the village of Brownville to pass an ordi
nance forbidding future festivals, Reun
ion '81, which was moved 1,000 yards
downstream onto private land, was rela
tively tame. But not too tame. With the
famed fireworks stands of Rockport, Mo.,
just over the bridge and crazed acts like
the "Jump In The River Band" and
"Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers,"
even the most passive bluegrass enthusi
ast would be entertained. But for the
more avid bluegrasser, the weekend was
both informative and entertaining.
Beverly Cotten, a clog dancer and banjo
. player from North Carolina performed
the music and dance that is the forefa
ther of the bluegrass sound. While the
other hired musicians, "Hot Rize" per
formed "modern" bluegrass, which is de
scendant from the roots laid down by Bill
Monroe and his "Bluegrass Boys" during
the 30s and 40s. But the professional mu
sicians weren't the only ones command
ing the stage and crowd. With a little
help from "that good 'ol mountain dew"
and a late night campfire, the amateur
musicians could make it sound just as
good. And if the musicians couldn't do it
with their music, an exit into the river
seemed just as entertaining. The winners
of the amateur competition were: "Cold
Spring", best band; Greg Alan and David
Finch, sharing top honors in the fiddle
competition; Gary Kirkland, best singer
and Bob Strayer, top picker. Starting in
the top left hand corner and rotating
clockwise Reflections in the glasses
of Marty Coniglio, mandolin player for
"Cold Spring" blue grass band, show the
other members of his band as they prac-
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tice at their camp site for their winning
performance. The other band members
are: Gary Paul, bass; Mike Botts, banjo
and Mike Keefe, guitar. Master of cere
monies, Paul Moss, finds a seat on the
mooring anchor of the Brownville stage.
(1 to r) Lincoln fiddler, Dave Fowler,
Nemaha County Attorney Charlie Hahn
and warehouse worker Mike Whitlow,
also known as the "14th Street Tune
Wranglers," give it their all during the
band competition, but were also-rans.
"Hot Rize" performs one of several shows
during Saturday and Sunday. Dave
Hardy of the "Jump In The River Band"
makes his usual stage exit. Later, during
the band competition finals, Hardy was
delivered on stage on a motorcycle side
car, then was thrown into the Missouri
River when he wanted to play three
tunes rather than the prescribed two.
Children play while others watch the
stage show. The cannon is representative
of a time when Missouri was a slave state
and Nebraska was free. According to the
locals, Nebraskans would occasionally
fire their cannon at Missouri to show
their discontent with slavery. (1 to r) Pete
Wernick, Nick Forster and Tim O'Brian
of "Hot Rize" conspire on a three-part
harmony.
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The ultimate hero in the
ultimate adventure.
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The Water Hole
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I The Water Hole
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HorseTearners i
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The Water Hplej
Horsefeathers
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LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Fri. July 10 & Sat. July 11
Paul Phillips & Bob Dickey
(NO COVER)
'OPEN STAGE'
Tues. July 14
Beer Garden-Brass Rail
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FREE quart of pepsi to go
with purchase of any size pizza
and this ad.
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1246 Q Street
Expires July 20
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