Shenandoah at the Sticks Music Festival/Auburn, Al/April 18/09

April 28, 2009 - Tuesday 

Shenandoah at the Sticks Music Festival/Auburn, Al/April 18/09 Current mood:  chill  Category: Music After just hitting the bunks and getting not much sleep..we awoke in Auburn, Al at the Sticks Music Festival.  Our brains were still foggy from the late show Friday night..as we crawled down the bus hall towards the coffee pot. The sun was out but the air was still cool as I climbed off the bus and walked to the stage to do a soundcheck.  Folks were already gathering in front of the stage ..even at that early hour of 7 am.  Breakfast was being served down the way under a big tent but  I was still full from the giant Waffle House breakfast I had eaten in Macon, three hours earlier. The Sticks festival already had a day under it's belt and we were hoping for a good turnout for the 2cnd day. A good friend of mine, Ray Brown, who I used to play music with..showed up and hung out with me for about an hour before we had to hit the stage.  It was great to see him again.. it had been over 10 years since we had seen each other.  Jim Seale's bride to be..Donna K, brought lots of folks down from the Shoals to see the performance and Jim would be riding back home with them after our show and not on the bus. Shenandoah hit the stage at 12:15 to a lively bunch..in fact, I had my own little fan club going during the show and they continued with the loud antics..at the autograph table..that's what happens when ya get a bunch of college kids drinkin' lots of beer..in the hot sun..starting really early..way before noon.. After Shenandoah's performance, we were taken in golf carts to a pavillion.. by a small lake, where lunch was served.. burgers, b'bq, chicken, ribs, coleslaw, potato salad, beans..I could go on and on....hmmm.. I ate way too much.. After eating, we had to go sign our names on a door frame inside this rustic log cabin..and then we did a short.. on camera interview.. Once outside the cabin..another short on- camera interview was done and we did several radio station liners..from there we were taken to a tent where lots of merch had to be signed..hats, t-shirts, guitars, etc  Before leaving that tent..pics were taken with various VIPs.. We had a little over an hour left to kill before we would be pulling out ..so Mike Mcguire, Mike Folsom, Bart Bartlettano and myself wandered over to stand on the side of the stage and watch Ashton Sheppard..(not sure if I spelled her name correctly or not).. I thought she and her band did well..I love her voice.  Bart worked with her for a brief spell, as did Curtis Wright..who used to sing with us. Our golf cart driver took us back to the bus where John Gee was waiting and we waved at everyone as we left the Sticks festival grounds.  Interesting note.. the man who owned the 300 + aces of land that the festival was held on..always wanted to have a huge country music festival on that land but he died before he realized that dream...his son made it a reality. We had fun and appreciate Sticks Music Festival for including us on their roster.  We wish them good luck in the future and hope they have us back again next year. Another Country Music Adventure had been had by all.. Down the Road... Stan Munsey