1965 Fincastle Bluegrass Festival Pt1

[SteelguitarLane]

I was there, I think. I'll have to ask my dad. I know he was, and I thought he took mom and my year and a half old self. I think he STILL has the tickets on the wall in the music room

[Wishuey]

I`ve commented on this before but can`t help myself.....This is an absolute TREASURE!

Fincastle may have been the first to call itself a "festival" but almost identical gatherings; same casts of characters, were happening weekly at both Sunset Park in West Grove, PA and, down the road a piece, at New River Ranch in Conowingo, MD as far back as the early `50s, maybe earlier.

Those, and Fincastle, were the "golden days" indeed.

Once again, Jason, thanks for posting this. Any more like it?

Pete

[amandatarte1]

xFor any of you who might know who Carlton Haney is there is a group on Facebook called 'Carlton Haney's Bluegrass Festival'. It is an open forum where pictures, videos, comments, conversations, etc. are posted about this era of bluegrass. Just a heads up.

[johnhotze]

When I first saw that guy, I thought the same thing. I grew up with John in St. Louis in the 50s and I know John didn't get into the bowler hat and vest thing until the late 70s or the 80s so I doubt that would be John.

[impala327]

did these cats *smoke*?

[YouKnowIAmRight]

can't believe that 5 people gave a thumbs down to this masterpiece

[YouKnowIAmRight]

I forgot just a fantastic Reno was.............

[vitorce]

great!!

[94757598494309438]

priceless!

[The1phillyman]

Wow what history. my granddaddy was there.

[oneblueflashinglight]

sooo cool!

[Realgamecock]

I'm impressed. This was before air conditioners and the suits were made of wool or heavy cotton.

[bookworm1960]

Great clip!

There is nothing like the old-school style 'grass

[aryola]

Nirvana did this song, "Where did you sleep last night" ....I think this is so funny. Check out the crowd.

[olivieraleman]

Gene Lowenger fiddle, Clyde Moody guitar

[fiddleray56]

Was that Charlie Cline on fiddle?Does anybody know? what a true walk down memory lane.History was made that day.thank you for this post

[n2pickn]

Does anyone know if that was Irv Sharp emceeing that day. At about 4:29 a gentleman appears from stage left wearing a plaid sport coat. Irv used to do the emceeing on the Reno & Smiley show when broadcast out of wdbj in roanoke va in the sixties.

Thanks for sharing this awesome moment in bluegrass history.

[BanjoBoyMatteo]

I'm pretty sure that's Carlton Haney, the organizer of the festival, who was actually emceeing the show that day.

[renopicker]

That was Carlton Haney.

[williebrown01]

Bill Monroe is exceptional here, interesting mandolin fills and howling vocals.

[4theluvofpete]

Holy moly! What a treasure this is...I hope people understand this was THE very first official bluegrass festival in the history of bluegrass music. Cudos and thank you so much for sharing renopicker.

[DeadRepublican]

Thank God this early bluerass was saved on recording. None of the stars today can match this for soul and ethnicity...

[ajajaYoDigo]

ajajajajaj ! esto es genial ! gracias !

[proudrebel69]

HECK YEAH, boy was he putting awhoopin on thata fiddle, LOVE IT, thanks.

[bettudont]

hey your a hick,

[TruegrassBoy]

Did anyone notice who the guy is that gets up from the audience and walks across the set in the middle of the first song? Hint: he has on a bowler hat and vest. For those that can't guess - it's John Hartford!

[4theluvofpete]

OMG!  It was John Hartford....thanks for pointing that out.

[TruegrassBoy]

These 2 Fincastle videos are the best thing on the web! Shows how real pro performers do it without bells and whistles. Thanks so much for posting.

[notvathome3]

interesting mandolin licks! I never heard them quite like that before...

[dreadnought45]

renopicker: The first time I ever heard "In the Pines" was 1957 on a Louvin Bros. album. I was fifteen then. Also, I used to listen to Don Reno and Red Smiley over WRVA radio in Richmond Va. on Saturday nights when they were on the Old Dominion Barn Dance. That's when I wasn't listening to the Wheeling Jamboree on WWVA. This is a great historical document. Thanks for this!

Ken, Toronto

[rskurow]

Is that Benny Martin on the fiddle?

[mandolinman2006]

I would've loved to be able to see the expression on Bill's face when Don took off dancing.

[simonsayz42069]

there are no words but these ones

[lovestrength]

Renopicker, a big "thank you." !!this is GREAT!

//Petter .Swe

[OldAndBlue]

Classic footage. Renopicker, a big "thank you."

[chev864x4]

I know of one video with Chubby Anthony. It was from about 1977. It was a PBS special about bluegrass festivals. He played "Sally Johnson" and "Will you be Lovin' Another Man" along with Jim Fee and Bill Pruett. I've got it on VHS somewhere.

[BanjoBoyMatteo]

If you ever happened to find it, would you post it here? Thanks in advance.

[mlb2880]

Does anyone know who this banjo player is on this video?

[renopicker]

During first part or the second part? I am not sure in the beginning but it's Don Reno on the rest.

[TruegrassBoy]

@renopicker It might be Jim Smoak but I'm not sure. Also looks like James Monroe on bass at the beginning.

[Ikebaga]

Don Reno is THE best.

[jat13166]

Don Reno on banjo

[mollyrose1956]

Wonderful! Thank you for posting this!

[sonofdenny75]

the benny,don,mac,and bill group at the end- wasn't that monroe's line-up before jimmy martin came on board? thanks for the great reno stuff renopicker!

[UnclePen22]

Trivia for you....At the 1:42 mark you will see John Hartford (black hat) get up from the crowd.

[2ndfret]

Benny Martin has no peer on the fiddle.

[4thPOC]

Benny Martin has few peers on any instrument. Which is why Bill plays Rawhide right after he's done.

I guess there's an edit there so we don't know if he did it right away for sure, but I know what I think happened.

[HughAskew2]

don't git no mo better!!

[thurnond]

thats bill monroe there too

[advil0069]

LOL!! Awsome!

[FiddlinMiss27]

seems to me that people just don't 'pick' as well as they used to...I mean like in general...maybe I got star-struck watching this or something,maybe it's the old-time quality,I don't know,I just adore it

[folkrelic]

Thanks so much for this video. I hope anyone who was the Stanley Brothers at Fincastle will get in touch.

[VA24541]

You must be joking. Carlton Haney booked Bluegrass acts. In 1965 Dylan had switched from folk to rock, and Arlo was still an unknown folkie. As for Joan, she was just a communist in 1965.

[figget11]

My brother used to play with the Stanley Brothers.

Does anybody remember him? Chubby Anthony? I would

love to have some videos of him. He also played some for Mac Wiseman. He was an awesome fiddler.

[2ndfret]

I remember Chubby well I believe he fiddled some with the Lilly Bros. also He was one of the best.

[goodmorningcapt1]

I remember him. Well I don't remember him, but I know about him. he was great. I don't know of any videos including him, there isn't much of the Stanleys period. However you can get on cd Stanley Series Volume 4 Number 2 which includes two sets they did live at a festival in 1956 with Chubby Anthony as their fiddler. Hope that helps.

[jwiese1975]

There is a full version of the entire festival that I know for a fact Carlton Haney has. This "appears" to be part of that footage. He circulated a really scratchy VHS of snippets of the festival years ago. There is also bootleg cd's of the Osborne Bros and Jimmy Martin sets out there as well that are just jaw dropping - remember that the Osbornes and Jimmy had some crack bands- thanks for posting

[timeshavechanged]

did dylan make it here or joan perhaps arlo or was it only blue grass

[VA24541]

You must be joking. Carlton Haney booked Bluegrass acts. In 1965 Dylan had switched from folk to rock, and Arlo was still an unknown folkie. As for Joan, she was just a communist in 1965.

[vooptr]

Who's killin' it on fiddle on orange blossom special?

[renopicker]

The great Benny Martin!!

[madelinemoody]

This video is a real jewel. I just love it!

[rrenfew]

WOW!!!

This is real bluegrass "with the hair on it".

Thanks!

[jonros1715]

Was that Clyde moody singing on "In The Pines"?

Wow!! Plus Benny , Mac and Don. Never before and never again.

Makes a tear glisten...

[pickin6]

This is precious! Very grateful & glad you posted this, thanks.

[jilehan]

Thank you SO much for sharing this , here , really !!!

[sproutgerkin]

This is the festival where a 13 year old Sam Bush got to meet the 20 year old David Grisman and play Grisman's Lloyd Loar! It would have been great to capture THAT on film! Great footage of the very first bluegrass festival!

[AlexRawlings]

A real gem. Thanks for posting it.

[ray8up]

Thank you so much for sharing this!

[Wishuey]

I`ve had more fun watching and listening to the Fincastle clips than you can possibly imagine. Great stuff; makes me want to haul out the old 78s and crank up the turntable.

Back in the 50s a bunch of early fans of "hillbilly music" (No one called it "bluegrass" back then) used to

drive from Baltimore (in Bob Talbott`s `29 Model A truck) up to either Sunset Park in West Grove Pa. or New River Ranch near Darlington Md. All the "originals" played those two places.

[fivestring63]

Was that John Hartford walking in the crowd at the end of "In The Pines" ?

[djinnc]

That was John, who didn't change his dress over the years, and luckily he got up just as the camera pulled back. There are other photos of him there.

[sophiesage]

It sure looked a lot like John Hartford!!

[mudfrog]

Awesome Video! Fincastle is about 5 min from me, I'm glad they brought the festival back.

[deeJslowface]

that's good mountain music, visit the festival's website (google fincastle festival) and get the DVD !

[ramblik]

truly unique

[johnhotze]

Unflippin' believable. Please get Fincastle remastered and available in any channel - freely distributed or for sale.

jkh

[JMBorrello]

Great Stuff

[banjobilly32]

So great to see these masters in their prime! Thanks

[BanjoBoyMatt]

Thank you Jason, you're the best!