Strawberry looking sweet for Spring

Maybe a theme for Strawberry 2008 is artists playing with different configurations. Today, Ricky Skaggs was announced for Spring, where he will join old parter Emmylou Harris on the bill, along with Tim O'Brien, Peter Rowan, john Cowan and lots more. Skaggs is playing many festivals this year together with piano great Bruce Hornsby, but that is presumably not the case here.

Similarly O'Brien seems to be appearing solo, while he is a part of Hot Rize/Red Knuckles reunions at several other festivals this summer. Rowan will appear at Strawberry and other festivals with his Free Mexican Airforce instead of the quartet he has mostly toured with in recent years.

Regrettably, FP's dispute with Strawberry Music Festivals continues and we will not be at Camp Mather for the 2008 festivals May 22-25 and August 28-31. Both lineups are about half done and both offer a lot to look forward to. For Spring, I would expect a powerful debut for Cadillac Sky and I'm interested in hearing the comeback tour for Carlene Carter.

The Fall festival leads with Sam Bush, but has a number of younger bands with big-time buzz--The Avett Brother, The SteelDrivers, Spring Creek Bluegrass Band and local favorites Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys. Stand by for more announcements for both festivals.

Our disagreement aside, Strawberry remains one of the very best roots festivals going. We hope to be back in future years.