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Hollow Honey Hootenanny
features Larry Keel
By John Hallberg
Special to the Rappahannock News
I actually feel a little embarrassed to admit, as an ardent music fan, that up till a couple years ago I didn’t know who Larry Keel was.
Partly because even though I’ve always liked elements of country and mountain music I’ve been a bit slow to come around to true bluegrass.
That changed a bit when I saw Larry at a private party a couple years ago(such a thing is possible as he is a local boy)..I was amazed by his quickness, accuracy and the visceral feeling I got seeing him play.
Larry grew up in the Culpeper area in a musical family(the Keel Brothers frequently still perform) and his talents were noticed early. Larry was contracted when still a teenager to play bluegrass for the Disney park in Tokyo. In the early 90s he formed McGraw Gap with pioneer newgrass players Will Lee (banjo), Danny Knicely (mandolin/fiddle) and John Flowers (upright bass, gut bucket). Larry won the picking championship at TeUuride in ‘96 and each member of McGraw Gap won top awards for their instrument.
On a side note...Larry used to play frequently back then at the Poes pickin get togethers in Amissville. Larry met his wife Jenny at a festival several years back, she is a talented musician in her own right and now anchors the Natural Bridge band with her deft bass playing. These days Larry and company play some of the biggest festivals and stages in the country (Floyd, Boneroo, Allgood etc) and play with some of the biggest names in music (Bela Fleck, Vasser Clemons, Jorma Kaukonen, Peter Rowan etc ad naus). This being the case I’m elated to say that Larry has agreed to play our small festival. I’m trying to use the models of many shows I’ve seen over the years to make this an intimate, personal yet inclusive festival. There will be five bands and the music will go from late afternoon to late evening.
Other stand out acts on the bill include: David Via’s Corn Tornado with Grammy award winner Curtis Burch, Furnace Mountain(Appalachian/folk/mountain music), Lisa Kay Band with Brooksie Wells( talented mando player Lisa is joined by award winning songstress Ms. Wells) and our own Merkles (lil old me with fiddlin Joe Butler and Billy the tickler). I have fond memories of the early Rappahannock music fest that Brian Ross used to do and would like to extend that experience as well as enhance it (there will be several local yummy food vendors, a short ‘light show’, dancing real life puppets in the form of (friends of) 1000 Faces etc).
I’m trying to create a scaled down ‘Floyd fest’ type experience and think it will be a great bang for the buck (8 hours of music with a short drive time).
Where to get tickets
Early tickets go for $30 or four for $100 and the tickets at $35 on show date.
They can be purchased through Smokehouse Winery, the Comer Store in Sperryville or Culpeper Music or Drum and Strum in Warrenton. There is also free parking) please try to carpool) and free camping (although no showers). Come on out and listen/dance/drink mead, it’ll be a HOOT!
Dulcimerrily, Smokehouse John
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