The Observation Deck

Good Friends in Lakewood Land,

Just letting you all know about just a few more of many other nearby upcoming musical events this month beyond the Sunday evening Lakewood Park concerts. (Don't forget the Lakewood Hometown Band there at 7:00 p.m. on the 13th!)

This week, the Cuyahoga County Fair in Berea promises many fine attractions. I will be putting on my Blues Historian hat in order to give a demonstration/lecture for the legendary Cleveland Blues Society at 3 p.m. on Thursday, the 10th, Blues Society performances will be held in the Beer Garden tent and will feature some of the best of Cleveland's many blues acts. You can access the CBS schedule of blues performances here:

http://www.clevelandblues.org/index.php ... Itemid=343

(See below photos. Credited to legendary Lakewood photowhiz Alex Belisle and the Cleveland Blues Society)

Every Saturday, the Frostville village in the Metroparks (An ongoing project of the magnificent Olmsted Historical Society) holds a fabulous Farmers Market with food, music and all sorts of fun things to experience. I plan to appear and perform there on the 26th with Tom Yuhas and Tom Honsa, two legendary Northern Ohio roots music masters. In fact, I actually show up on Frostville's latest promo video right about 8:52 playing with that group. Here's that link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZKDn5-967s&t=387s

As well, on the 27th, at Lakewood United Methodist Church's Sunday morning service, (located at Summit and Detroit) I will be conducting the music, and we'll be featuring an original song written by my dad, (Robert Rice) and myself.

If you're ever at the Berea Fairgrounds flea market, (not held this week, due to the fair) you'll
likely see me walking around playing on the banjo.

Don't forget the great Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum either. They have many great events this month including a festival honoring the group "Yes" . I had the honor of doing their guitar work as "Guitar Guy Gary" and I think you will enjoy the shows and all of those beautiful instruments.

When I'm not at these places, you might catch me on some Friday evenings at a tremendous country/Gospel venue in Wadsworth called "The Music Barn". That place has some of the best old time down home chicken pickin' music you'll ever experience. Donations only too! (Route 18 and State, and then south to Ridgewood Rd. and left and a quick right into the driveway)

Other than this stuff, I'm just sittin' around, relaxin' in the August sunshine...

At least you can't say I'm beating my own drum here; Just messin' with the guitar, bass, and banjo right now!

Hoping to see you all out somewhere on the summertime musical highway!

Back to the banjo...

Just bumping this notice up to the top of the page, as I'll be out at the fair today at 3 p.m. for my Blues history demonstration. If you'd like a bit of insight into the fascinating world of the Blues, I'll see you out at the Beer Garden tent today!

...and yes, I WILL have a banjo there!

The banjo was in fact, an important part of the early Blues story.

See you there, I hope!

Back to the banjo.

Thanks to all who attended my Blues talk for the Cleveland Blues Society at the fairgrounds today.

I began my talk with my Sacred Native American flute cane. It shares the pentatonic 5 note scale of the Blues, which are essentially the 5 black keys of your piano. With origins in African and Asian music, the pentatonic scale is foundational to Blues and Rock.

Other instruments demonstrated today included the banjo, (naturally! ) the metal bodied resophonic guitar, a cigar box guitar, and the musical saw.

The Cleveland Blues Society is a fantastic organization and we are always looking for new member-volunteers to help with our mission of preserving an essential American Roots music form.

Thanks to to those who appreciated my other thread about Dad and WWII vets!

(Photo credit- The Andersen Family)



Back to the banjo!