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Renofest in Hartsville

Apr 9, 2009 | Comment(s) 0

Always the 4^th weekend in March, the Renofest Bluegrass Festival kicked off with banjos-a-plucking. Bands from all over America, some from as far as Alaska, converged on the small town of Hartsville, SC. Festivities started Friday with the amateur band competition where a variety of bands played to a crowd and a blind panel of judges for a prize of $1500 and the right to compete against the professional bands on Sunday.

Though the atmosphere was competitive, the bands seemed more interested in congratulating fellow musicians on a good set, comparing musical influences, and talking about the music that they all love, than wining. We lucked out and booked a room at the same hotel where all the bands were staying. Friday night, in our hotel room, about a hour after the competition we hear, what we think, is a band warming up down the hall. After listening to so much bluegrass at the competition we thought our ears were playing tricks on us. Upon further investigation we found that about fifty musicians playing various instruments were jamming in the lobby of the hotel. At 11 pm the hotel told them to stop; but instead, they just moved to the parking lot. They took turns with solos and backing each other up. A prime example of what effect music can have on people.

Bands and musicians of all ages, where given the chance to show off their talent. On Saturday the individual banjo and guitar competition took place. Its one thing to be in a band and have the courage to play in front of an audience, its another to be able to get up on stage by yourself. My hats off to all the solo competitors, your skill and speed cannot be matched in many other genres of music. But one kid, specifically, blew my mind. I never got his name; we will just call him The Banjo Kid. When the thirteen-year-old Banjo Kid took the stage we immediately sat up straight in our seats. We had heard him play the day before in his family’s band, so to an extent we knew what to expect. Apparently the Banjo Kid had picked up a sponsorship from a banjo manufacturer about two weeks prior to the festival.Thirteen and already sponsored. Can’t wait to see were he will be when he’s older. I wonder if he’s any good a Guitar Hero.

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