: Last night, we found our female bacground vocal section, a pair of sisters who call themselves "The Damnation Girls", and who are expert at the tight, horn-like Appalachian-style shape-singing that I've come to favor after listening endlessly to the Stanley Bros and Gillian Welch.



Hmm, this just spikes my curiosity about NFU even more! I grew up in Appalachia and in spite of my fondness for most all genres of music, on balance I still listen to bluegrass as much or more than anything else. Much to the chagrin of my rock/jazz/pop loving friends *g*.

I am planning to be in Austin for the Old Settler's Music Festival Apr. 19-21 and was thinking it would be killer if NFU was in the lineup. Alas, I know it ain't so...*sigh*.  Maybe next year? Seems like it might be the type of venue that's right up the NFU alley, and it's close to home for at least some of your band.

For those that are unaware of it, the 2002 festival features a great lineup of musicians and songwriters, including a couple of my personal favorites. John Cowan (of New Grass Revival fame) and IMHO one of the best male vocalists on the planet, will be appearing with fiddle legend - Vassar Clements (www.johncowan.com and www.vassarclements.com). In addition,  Bruce Hornsby, Michelle Shocked, Del McCoury, Peter Rowan, Ryan Holladay (an amazing 8 year old banjo picker), Monte Montgomery, Railroad Earth, Darden Smith and Smokin' Grass are just a few more of the excellent artists that will be on hand. It should be an incredible weekend of music, fun and camaraderie.

for more info:

Old Settler's Music Festival http://www.bluegrassfestival.com

Marc