Ashby Frank
Mandolinist, Singer, Songwriter

Well, we made it through that marathon trip to Montana and back. It was really great to get to hang out with our friends from Montana and North Dakota. Wish I would have had a little more energy and time!

We’re back here in Branson to play at Silver Dollar City. If you’re a normal reader of my blog, you might remember that I was here a year or so back. It’s a great place to perform, and visit… and I love roller coasters!

Tomorrow is another one of “those days”. We play here at Silver Dollar City, then hop in the old untrustworthy Turtle Top and ride and drive all night to Denton, NC. I’m really looking forward to pickin’ in my old backyard and getting to see my family, but I don’t really want to be awake for the trip! haha. Denton was the first festival I ever went to, and even though it’s changed a good bit it still feels like home.

Also, there’s some good news for you Mashville Brigade fans! The Legendary “Duke of Drive” Terry Baucom has signed on to do some road dates with the band next year, and hopefully we’ll be getting some of those dates on the calender soon! I’m really looking forward to it! So you guys all be sure and let your favorite festival or concert series know about the Brigade. Here’s a article from the Bluegrass Blog about Bauc.

Everybody have a good weekend!

Yesterday I left home for the beginning of a 12 day trip, and when I get back it will be time for the annual IBMA World of Bluegrass Week and Bluegrass FanFest in Downtown Nashville.

In some ways, this is like “Bluegrass New Year”… when all the musicians and business people start their new booking/promotion year. In some ways it feels like 5 years have passed since it was this time last year, and in some ways it feels like it’s only been a few months.

This is my favorite time of the year to be in Nashville, or the South in general. The weather has been awesome and I’ve been getting outdoors a lot.

Anyway, for the trip this week, I left my house yesterday at 7am and almost didn’t make my 9:40am flight because a wreck had jammed up the traffic on I-40. After much stress, I did make it and David and I flew to Chicago where we had a layover at our old haunt, Chicago Midway Airport.

The plan was to get picked up by Justin and Greg in Saint Louis, and they were supposed to leave Chicago before we flew in there for the layover. BUT as usual, we’re having problems with the TurtleTop, this time with the ABS system and pretty much little problems left over from people not cleaning and tightening up all the repairs to the axle and brakes over the last couple months. So needless to say, Justin and Greg were still in Chicago when we landed there, and we beat them to Saint Louis by quite a few hours. I now know my way around Terminal E of the STL Airport pretty well. hehe

We did make it to Grant’s Farm (Which is a really nice place to visit if you’re ever in STL) in time for a soundcheck and dinner, and had a fun show with a packed house. I must say that by the end of the second set my voice and body were pretty tired from going to bed late after another blast at Mashville, getting up early, and being in a dry airplane all day.

After the show we drove on to a hotel in Lebanon, MO and we’ll be playing at the big Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival tonight and tomorrow that’s not too very far from here. I was happy to find a bed and a good 8 hours of sleep and not be too far from our venue tonight!

After the festival here, we’ll be heading back to STL to fly to Billings, MT, and then drive to Miles City, MT for a few days there! I remember last time I was there I played some poker and watched a rodeo. Hopefully I can do it again, and of course play some good music and make some new friends.

Everybody have a good weekend! Come see me.

I got to visit two new places this past weekend, which is getting to be a rarer and rarer occurrence. I’ve really enjoyed every time I’ve gotten to travel to, pick around, and stay in every part of Canada that I’ve been to so far, and this trip was no exception.

The first “leg” of the tour was driving/riding to Chicago to pick up Greg and Justin, and then immediately driving off again for the Minneapolis area,  getting some rest, then driving to Washburn, ND to play at the Cross Ranch State Park. Since I joined Special C a little over two years ago, I’ve performed in North Dakota more than I ever thought I would considering the population. I’ve met some of the most genuine, nice, hospitable people up there, and they make it very nice to visit the “Peace Garden State”. It sure is a long, long way from Nashville, though! Almost 22 hours in total.

After leaving there we drove up to Minot, ND to get some rest, then the next day we drove across the border into Manitoba. Lots of plains, farming, and flat land, but some nice little towns here and there. Most of the population of Manitoba lives in the Winnipeg area, and that’s where we played. There was a great crowd, and a great sound guy/system at the West End Cultural Centre. Hopefully we made some new fans and friends there! I’d love to go back.

On Sunday we drove into Ontario and played on the Harbor Front in Kenora. Not a huge crowd, but a nice place to be on a Sunday afternoon. We hung out there at the Harbor for a little while and had dinner, then it was time to head back towards Chicago. Tim Dishman was filling in on bass while David went to a wedding in Idaho, and he drove most of the way back to Chicago, which was a 10 hour trip. Then I drove most of the way back to Nashville. Tim’s a very bad man on the Bass! It was awesome to get to pick some with him.

It was a marathon trip and we have another one coming up in a week or so, so now that I’m home I’m trying to relax and enjoy this awesome weather we’re having here in Nashville! I think I’m going to go down to the Walking Horse Show in Shelbyville tonight, then I leave early in the morning for Aledo, IL and the Barnes Family Bluegrass Festival.

BTW, I had an awesome time at Mashville on Tuesday night! Thanks to all who came out!