Ashby Frank
Mandolinist, Singer, Songwriter

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.