The Bluegrass Ball featuring The Travelin’ McCourys, Drew Emmitt and Andy Thorn of Leftover Salmon stomped though Chicago to a rousing house of hardcore bluegrass fans took over dancing in the aisles. The stage as a whos-who of monster bluegrass instrumentalists. This ensemble was definitely having a great time playing together.
The set opened up with 'Walk out in the Rain,’ an energetic, high harmony number with lighting fast pickin’ that set the pace for the evening.
Mid-set they honored John Hartford playing his song ‘Vamp in the Middle.’ At one point the playing veered into an amazing space-jam undefinable to any category.
The closing encore was the bluegrass standard 'Roll in my Sweet Babies Arms’ ending the night on such a high note, we all could forget our worries for a moment, lost in one of the most contagious folk music know.