Hazel in Hartsville

So, I had never even heard of Hartsville until I found myself booked to perform there twice in one week.  The irresistible thing about these performances is how different they were from each other.  I had been booked for awhile to play lute for a production of Midsummer Night’s Dream at Coker College.  Jim Carrier was on to play recorder and we dusted off our fine Renaissance garb and tuned up the lute and we were poised for our trip.  Then last week Walter Biffle – Hungry Monk Music’s new banjo teacher – invites me to play guitar for him at the Reno Fest Bluegrass Festival in non other than Hartsville, SC.Both trips were quite lively.  The first one {March 21} Walter and his wife Alison and their two dogs and I loaded up with banjos and guitars for a bluegrass adventure.  We jammed in the parkin’ lot and played Don Reno tunes till the cows came home.  We stayed in at least a “half a star” motel complete with a brochure giving the “basic information on radiation and instructions on what to do if there is an emergency at the Robinson Nuclear Plant.”Walter entered the state banjo competition, but alas, didn’t make it into the finals.  It was rigged I tell you!On the way home we made a pit stop at the famous Guy and Tina’s Pickn’ Parlor which was a thrill for me.  Since Walter is a super star there I was invited to play the last set on stage with Walter, Steve on bass, Gene on mandolin and Rufus on guitar.  Rufus lives 55 miles from Doc Watson’s house and I decided that all guitar players should really know the mileage to Doc’s house.  Anyway, it was fun, fun, fun.Now this last week end {March 27} myself, Jim and my two children loaded up lutes, gowns, recorders, tights, and skateboards and headed back to Hartsville.  This time we met Jerry Curry from Columbia who was going to play harpsichord.  We played “Where the Bee Sucks” – no I’m not kidding, “Willow Song” and many other Shakespearean favorites.  The stage crew, actors and director where fantastic and so well organize it made our job easy.  The young singers did a stand up job of these sweet songs and we had a wonderful time.  Luckily there are no photos of me in my gown and Jim in tights.  We loved the Midnight Rooster Coffee House and the lovely gardens.  We also went to every antique store.Two fun gigs on Bluegrass guitar and lute.All for nowHazel