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Bluegrass music draws a huge following

Delightful array of bands entertain audience
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Bluegrass Fever, the host band for the Chemainus Bluegrass Extravaganza. From left, Jan Norton (fiddle), Luann Burton (stand-up bass), and Barrie Hemmings (guitar and banjo). (Photo by Don Bodger)

Bluegrass Fever gripped the Chemainus Valley Saturday.

In fact, Bluegrass Fever was the name of one of the bands performing in the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society’s Bluegrass Extravaganza at the Waterwheel Park Rotary Bandshell. A huge crowd turned out for an afternoon of fun and lively music.

Bluegrass Fever had to play on without one of its mainstays, Bob Johns, due to illness. Remaining band members Jan Norton, Luann Burton and Barrie Hemmings made the best of it and put on a great show.

Following performances by Sandi and Melissa Endean, the festival portion got underway with the Replacements.

The group consists of Linda Lavender, Jim Senka, Lee Heppner and Luigi Callvori.

“This is such a beautiful little place,” said Senka. “We’re really quite pleased and proud we were picked to play here.”

Bluegrass Fever has been a mainstay on the stage since the festival’s inception.

“I think we’ve played the last 11 years here,” said Hemmings. “Really enjoy it. Great crowd.”

Also performing to the appreciative audience during the day were: Backspin, Scout Mountain and the Clover Point Drifters.

The Bluegrass Extravaganza followed the equally successful Blues Festival two weeks earlier. Music continues every Saturday and Tuesday evening at Waterwheel Park until the end of August.


@chemainusnews
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca

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Bluegrass Fever, the host band for the Chemainus Bluegrass Extravaganza. From left, Jan Norton (fiddle), Luann Burton (stand-up bass), and Barrie Hemmings (guitar and banjo). Unfortunately, mainstay Bob johns couldn’t be there due to illness. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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Bluegrass Fever, the host band for the Chemainus Bluegrass Extravaganza. From left, Jan Norton (fiddle), Luann Burton (stand-up bass), and Barrie Hemmings (guitar and banjo). Unfortunately, mainstay Bob johns couldn’t be there due to illness. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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Bluegrass Fever, the host band for the Chemainus Bluegrass Extravaganza. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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The Replacements, from left: Linda Lavender, Jim Senka, Lee Heppner, Luigi Callvori. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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The Replacements, from left: Linda Lavender, Jim Senka, Lee Heppner, Luigi Callvori. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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The Replacements. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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Linda Lavender and Jim Senka of The Replacements. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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Linda Lavender and Jim Senka of The Replacements. (Photo by Don Bodger)


Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
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