Bluegrass Bands Light Up Richmond for the Fisher House

Glen Allen, VA – April showers were not enough to keep bluegrass fans away from the 10th annual Richmond Bluegrass Jam held at the Cultural Arts Center of Glen Allen. All proceeds from the event go to support the Fisher House, a facility the provides lodging to the families of veterans receiving treatment at the McGuire VA hospital. In the previous 9 years, this event has raised over $165,000 for the Fisher House.

This year, 27 of the region’s best bluegrass and Americana bands gathered on April 13, 2019 to entertain and raise money. In the few hours I stayed at the event I was treated to a lot of fun music, food, and drink.

The event was held on three stages with each act getting approximately one hour of set time. I was able to take in eight bands during my stay, all bringing their unique talent to the event. During the course of the day, musicians were holding their own jam sessions, playing whatever came to mind with fellow musicians in several of the common areas.

This was a well-organized, family-friendly event that draws music fans from all over the area. As stated on the event’s website, the primary purpose of the event is to raise money for veterans through the Fisher House, “but who says you can’t have a whole lot of fun in the process?” They succeeded in both goals! am already looking forward to next year!

Band Lineup

Theater Stage

1:20pm         Heritage
2:20pm         Josh Grigsby and County Line
3:20pm         Rocky Hill Bluegrass
4:20pm         East of Afton
5:20pm         Commonwealth Bluegrass Band
6:20pm         Cary Street Ramblers
7:20pm         Old Dogs New Tricks
8:20pm         Big Boss Combo

Ballroom Stage

1:00pm         Flatland Bluegrass Band
2:00pm         Cook County
3:00pm         The Hot Seats
4:00pm         Grassland Bluegrass Band
5:00pm         County Seat Band
6:00pm         Anvil Brothers
7:00pm         Back Forty Drive
8:00pm         Highway 249
9:00pm         River City Band
10:00pm       Slack Family

Café Stage

12:40pm       Mark Daniel and Joe Bird
1:40pm         Oak Lane
2:40pm         Dustcutters
3:40pm         Copper Ridge
4:40pm         Some Assembly Required
5:40pm         Davis Bradley
6:40pm         Tara Mills and Jimmy Stelling
7:40pm         Church Hill Music Company
8:40pm         Creekside Pickers

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Dave Pearson is based out of Richmond, VA by way of Hayward, WI. He has long had a passion for music. Growing up in rural Wisconsin, he rocked out to the likes of Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond, and The Lettermen. Then, one Saturday night, being the rebel he was born to be, he caught an Alice Cooper interview (it may have been on The Midnight Special) and saw him perform, “Welcome to My Nightmare”. Dave was hooked on Rock and Roll (and many other genres as well). Dave has enjoyed (amateur) photography to some degree most of his adult life. Recently Dave started to apply his event photography skills in various music settings with success. He finds that photographing a performance gives him a much greater appreciation for the artist.