No More Rank Strangers

2010 cancelled

Melody Elwell Romancito — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:50:33 +0000

Sorry folks – just can’t bring it about. Times is tough and there is work to be done. Thanks to everyone who was looking forward to this event. Sorry to have to cancel. I’m sure you all understand.

Jess Fest 2010 Date set: Aug. 21

Melody Elwell Romancito — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:46:02 +0000

We’ve set the date for Jess Fess 2010 to be Saturday, August 21, 2010, Lower Ranchitos, same place as last year.

Jess Fest video preview

Melody Elwell Romancito — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:27:25 +0000

First photos

Melody Elwell Romancito — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:20:27 +0000

Well, there’s still a bunch of lawn chairs and ice chests out in the “lower 40″ and my refrigerator is bursting with leftovers but the First Annual Jess Fest has come and gone. Rick took photos and video and I’ll be posting them here as soon as I get them.

Thanks to everyone who attended, helped and especially to those who brought their instruments and played. Jess was undoubted smiling down on us, glad some one has taken up the call that there be no more rank strangers when it comes to bluegrass music in this neck of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Come on out to play

Melody Elwell Romancito — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:03:43 +0000

Do you like bluegrass, old time and American folk music? Do you play? Would you like to come and help us celebrate one of the best summers on record and also the life of Jess Payne who used to host bluegrass music get-togethers Saturday, August 22, 5-10 p.m. here in Lower Ranchitos, near Taos New Mexico.

We’re rounding up anyone who’s interested in lending a hand or playing, and we welcome all listeners.

Contact event organizer Melody Romancito at melodyromancito@gmail.com for details.

Grandfather's Clock

Melody Elwell Romancito — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:43:32 +0000

http://romancito.com/sounds/petey/clock.mp3

If I Were Free

Melody Elwell Romancito — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:42:17 +0000

http://romancito.com/sounds/petey/free.mp3

How the idea got started

Melody Elwell Romancito — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:39:21 +0000

I recorded Petey (Guadalupe) Payne and her daughter, Rose Miller a couple of years ago and I just recently was able to recover the audio files. When I posted them, the response was immediate — people love this kind of music and Emily Benoist Ruffin and I got the idea to plan a little bluegrass jam in honor of Jess Payne.

We understand a month is not a lot of time to plan something like this, but Deep August is the best time for something like this, and I figure “why not?”

If you would like to jam with us Saturday, August 22, 2009, Lower Ranchitos, near Taos New Mexico, please drop me an e-mail or a comment here and I’ll be sure to answer back.