Adiaha’s Bluegrass Camp 2019 – Pick Your Passion

It’s 2019 and you decide to sign up for Adiaha Bürkmiller’s bluegrass camp where you can spend a long weekend with other like-minded folks, take lessons, practice, jam, perform, go to concerts, relax and enjoy the Bavarian Alps and cuisine. Partners are also welcome to join in. 

Soon thereafter, you get instructions on how to prepare for it. This year you were asked to do the following: Go fishing with Catfish John in an Ocean of Diamonds, and then, Dig a Hole in the Meadow, chase the Fox on the Run and then Think of What You’ve Done. After that, travel to Ohio and get to know the Big Sciota. Ready? These are your 2019 Camp Songs that will be practiced and played in jams and heard here and there in some of the Scratch Bands. Of course, many other songs will be played all around camp too in the numerous jams that will continue into late in the night.

About 100 folks will be waiting for you and two weeks before camp, you receive the detailed schedule. Carefully prepared parallel options of things to do. What did you sign up for? Jamming or a playing in a scratch band? Taking lessons on your instrument? Singing? Chilling at camp and enjoying concerts, jams and a walk in the alps? Yes, you can change your mind on some things last minute, and, have an abundance of ongoing choices to think about ahead of time too.

It all went by too fast, and what a splendid camp it was! This year, 25 participants joined in for the first time therefore there was a greater mix of instruments and interests in the group. No doubt, this was a measure of the effort, diligence and organizational talent that Adiaha Bürkmiller has put forward in the many years she has led this camp.

Each day one could participate in various jams led by devoted and talented long standing Jam Guides: Dieter Rahner, Obi Barthmann, Jürgen Biller and Gerhard Saller. Scratch bands were busy practicing, instrumental classes were underway. There was a wide offering for instrumental enthusiasts: 

  • Julie Elkins (USA), Jürgen Biller (D) and Obi Barthmann (D) taught bluegrass banjo
  • Billy Cardine (USA) the dobro. 
  • Guitar rhythm and flatpicking featured John Lowell (USA) and Gerhard Saller (D)
  • Mandolin: Tom Murphy (USA)
  • Fiddle: Gabriel McCaslin (D/USA)
  • Clawhammer banjo: Mary Lucey (USA) and Gerhard Saller (D)
  • Upright Bass: Thomas Kärner (D)