Abby & Fleck

A typical Sunday morning. I turn on the TV for company as I work on my first cup of coffee. The screen shows a a couple of bluegrass players, Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn.

I’ve never heard of them, but bluegrass music is something I’ve always been interested in. Their story is intriguing, and once they start playing, I’m hooked. Their love of bluegrass music led to a love for each other, and you can feel that love when they play together.

I found that they were playing a Saturday show in Cincinnati, a town I had yet to visit. With a couple clicks on the internet, I found myself sitting in the Taft theatre, ready to listen to my first live bluegrass concert.

I simply have no words to describe how perfect the night was. From Fleck’s stories of traveling across Africa to trace the roots of bluegrass influence and introducing his music to African musicians, to Abby’s infectious personality and stories of corporate greed, her grandma’s roller skating rink in Illinois, and how she loves murder ballard’s where the woman doesn’t die, it was an opening act for the ages.

I’ve never seen an opening act get such high praise from an audience, let alone a standing ovation that lasted forever, which led to an encore performance full of dancing and revelry.

The banjo playing was incredible, and solidified my love for bluegrass americana music.