The bands had finished their warm ups, and it was time to let us in to the stage area to get our seats. It was first come, first serve, and I was nervous about getting a rotten seat as there was quite a few people ahead of me in line. I thought about sitting on the rocks that were stage right, but then thought better of it and made my way down to the front…
One of many luxuries of solo traveling is you only need one seat for concerts. People have a natural tendency to give others space and not crowd perceived personal areas. This works to my advantage as two front row couples have left a single chair open between them, front row and center.
I excitedly grab it and get to know my neighbors before the show begins. The couple to my right drove down from Michigan. It was a birthday gift from the girlfriend.
The older couple on my left are from the South. She immediately questions me, wondering if I’m a “northerner?”. We don’t talk much after that comment.
Soon the lights go down in the cave, and Bluegrass Underground is about to begin. First up is Haas Kowert Tice.
335 feet below the surface of the earth, the fiddles and banjos fly, the familiar plucking of strings and down home lyrics fill the cavern. Next up is Town Mountain, and they figuratively bring the house to it’s knees, especially with their classic rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on fire“.
Without a doubt, if you love bluegrass music, seeing it a cave in the South is a must.
