15th annual bluegrass festival returns to Naperville this weekend
A little more than a year after Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent joined musical forces, it's clear the partnership between the two bluegrass veterans is panning out.
The pair, about to release their sophomore CD days before they perform two Friday shows at the 15th annual Naperville Bluegrass Music Festival, took home six Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America awards in February.
That's after they won seven International Bluegrass Music Association Awards in 2008.
Both play guitar and bass, both sing lead and harmony vocals. Vincent also plays the mandolin.
Their Naperville stop - the festival runs Friday through Sunday at the Holiday Inn Select, 1801 Naper Blvd. - is one of about 150 dates scheduled for the touring duo through the end of the calendar year.
They explain their harmonious relationship this way: "Number one, Darrin is a good man. He's a Christian and probably one of the best people you'll ever meet," said Dailey. "Number two, he's probably got the strongest work ethic in bluegrass. And number three, he's a little crazy."
"Jamie, he's a good man as well," said Vincent. "He's such a talented, gifted individual when it comes to music and living, both."
Their record's title, "Brothers From Different Mothers," is a way of stating how well they play and sound together.
"We're not even close to being brothers, but we have such a sibling harmony," said Vincent.
"We have that mesh, that blend in the vocals," said Dailey.
Vincent said the new songs have the same, traditional format their debut album did, along with a few new twists.
"We stretch out with strings and an orchestra," Vincent said. "We try to broaden our songs for our fans. We're trying to reach out to grow the bluegrass base."
As always, their sets include gospel songs.
"Gospel music has been a thread of bluegrass throughout the whole genre of bluegrass music," said Dailey.
Comedy is another staple in their shows.
"We just kind of stumble into it. We have a mandolin player who's about three bricks short of a full load," Dailey said, laughing.
Mandolin player Jeff Park inspired an unintended comedic moment at last year's festival in Naperville when his foot got caught in the curtain as the band walked out on stage. He fell and the curtain came down with him, Vincent recalled.
"Everybody just reared back with a big gasp," said Dailey. "I didn't know what to do."
After a momentary pause, a woman in the audience stood and said, "Now, that's got to hurt." Park got up, brushed himself off and the band launched into its first song.
"He wasn't hurt, just his pride," said Dailey.
Festival producer Terry Lease said this year's festival also features Darrin Vincent's sister, Rhonda Vincent, and her band, the Rage, an act that canceled last year.
"She caught a terrible, bad cold and missed about two weeks of dates," Lease said. "She's a real trooper. It has be something pretty serious to get her away from her commitments."
New this year is a "jam camp" to be presented Friday by music instructor Keith Yoder, Lease said.
The festival also includes regional and local talent, a guitar trade show, workshops, jam sessions and an open talent showcase on Saturday morning.
Lease predicts large crowds.
"The interest level up front is good again," he said.
<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p> <p class="News"><b>What:</b> 15th annual Naperville Bluegrass Music Festival </p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> 2 to 10 p.m. March 27, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. March 28 and 10 a.m. until noon March 29</p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Holiday Inn Select, 1801 Naper Blvd., Naperville </p> <p class="News"><b>Tickets:</b> $5, $20 and $25 for shows, weekend passes $45-$50; half-price for ages 13-18, free for 12 and younger accompanied by an adult </p> <p class="News"><b>Info:</b> (217) 243-3159 or <a href="http://www.bluegrassmidwest.com" target="new">www.bluegrassmidwest.com</a></p>