Life in Other Neighborhoods…. (Saturday Night Version)
From Goldenseal, a magazine of West Virginia traditional life:
“Every Saturday afternoon, Ivan [at 90 years] packs his violin and banjo in his car and drives the half mile to Bowman Ridge Community Association Center. . . . He makes the coffee and sets the potluck table for the weekly ‘Bowman Ridge Opry,’ an open jam session of bluegrass, country, and traditional artists….
“There’s no cover charge for this gathering of friends, which gets under way by 7 p.m. and goes until 11 p.m. every Saturday, regardless of weather, crowd size, or lack of pickers. …Like the other musicians, he does it for the camaraderie and smiles. ‘If you can get them people sitting back there grinning like a butcher’s dog, you know you are doing something right.’ “
Tags: Social, The Leaping Issue 15(1)