Bill Monroe and Doc Watson, Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival 1969

Free download of the 1969 concert is a gem for fans

A random tweet pointed me to this great concert from two giants of country and bluegrass music.

I couldn’t believe my luck in hearing Bill Monroe picking and singing in the left speaker and Doc Watson clear as a bell in the right.
The setlist for Doc Watson and Bill Monroe includes:

Deep River Blues
Peach Pickin’ Time In Georgia
Watson Blues
Midnight On The Stormy Deep
Paddy On The Turnpike
Feast Here Tonight
East Tennessee Blues

The website maintained by bluegrass fan Bill Robbins has more than 30 free, classic performances that you can download.

Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival

The Bill Monroe Bean Blossom Festival in Helmsburg Indiana has been running since 1969 and this recording is from that first year.

Of course everyone knows the importance of Bill Monroe to bluegrass music. While Monroe didn’t create bluegrass, he is responsible for setting the standard with his Blue Grass Boys arrangements for vocal harmony and instrumentation.

Doc Watson isn’t a bluegrass purist as such. His style is southern country, folk and bluegrass. Doc Watson is one of the best flat picking guitar players in the world and has a great dry vocal style.

The concert performance in 1969 shows the versatility of both artists as they blend their styles together.

Bill Robbins website has more concerts by Monroe, Lester Flatt, Ralph Stanley, and other bluegrass players. The sound is generally excellent.

Thanks Bill Robbins.

I’ve had a lifelong interest in folk and country music. During 2003 and 2004, I joined the PEI Bluegrass Society and my first public jams were the Friday night Superstore sessions.

That winter I followed Guy Cormier to Abram’s Village for Sunday afternoon jams. Those were great days and hearing these concerts brings back a flood of happy memories.

Check out Bill’s website and enjoy some great classic music.