The Stoners' Serenade

You Should Know

Not A New Venue, A Different Concept

The Dancing Fox Music Park, located south of Graham, has begun to offer monthly weekend camp out shows through the spring, summer and fall. The campground is on the Haw River and we're encouraged to bring kayaks and inner tubes.

Festival Season To Feature A (wait for it) SMILEFEST REUNION!

We already have dates and even bands for some fests this year and the exciting news that the creature known as Smilefest shall once more walk the earth. Check out the Shows and Festivals page.

WMS Internet Radio

Back when I started the Stoners' Serenade in 2000, there were only two shows in the southeast playing that kind of music; the Dunhams in Atlanta (who have disappeared from the face of the Earth) and Wildman Steve in Auburn. The Wildman has started an internet radio channel he calls, with all his usual modesty, Wildman Steve Radio . Check it out.

It's Over. We Won.

Now it's time to start making fun of the Obama administration. Let's face it. It's much easier to find comedy in minor missteps and personality quirks than the death, destruction, and mayhem the Bushies wrought. And, just as a present to smart asses like me, he nominates Hillary to State. The Progressive Blogosphere may hate it, but to me it's manna from heaven. Check out the Liberty Watch page.

New Local Music Website

Some local music freaks (my favorite kind of people) have started a new website, Support Live Music , that does a great job of keeping up with what going on locally, especially at smaller venues that, to be honest, I don't do a good enough job of covering.

The main thrust of The Stoners' Serenade is to expose and promote bands that play local clubs and festivals, especially those regional acts that go virtually unnoticed on even the best radio station.

That is my mission, to boldly play those bands that have never been played in my area before.

I love brilliant musicianship and it does not matter to me whether it would be classed as blue-grass, jazz, jam bands, new-grass, rock, or reggae. Whatever you call it if it jams I will play it.

Some thanks are in order here. I could not do the show I do without the help of people who love to record live music. Some who stand out in their kindness to me are Tom Delage, "Tie-dye" Jim Montanya, Debra Jones, and most especially Joel Hudson of jamlive.org. In a separate category all together is long-time Smilefest archivist Kelly Breed.

My unindicted co-consprirator is, and always will be, Chris "Papa Bear" Kempf. Our saturday nights of getting drunk and listening to music real loud formed the backbone of the early days of the show. His dear wife Siobhan has been our DD to more shows than I can count. for that, and for so many other kindnesses, Siobhan, thank you.

There are only two rules I try (and sometimes fail) to follow; 1) some Jerry Garcia in some form every week. 2) close the show with something long and old and good.

Grady