Wonder what it feels like from the stage? Kevin has started sending in some great journal entries to share with everyone-- the shows from his eyes.


A Weekend of Many Firsts
Raccoon Creek Festival
Kevin Pace

Sept. 8th And 9th was a special weekend For Mountain Rhythm. Besides the fact that festival was in my home town Of Paulding County, Ga., It was also the first festival that all 4 core band members had played together! Robert and Eric had both been playing with Kenneth And I, but not at the same time. Jimbo, The Jack Of All Trades, had been filling in for both of them. But the Raccoon Creek Festival in Dallas, Ga. saw us all together for the first time! We got a great response from the crowd and had a wonderful time there, even though Patty Loveless didn’t show up this time.

We also got to meet our Website Designer for the first time. Nicole Spaller came down from Nashville and took several photos of us. She does a fine job with web wesigning and photography. We also recorded a live cd there, which we now have for sale at shows, (along with a DVD from another one of our shows). So Racoon Creek Was A Memorable Place For Mountain Rhythm- thanks to all who came out to support us!




The Birthplace Of Bluegrass Music
Jerusalem Ridge Celebration
Kevin Pace

This is the 4 Day weekend I look forward to the most: Oct. 5th – 6th. It’s where it all began for Bluegrass Music. Jerusalem Ridge, High Above Rosine, Ky. Where Bill Monroe, Father Of Bluegrass Was Born.

The Jerusalem Ridge Celebration is put on every year by The Monroe Brothers Foundation, headed up by Dr. Campbell Mercer. This is the greatest festival because of the location and the people that organize it- and it gets bigger and better every year! This is where we've gotten most of our exposure- by far! There were over 40 Top bands and about 9,000 in total attendance over the 4 days. We made fans of people from all over the United States and several foreign countries. The entire festival was recorded and will air on The Cumberland Highlanders Show on Rfd-Tv.

Many Thanks goes out to Campbell and Julie Mercer, all of the Autry’s, Volunteers and to all our Fans who made Jerusalem Ridge 06’ the best ever.




Another Festival Of First’s
Marietta Bluegrass Festival
Kevin Pace

One of the last festivals of the year around the North Ga. area is The Marietta Bluegrass Festival, held on Nov. 10th and 11th. Usually by this time, a pretty cool nip is in the air. But this year it was quite warm for the festival, which was indoors anyway. We played 2 Days and got a great response from the audience. We sold many Cd’s and Dvd’s, signed a lot of autographs and met a lot of groups we’d never seen before. But the most exciting thing for us was getting our first standing ovation and first encore! I've been waiting for that one for a long time! On Friday we got 1, and Saturday we got 2- we will always remember that.

Also for the first time, We incorporated Robert’s Vaudville Act with the Open-Back Banjo. One must only see this to appreciate it. Many thanks to Jack Masters for inviting us and putting on a great festival, as well as to our Fans who drove a good distance to come see us, and to the new fans that we made in Marietta, Ga.