Bluegrass brings good times in hard times

June 23, 10:12 PMFresno Acoustic Music ExaminerNancy Zuniga

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Bluegrass Conspiracy performing at Veterans Memorial Park in 2008

Most of us are watching our pennies these days. This often means cutting back or eliminating entertainment from the budget, but Fresno area residents can enjoy some good old-fashioned fun at no cost on Friday evenings throughout the summer. Local bluegrass bands have agreed to perform free concerts on Friday evenings, from 6:30 to 8:30pm. The concerts take place on the lawn at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Park, located at 902 5th Street, behind the Senior Center. Bring a lawn chair and a picnic cooler, and enjoy a relaxing time. All ages are welcome.

This coming Friday, June 26th, Baloney Creek will be performing for your listening pleasure. This group features four-time state fiddling champion and vocalist Dalisay Richter, band manager/mandolinist Ed Bell, guitarist Richard Rhyne, and bass player Barbara LaRae. Future Friday night concerts will feature other bluegrass bands from Fresno, Visalia, Madera, and Tulare counties who are kindly donating their time and talent to bring music to our community.

If you can't make it out to Veterans Memorial Park on Friday night, you can still hear some fine bluegrass music the following night at the Patio Cate, when the Grass Less Traveled will be filling in for regular house band GrassKickers. Patio Cafe is located in Fig Garden Village at the corner of Shaw and Palm in Fresno. Music will start around 6:30pm. As with the concert in the park, there is no charge for coming to listen, although you may want to relax with a cool glass of iced tea or lemonade while tapping your toes to the music. There's a lot of talent in our valley, and it can be enjoyed by the entire family without breaking the bank!