Why are young people flocking to this music? What is drawing them? The need for simple self expression? No doubt. The need to be heard? That too. I think that also, its the community of great artists (whether they were "known" or not does not matter) that brought us/them to this place, where the pickers and singers, taught the nephew, the daughter or son, the neighbor kid, or even a total stranger, a few "licks" to get them to the next level of picking, or how to blend their voice, to get a beautiful harmonious sound with another voice. The bluegrass "music mentors", I call them. It is their legacy, you see, who they taught, who taught them, and who they influences future generations, just by their playing. That Bluegrass "big brother or big sister" showed them, how easily they could be part of something beautiful, exciting, fun, true, pure, if they just practice and have the desire. Bluegrass music. It's for everyone who wants to take the time. Time, is such a rare and precious thing to have anymore.

It is very exciting to see the music continue in its truest form and also exciting to see a progressive movement that grows that is utilizing the pureness of the music, to make something new and special of it, as well. I refer to the new music as "hot" a lot. Maybe its because we think, that the music, in the generations of those gone on, was and is "in the blood". Blood is hot. when its pumping. Bluegrass is the lifeblood of a simple people, that reside all over the world, and the young ones, X, Y and Z's, have that "young blood" to offer in their music. Bluegrass music is beautiful music. and they sing of things they considered important, God, Love, Family, Children, The Old Folks, Their Mountains, being "neighborly and the all important, "lonesome feeling", that life a lot of time, brings. Of course, there are the murder ballads, too. It's the scary Friday night movie of Bluegrass, told in a song. Heard one lately?

Gracie Muldoon
World Wide Bluegrass