...And The Hippie Festival

   After we finished climbing in Moab, we headed on down the road to Flagstaff. I think it was only a few hours drive and we got to the campground about dark. We set up the tent and then went to find Jake and Brittany's aunt and uncle, Roger and Julie, who were actually in charge of the entire Pickin' in the Pines festival. (Roger and Julie got us into the festival in exchange for our volunteering at the festival. They were very kind and generous!) Jake and Justin ended up jammin' with them around the campfire until about 2am.

This pickin' and jammin' around campfires until 2am was a regular occurrence all 3 nights.
The next day, we spent most of our time in downtown Flagstaff checking out all the outdoor recreational stores as well as other little shops. Coffee
was also on the menu along with lunch at a Thai and sushi restaurant. We made it back to the campground in time to hear the evening performers for the first day of the festival.

 There were local groups from Flagstaff playing, as well as big-name bluegrass groups from all over. I don't remember all the names, but one group was called Slugs From Space.

The banjo player from this group hung out and played at the campfire with Jake and Justin one night.

On Saturday, the bands started with the Burnett Family,

The Krueger Brothers from Sweden (who were my favorite).

And then it started raining. Some folks were prepared with umbrellas...

...and others just squished up closer to the stage. That's what you call die-hard bluegrass fans, I guess.
After the rain, we went back to eat at our tent before we had to perform our main duties for the weekend.

Our lovely campsite.
The main duties we were supposed to perform was to help unload and set up the headlining band of the festival, who just happened to be Brittany's favorite bluegrass band of all-time.

Uncle Rog and Aunt Julie, Jake, Brittany, myself, and Justin outside of the Infamous Stringdusters bus. The famous band that we helped to unload and set up for the Saturday night show!

Chillin' out backstage like we belong there!

Justin and Brit were put on light duty.

Jake and I were supposed to be on sound duty, so that meant a lot of sitting around until we could roll out cords and such.

Myself with the Stringdusters bass!

I would just like to say that I touched almost every single thing in this photo.

And Justin just hangin' out with all the various bands instruments.

Jake finally being able to put microphone cords together.

Behold, the Infamous Stringdusters!!!

I'd just like to say that Justin and I talked to this guy in person.

After the concert was over, we helped to tear down and pack everything back up. Unfortunately, we did not get to mingle with the band at all. Brittany did get her t-shirt autographed and the crew was genuinely grateful for our help.

Sunday morning was the wrap-up of the festival. We hung around for a bit, but had to hit the road in order to get home Sunday night.....which didn't quite happen. I think I ended up getting home close to 4am Monday morning. All in all, it was a good trip, and I have discovered that there is such a thing as good bluegrass music!!!