Upon the heels of attending the NTCMA Festival in Le Mars, IA. I and my friend Allyn traveled across the river to the 4th Annual Applegrass Bluegrass Festival. It was hosted again by the Great Plains Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association at Ditmars Orchards near Council Bluffs. Ten bands performed on the outdoor stage on Saturday and Sunday evenings and provided listeners with a wide range of local bluegrass and old time music. The temperature cooled very comfortably under a starry sky as the last couple of bands took the stage. I ferried a couple of short stints at the mixing console for Josh Krohn (Dirty River Ramblers) to cover while he took a break or was on stage with all the performers who joined in the final encore. Of course no music festival would be complete without real kettle corn and BBQ sandwiches – along with a variety of menu choices inside the Ditmars store. A number of other vendors were represented as well as an extensive collection of old time stringed instruments was on display. 
This festival is an extension of other activities of the GPBOTMA which includes their monthly show and jam the first Sunday afternoon of each month (2 pm), picking up again in October and continuing through May. The American Legion Hall Post #1 is the venue, located at 7811 Davenport (just north of 78th & West Dodge in Omaha). Come listen, jam and learn your instrument in a relaxed atmosphere with friends and those who soon will be.
