It's been a good run. When COVID hit, HVBA concerts and jams came to a sudden halt. Our goal was to keep our members and readers engaged with all things bluegrass, but with live events on pause, there wasn’t much to report.
Fortunately, two dedicated bluegrass enthusiasts stepped up in a big way. In June 2020, Dick Bowden launched the very first installment of his Bluegrass Trivia Contest, challenging readers with clever and often humorous questions. Just two months later, in August 2020, HVBA Board Member Andy Bing began Bluegrass—The History, an insightful series that explored the rich heritage of the genre.
Andy’s biweekly deep dives into bluegrass history continued for an impressive stretch before gradually winding down—a tremendous effort for which we are deeply grateful. Meanwhile, Dick Bowden not only crafted intriguing trivia questions but also devised convincing (and often amusing) false answers, keeping readers entertained and on their toes.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to both Dick and Andy for their dedication and creativity. Their contributions brought knowledge, fun, and a sense of connection to our community during uncertain times.
As we look ahead, we’d love to keep the tradition going! If you have an idea for a recurring column, we’d be thrilled to hear from you. Join us in keeping the spirit of bluegrass alive through our newsletter and website.
Thanks to HVBA, Dick, & Andy for their expert efforts, & to HVBA for their incredible support for so many years. I’m gratified to be & have been HVBA’s videographer/photographer for a long time. I’m in the process of hopefully catching up with several of the previous concert videos still “in the can” and continuing to capture more as I’m able.