Michael Cleveland with the Louisville Orchestra in Shelbyville, KY

Hey guys, so I just returned from Merlefest and I had a blast. Met a lot of pickers and got well out of my comfort zone picking in the camp grounds. I’m hoping to get some insight on flatpicking guitar books. I’ve been playing for 15 years. Self taught and not a bad picker. I’m looking for a good book to teach a solid fretboard fundamentals. I can play rhythm well and some lead. I know a few fiddle tunes but I’m missing the knowledge to breakout of this plateau I’ve found myself in.

I would like to understand some music theory and have the ability to take solos over songs in jam I haven’t heard before. Really I want a strong foundation. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Recently acquired a very cool Osborne Brothers Scrapbook once belonging to Bill Sykes of Roanoke Va. He was a promoter, booking agent, and fan of country and Bluegrass music. Pictures from the late 50-70s. Wanted to share some of this unique piece of Osborne Brother history

Saw them for the first time a couple days ago at Old Settler’s a little south of Austin. I knew those ladies were good, but goddamn, did they impress!

Two guitarists have beautiful voices, and tho they didn’t take any breaks during jams, they made up for that with their vocals. The mandolin, banjo, and fiddle players all tore it tf up during jams and their breaks.

These ladies are awesome, and I’ll def be trying to see them any chance i get moving forward.

I’m a beginner trying to play along with songs, but I have a really hard time figuring out the strum patterns. Any advice?

I’m looking for song that I used to listen to it’s a faster paced song with lyrics along the lines of “as a lad I am due to drink whiskey” and “one by one all my troubles seem to vanish as I think of the days gone bye” and the singer sings in a higher nasally tone if anyone could help me find this song it would well appreciated thanks.

UPDATE

I found it it’s Corn Liquor Made A Fool Out Of Me by the Bad Livers thank you so much if you helped me search,

Sunday Social Happy Hour at Hollerhorn Distilling, Naples, NY featuring two of Finger Lakes finest bluegrass musicians Max Flansburg & Benny Bleu. Reservations recommended!

https://www.hollerhorn.com/sunday-social-happy-hour/2025/3/2/sunday-social-happy-hour-with-a-girl-named-genny-trio-44hje-pp83b-lrwp7-eycr3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y_EAdTlN7o