I shared a little bit about Rough Cut a few days ago. I thought I ought to share the same about my other band, the Bluegrass band I’ve been in for six years now.
Kenneth Newell and I started The Caney Creek Gang in 2019. It was getting harder and harder to find bands to play The Rosine Barn Jamboree.
I’m not positive, but I believe we played there three times that first year we were a band.
Where did we get the band name? Well, I originally wanted to just be Caney Creek. I’ve spent a many days and nights fishing and hunting there.
There’s also a Bill Monroe connection: he wrote an instrumental called “Goin’ Up Caney.” I’ve often wondered if he had a history with Caney Creek himself. Was he a fisherman?
I soon discovered there was an established band in Ohio using the name, so for a brief moment I shifted to Caney Creek Ramblers.
It didn’t take long to remember there used to be a local band with that name. I’m pretty sure only one member of that band is still living. There is a display about them in the Bill Monroe Museum. Needless to say, I didn’t want to infringe upon their legacy.
So, I then started looking for another take on the same name. I searched a while before I settled on “Gang.”
It has turned out to be appropriate because we’ve had so many members. We are like a gang! I can’t even remember everyone who has played a gig with me and Kenneth.
But I’ll try: Kristy Westerfield, Collin Coots, Danny Duvall, Lisa Nall, Lukas Whitely, Logan Whitely, Mark Hargis, Chris Joslin, Joe Johnson, Grace Brocato, Mike Feagan, Shane Cothran, Brandon Fennell, Sam Stuckey, Larry Hill, Eric Spencer, Robert Montgomery, Steven Stewart, Keith Jackson, Jasper Beatty, Marty Hays, Mike Fulkerson, Christi Fulkerson, Kevin Bowlds, Shawn Whitely, and Derek Dillman.
What an outstanding bunch of musicians! From five states! Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and West Virginia.
I know I can speak for Kenneth when I say it’s been a privilege for us to play with each and every one. If I have left anyone out, it wasn’t intentional, and I apologize.
Anyhow, once we had bandmates and a band name, we had to decide on our appearance. Out of respect for Mr. Monroe, I wanted us to dress nicely.
One could write a book about this topic (you know I will at some point). It’s not necessarily controversial, but disagreement is definitely out there.
What we settled on is sort of a trade off. We wear jeans, white dress shirts, black/dark vests, and Stetson hats. And sometimes ties.
(at the Jerusalem Ridge Festival)
If we play on a Sunday, out of reverence for the Lord we replace the black vests with suit coats.
(at The Rosine Barn Jamboree)
There have actually been a few times we went away from this look and went casual. Like if we’re playing back-to-back days, we might dress down one of those days.
I also remember one hot, July Saturday when we ditched the black vests just to survive the heat. You could wring sweat out of those shirts!
(Pickin on the Porch at MonroeHomeplace)
The Caney Creek Gang is not a high-volume gig band. We play maybe a half-dozen gigs a year.
For 2025, we’ll play at the barn a couple times. We’ll play the Rough River Lodge. I think that same weekend we’ll play Pickin on the Porch at the Monroe Homeplace. Then we’ll play the Jerusalem Ridge Festival. And that’s it!
Of course, out of the blue another gig could come up, but we’re not out there pushing for gigs. We’re happy with what we do.
Oh, I almost forgot! I wanted to share one of our traditions with you. When each new bluegrasser plays a set with us, we initiate them after the show. We go to the curve bridge over Caney Creek, and they jump into the muddy water of Caney.
And we always invite audience members to come along and become honorary members by doing the same thing. So come and see us at The Rosine Barn Jamboree, Friday, May 2, 8pm, and after the show you, too, can become an honorary member.
Might want to bring a bathing suit or swimming trunks. See you soon!