(Quick) Fire on the Mountain: GMBR Artist Interview With Bobby Britt

As we are just a couple weeks out from 2019’s Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival we thought it would be a good idea to catch up with some of the artists returning for the fest’s second year for a quick fire round of questions about what they loved about the inaugural event and their hopes for this years weekend of bluegrass, roots and celebration of music.

Last year, one of the most emotional and moving sets was Bobby Britt‘s to close the festival down. The artists still remaining were all sitting on the ground immediately in front of the stage watching Bobby as he unleashed songs from his beautiful record Alaya. The amount of gratitude and joy he had being on that stage, with those people…it was palpable and one of the most special sets I have seen and felt a part of. And then festival founders Jill and John Turpin joined he and others on stage for a moving take on the Dead’s “Ripple”. 

RLR: You performed at the festival last year for its very first event. What were the highlights for you as an artist performing at the first GMBR and also as a lover of music, what were the highlights that you saw on stage (or off) from your friends and contemporaries?

BB: The highlight for me personally was being asked to play my first GMBR as a solo artist. The community of artists that were selected to play the inaugural festival were top notch humans/musicians, and it was an honor to be included. Musical highlights for me were the Goodbye Girls, Joe Walsh late night Jam, The John Hartford tribute set, and a late night Cajun Jam with Peter Rowan.

RLR: What are your hopes for this year as a returning artist? Any thing you would like to see play out? Collaborations you hope to see? 

BB: My goal for this year is to be present and connected with my music and emotions. To really be there in body and spirit, and stay connected with the audience, and to listen.

I look forward to the potential for collaboration. I feel like it happens best when spontaneous.

RLR: Similarly…what set are you most pumped for?

BB: I’ve been taking on my fear of dancing. I’m looking forward to to Sam Bush and Donna the Buffalo on Friday night.

RLR: The biggest piece of GMBR is this collaborative community mindset. Bluegrass and folk music in and of itself really lends itself to that and last year it was kind of a family reunion of sorts back stage with artists that hadn’t seen each other in a while. What does that sensibility mean to you as an artist in this scene? 

BB: The community of musicians that play and book this festival are wonderful. They inspire me, push me, encourage me, show me where I need work, but always in a constructive way. I am grateful for these friendships and collaborations, and the sense of community that is cultivated. The common bond is the joy of making music. There is a collective respect for the sacredness of the ancient grooves & tones, coupled with an endless drive to grow and improve. This is what I love most.

RLR: What else do you have going on?

BB: The past year the focus for me has been on family. How to be a better husband, listener, provider and organizer (the learning never ends). Music, art and touring have been the primary focus for most of my life. I’ve had a slow shift in priorities and perspective, and I’ve been putting the horse where it belongs, before the cart. I’m excited to start working on a new solo album from this place. The creative juices are starting to flow, and that feels good. I’ve started writing (slowly) for the album. My work with Town Mountain is going well. The band has great new tunes, and it’s been a fulfilling experience working with the guys to hone the material and make it pop. We’ve got a great summer ahead (super exited to play the GMBR dance tent on Friday night), and in September the band will join Tyler Childers and Robert Earl Keen at Red Rocks. TM is on an exiting trajectory, and I’m thankful to be a part of the team.