The LA Old-Time Social is one of our new favorites that we hope to make a yearly tradition. Upon arriving to Ben and Kelly's house (Ben, Kelly, and Mike of Triple Chicken Foot are the folks behind Old-Time is a Good Time, and the organizers of the LAOTS) on early Thursday afternoon, I was treated to sounds of a fantastic outdoor jam lead by Mike, Thomas, and Dane, who later played the kick-off party that night. Ben had brewed several kegs of beer for the weekend, and we were treated to a sneak preview of his kolsch, perfect for the weather for this Portlander. The juxtaposition of old-time fiddle music in the setting of that Echo Park neighborhood, palm trees on the horizon, right in the middle of that pulsing, vast city of 4 million people, was notable, and felt just right.

The kick off party was held at the Echo Country Outpost, which is a gathering and performance space intended for "EGO-MINIMAL HANGING OUT, RECREATION & LEISURESPORTS, LOW AND MIDDLE ART, HIGH SCIENCE, RESPONSIBLE RECKLESSNESS, WOODCRAFT, ANIMAL THUNDER, MOTOR VEHICLE RESTORATION, FINE FILMS & LITERATURE AND WHATEVER MUSIC WE LIKE" and featured  Thomas Angell & Mike Lewinski, who played super tight banjo & and fiddle tunes, the Snake Oil Stranglers, and Cliff Wagner.

The Friday night concert, held at Velaslavasay's Panorama Theater, featured the Modal Tease String Band, The Driftwood Singers, and from West Virginia, Ben Townsend and Andy Fitzgibbon of the Iron Leg Boys. It was incredible listening to those two guys play in that theater- just amazing. Fiddle, banjo, and lots of good stories.

The Saturday night dance at the American Legion Hall was a blast. Flat Rock split the dance with the The Iron Leg Boys. Susan Michaels and Amy Hofer called, and managed to keep the dance floor in order despite the unhinged enthusiasm of the dancers- the energy was inspiring.

Thanks to the LA Old-Time music folks for throwing such a great party!

After three inspiring days at the LA Old-Time Social, we headed over to the 52nd annual Topanga Banjo and Fiddle contest and Folk Festival with Triple Chicken Foot, where both of our bands played back to back in the Dance Barn for squares called by Portlander Amy Hofer.

Brooks decided to enter the Traditional Banjo competition at Topanga earlier that day, and walked away with second place for this year! Check out the clip of him playing "Georgia Railroad" on the main stage.