Caught in the Act by Ausgrass Secret Agents on not so well concealed video cameras, the show became so fantastic, that the Bluegrass Police, led by Constable Kurtz, were summoned and the band was rounded up and led off stage, to prevent the laughter in the audience reaching danger level. The ASA are now working day and night to prepare the video evidence so that you might view this outrageously good performance yourself. But BE WARNED, to use the words of Mr. Monroe, himself," Are you ready?" for a show as dynamic as the COOLGRASS experience. This show is a lot more than a Hats on, tight lipped venture into acoustic music, this show is an experience that goes well beyond your wildest expectations. So hold on to your chair and take the Bluegrass Music experience of your life with COOLGRASS.

Leading up to this Finale, the concert started around 8.00 p.m., with the welcome appearance of the MY-TY-FINE String band, with Rod & Judy Jones, Len and Dot Newland and Lindsay Mar. As always there is but one comment to make, " Mighty fine, MY-T-FINE. Australia's leading Old Timey String Band.

Then to encourage the bathroom baritones and tenors, the Soap Sud Singers, led by Dianne and Michael Porter performed with son Simon along with two newcomers to Ausgrass, Eric Johns and Jeff Kell, they all donned their plastic shower caps and crooned and spooned away some lovely numbers to an appreciative audience.

Next came, Suthern Soul, featuring Terry Contini and the lovely Phoebe, who made the long trip out of sunny Queensland, Thanks for making such a mammoth effort to support the show., and with Ray Marshall, and Mark Mulhearn, soothed us with sweet singing, fine instrumentals and friendly stage presentation.

After the short break the eager audience returned to listen to Tim Lee and Donal Baylor perform, "Fiddle and Banjo, Monroe style", they were joined by a young female fiddle player, Kate Meares and although she is an accomplished Violin player, this was her first exposure to Bluegrass Music. She sat down with some of Australia's best and held her own on some beautiful Monroe numbers.

As the Feature band at Ausgrass 2007, COOLGRASS returned to the stage and the merriment began. All their animated numbers were released onto the audience, who were on the edges of their seats with excitement, or was it because I had explained earlier that the Bluegrass Police were in attendance at the venue to control this rowdy band. As Bruce Packard changed into the outfit for "Timewarp", or should I say changed out of outfits for the number, the ladies? in the audience rose to their feet as a group and commenced taking numerous photographs of the antics and other things of the band.

Too much for Constable Kurtz, who allowed the band to complete the number before ushering the band back to the changing room to issue infringement notices.

Over the weekend the Constable was very busy and I even received a notice myself, "Playing too slow in the Grundy lane," was my offence, my fingers will just have to speed up. 15 Beats per minute in a 120 bpm zone, a serious offence, I am lead to believe? The rest is Ausgrass History.

You will have to wait for the evidence to be sifted through and placed on DVD, then you can see it yourself. So far we have applied for a new DVD rating, DVD-B+GL, which will describe the content as," Better than great, featuring live adults playing adult themes in Bluegrass style. This could be a lead up to a new era in Bluegrass Music, get in on the ground floor, get your own personal copy - release date for the DVD , LATE November 2007.

Workshops.

COOLGRASS

Some of the best workshops I have ever attended were conducted on Saturday, beginning with a band workshop by COOLGRASS, mostly led by Bruce Packard, with input from all the band members, the trials and joys of running and working in a Bluegrass band in Australia were explored and the mechanisms of band presentation was demonstrated by a number of songs to illustrate each section of the workshop.

Superbly achieved by the band and well received by the participants.

GOSPEL HARMONY

Dianne Porter and her group demonstrated the art of Gospel Harmony and the intricacies of fitting instruments and vocals together and to use the expression coined by Butch Robins in 2005,

"Make a joyful noise", was most certainly the outcome of this workshop.

BANJO and FIDDLE, Monroe style.

Was conducted on Saturday afternoon by Tim Lee and Donal Baylor and was well attended and enthusiastically received. The outcome of this workshop was seen in the Evening Concert when young Kate Meares joined these masters of their art and performed like an Australian version of Alison Krauss, this girl has the potential to sweep all before her and change the face of Bluegrass Music in Australia. I appeal to all experienced players to help this young player infuse her vitality into our music. An outstanding workshop by two experienced players who had approached the event with some nervousness.

"Don't worry you guys, it will be a long time before the combination you two bring to Bluegrass Music in Australia is repeated."

SUNDAY

Sunday morning brought the Gospel Session and although getting off to a slow start, developed into a major session, where just about everyone picked up an instrument and joined in the songs of praise, Thank you, Dianne Porter for this wonderful segment, I was busy seeing my family off, they had visited me for the weekend and presented me with my two great grandchildren? But I could not help but hear the joyful noise from the outside of the hall. My daughter had made the long drive down from Gunnedah for the weekend and meeting me at Canberra saved her 8 hr. travel, important with babies on board.