Camp, Jam and Trick-or-Treat

By Charity Apple, Times-News, Burlington, N.C.

Oct. 22--SNOW CAMP -- John Maness used to organize a fall camp and bluegrass jam at the Bass Mountain Music Park off Longest Acre Road. His Belgian horses would pull hayrides and bluegrass musicians would entertain guests.

This year, his son John Maness Jr., "Lil John," and daughter-in-law Natalie are following in their late father's footsteps with a Halloween Camp & Jam Oct. 30-31 featuring C&J Bluegrass Band and Old Holmes Boys with special guest Dewey Brown Jr. on Oct. 30 and The James King Band on Oct. 31 at Cane Creek Campground & RV Park, 1256 Longest Acre Road. The event is from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

Campsite trick-or-treats, hay rides, fishing and campground picking will be a part of the two-day event. The Manesses also have organized contests for campers, including a best pet costume and pumpkin carving on Oct. 30 and best decorated campsite, golf cart and costume on Oct. 31.

During an interview on Oct. 8, King and his band were sitting in their motor home just outside of Jacksonville, Fla. The band was performing in a bluegrass festival there, and although it was already consid- ered fall, it was 90 degrees where he was.

King is well-known in the bluegrass music business not only for being approachable, but a talented musician who spends about 120 days a year on the road, traveling to various festivals, including the Bass Mountain Music Festival, now known as Lil John's Mountain Music Festival.

"John Sr. hired me years ago and we played there a bunch," King said. "I'm pretty sure I played one of those camp and jams, too."

Besides King on vocals and guitar, the band includes Greg Moore on fiddle and vocals, Glenn "Cookie" Inman on bass and vocals and Ron Spears on mandolin, guitar and vocals. This particular band has been in existence for 15 years now.

King was born in Martinsville, Va., and grew up in Carroll County, although he said he considers himself as much a North Carolinian as a Virginian.

"I'm four miles from the border, after all," he said with a laugh.

The road gets tiring, but at the end of the day, King said there's nothing he'd rather do than tour and play music. "I love the business," he said. "I love the people, too." In the background, he could be heard shouting "hey" to folks as they passed by the motor home. One of the great things about bluegrass festivals, especially ones like Lil John's, "is you get to sit and talk with your fans." Since the band will be playing on Halloween, King said he didn't have any "tricks" planned, but the audience will get a treat. "We're going have a great time there. Hey, I might even dress up as a bluegrass singer. What do you think?" he said with a laugh.

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